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exquisite delivery By
Annamarie Cunningham The
Postal Service is unlike any other independent music group today.
The virtual mail-in side project of Los Angeles-based Dntel genius
Jimmy Tamborello and the Seattle-based voice of Death Cab for Cutie,
Ben Gibbard, The Postal Service has been a breath of fresh air in
a time of repetitive, uncreative drivel. Consisting of a veritable
“who’s who” of the independent rock world, the group mixes thumping
bass beats, charming melodies, smooth vocals, and lyrics that tell
brilliant stories to form one of the most delightful albums of the
past few years. In
2001, Tamborello contacted Gibbard to lay down vocals on a song from
his latest work, “(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan” (from Dntel’s
2001 release “Life is Full of Possibilities”). In a Sub Pop Records
press release, Jimmy says, “It seemed kind of effortless. He came
down and sang it once and we were just really happy with it.” Citing
how easy their collaboration was, Tamborello and Gibbard decided to
put together an EP of music like “Evan and Chan.” A Sub Pop Records’
A&R rep took the idea to his label, and from there The Postal
Service began. Later
that year, Gibbard started receiving packages from Tamborello in Los
Angeles consisting of CD-Rs full of ideas featuring Tamborello’s signature
electronic beats. Gibbard wrote melodies and lyrics, then added his
vocals. Gibbard recruited Death Cab for Cutie bandmate Chris Walla
to add some guitar licks, percussion backgrounds and keyboards. Having
completed that, Gibbard sent the recordings back to Tamborello for
approval. Their story continued over the next 10 months, back and
forth through the mail, leading to the name The Postal Service. They
wound up with a 10-track album, “Give Up,” released by Sub Pop in
February 2003. As
soon as the album begins, the listener is catapulted into countless
other places and times. “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” sets a
path of awakening after a necessary breakup and the awkward meetings
afterward. The pretty love song “Such Great Heights” has a positive
sound and lyrics that express undying affection for the love of a
person’s life. The fun vibe behind “Sleeping In” makes the listener
want to stay in the described dreamland because it feels so much more
peaceful than the real world. Gibbard’s
duet with Jen Wood on “Nothing Better” tells the story of a man not
wanting to let go, and a woman who is forever drawn to him but who
can no longer stay. On the breathy song “Recycled Air,” the tale is
told of the takeoff and flight of an airplane. Gibbard describes the
feelings of a first takeoff, with “knuckles clenched to white as the
landing gear retract for flight.” “Clark
Gable” is another story of wanting to know love, and remember what
love is, and of pulling out all the stops to make believe that love
can happen, “that there is truth, that love is real.” “We Will Become
Silhouettes” tells the story of people re-emerging after a bomb hits
town. Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis lends backing vocals in a surprisingly
upbeat tale of what happens when we die. Gibbard’s
haunting vocals on “The Place is a Prison” describe the feeling of
not being able to fight off feelings of being trapped. “Brand New
Colony” puts the listener into a late 1980s Nintendo-era video game
about wanting not only to fall in love and protect the relationship,
but ultimately to do anything possible to get one another to a new
place where everything is perfect and nothing can hurt anyone. The
10th and final song starts with four minutes of electronica
that channels Dntel. It tells a tale of a man writing a “Natural Anthem”
for people to rally and sing together about the love of his life. Though
they are both still working with their main projects, Gibbard and
Tamborello have toured as the Postal Service and have both expressed
interest in a second mail-in album. Related link: The Postal Service's official site |