If musical forefathers the Cure and the Smiths hadn’t pretty much invented sad-sack songwriting, Death Cab For Cutie could’ve taken out a patent on the genre. The guys are certifiable pros at writing painfully introspective songs that could, even on your happiest of birthdays, make you cry your eyes out and swear you’ll never love again as you choke on your own snot-drool mixture.

But, on their latest album, Narrow Stairs, the guys seem to have, well, grown a pair, and traded in the wounded English major act for a slightly tougher sound, inspired by, of all things, Krautrock.

Narrow Stairs isn’t out for another week, but you can stream the entire album on “The Leak,” and watch an exclusive track-by-track interview and an exclusive Buzzworthy interview to find out what inspired the album title. Plus: check out yesterday’s Buzzworthy interview with Death Cab to see the band discuss recording the album.