The Postal Service-"Give Up" Review

There careers may have taken off at the turn of the century, but that doesn't mean that Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello can't collaborate once again, this time for their side project, the widely discussed Postal Service. The pairing of an alt-rock and electropop act might seem odd, but as already proven by "(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan", Tamborello's idiosyncratic production skills provide the perfect environment for Gibbard's lyrical style and quirky vocals. That can also describe the sound and aesthetic of "Give Up" as a whole, but it also overlooks some key elements. For one, the fuzzy synths and numerous female backdrop voices add layers to an otherwise minimal collection of synth-pop. Along those lines, a lot of "Give Up" doesn't even conform to the conventions of that genre, as these songs are far from anemic. Both Gibbard and Tamborello provide a hearty, full course meal over the duration of these ten tracks, and they provide a nice balance of tempos, vocal, electronics, and percussion. For every upbeat new-wave pop track ("Such Great Heights"), there's a dark, morose ballad ("This Place is a Prison"). Sometimes, these textures arise within the same song, such as the opener "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight", which also features an eclectic mix of off-beat electronica and trippy string arrangements. The rest of the record weaves through chill-out music ("Sleeping In"), ambient ("Recycled Air", "Natural Anthem"), and even the Death Cab indie sound starts to shine through in "We Will Become Silhouettes", only providing further proof of the diverse musicality within the electronic genre. Of course, with a sound as unique as this, it's clear that The Postal Service will not be everyone's cup of tea. However, there are high dividends that come with repeated plays, so there are more than enough reasons to give this band a chance. They haven't perfected their craft yet (one can only hope that Gibbard's slight vocal can flesh out a successive album, if one ever materializes), and that's actually quite alright, because "Give Up" has done the one thing that has seemed impossible for years: it breathes human life into electronic music.

Recommended Tracks in Bold:

1. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight 2. Such Great Heights      3. Sleeping In

4. Nothing Better                                 5. Recycled Air                    6. Clark Gable

7. We Will Become Silhouettes 8. This Place is a Prison         9. Brand New Colony

10. Natural Anthem