Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard announced that he is releasing a new solo record, Former Lives…and it’s due out October 16^th! This 12 track effort is Gibbard’s first solo album and is comprised of songs written during the past 8 years (ahem, some personal issues that took place in his life might make for some good writing material). The album will be released through the indie label Barsuk, and was recorded at the Ship, a studio owned by fellow Seattle native and longtime friend of Elliott Smith, Earlimart frontman Aaron Espinoza.

Gibbard has been involved with many music projects throughout his 18 year career including Death Cab for Cutie, the Postal Service, ¡All-Time Quarterback!, and an album based on author Jack Kerouac’s novel Big Sur with Son Volt’s Jay Farrar. The 35 year-old is known for his honest vocals and catchy tunes, and with his well-publicized divorce from actress/singer-songwriter Zooey Deschanel, Former Lives will certainly be Gibbard’s way of setting the record straight, in the key of C. Keep an eye out this fall for when the album hits stores, it has great potentially because we all know, the only good song is a sad song…right?