#74: Postal Service - Give Up (2003)

The band named themselves after the US Postal Service. Tamborello wrote and recorded his tracks and then sent the music to Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie). Gibbard would edit and record his parts and send them back via: The Postal Service. In a world that's so interconnected with the internet, it makes stories like this all the better.

Such Great Heights
This is the big single off the album and for good reason. Dozens of artists covered this after the albums release from Ben Folds to my Uncle Bobby (which is weird, but was really good). It's electronic music and at it's weirdest - pop. The song is cleverly written and exceptionally well produced. It's a must listen if you've never heard the song before, and if you have - you're probably already listening to it again.


Sleeping In
Probably the coolest track on the album. It's the best written song about the art of sleeping in since the Beatles' 'I'm Only Sleeping'. There's really not much to the song, but it's very calming - it's nice and chill. It repeats over and over, "Don't wake me I plan on sleeping in." That's something everyone can get behind.

Clark Gable
A quick, tin high hat keeps the song moving at a rapid pace with the synths. Ben Gibbard lays down a very smooth vocal. It's this type of musical contrast that made this album so popular - it's musically solid while also very unique. As much as I love Ben Gibbard's main band, 'Death Cab for Cutie' at times prefer the Postal Service.

All in all, it's a solid album. The album is (for the most part) well written, but where the album really sets itself apart is in the production. Because of it's heavy electronic feel it's very different from other pop albums, but when you throw in Gibbard's voice - it feels so natural. Jenny Lewis, the lead singer of Rilo Kiley provided some vocals on this album, and that's always a pleasant surprise.

Tomorrow's album: Sam Cooke's Live At The Harlem Square Club.