Death cab cruises to No. 1

Published 6:08 pm Wednesday, May 21, 2008

“Narrow Stairs” climbed straight to the top of the album charts, as Death Cab for Cutie debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 on Wednesday.

The rock group’s grim but tuneful album sold 144,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The sales topped the Seattle group’s 2005 album, “Plans,” which sold about 90,000 in its first week and landed at No. 4, according to Billboard.

Death Cab for Cutie formed in 1997 in Bellingham and released four albums through the indie label Barsuk Records. The group has since moved to Seattle and a major label, Atlantic Records.

Andy Rathbun, Herald writer arathbun@heraldnet.com