The Postal Service

This page is about the band; for the letter service, see mail.

The Postal Service is an indie rock electropop band featuring singer Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and producer Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel. Several songs on their first LP, Give Up, feature guest vocals from Jenny Lewis, the lead singer of Rilo Kiley, a band who were once on the same label as Death Cab (Barsuk Records).

Overview

The way in which the group combines mechanical backing tracks with poppy hooks is somewhat reminiscent of '80s new wave music. The group formed after Gibbard contributed vocals for a song on Dntel's album "Life is Full of Possibilities" called "This Is The Dream Of Evan And Chan." This song sparked an EP of remixes by other artists, such as Lali Puna, Safety Scissors, Barbara Morgenstern and Superpritcher, and was so well received that the two artists decided that further collaboration was in order.

Their name comes from the manner in which their songs were written, due to the fact that the two of them lived too far away to easily work together in person. Tamborello would create beats and mail them to singer and lyricist Gibbard, who would then edit them and put his melodies and lyrics over the tracks and mail them back.

Despite the fact that their main bands are still active, The Postal Service has supported their full-length album Give Up with a successful tour and has stated intentions to tour more in the future.

Discography

Give Up - released (February 18, 2003)

1. "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" - 4:44
2. "Such Great Heights" - 4:26
3. "Sleeping In" - 4:21
4. "Nothing Better" - 3:46
5. "Recycled Air" - 4:29
6. "Clark Gable" - 4:54
7. "We Will Become Silhouettes" - 5:00
8. "This Place Is a Prison" - 3:54
9. "Brand New Colony" - 4:12
10. "Natural Anthem" - 5:07

Albums

• Give Up (2003)
  • Rating : 3 Stars