Album: Give Up
Year: 2003
Label: Sub Pop
Producer: artist
Best song: "Sleeping In," "Such Great Heights" OR "We Will Become Silhouettes"
Retro-synth pop, anyone?
Fitting that they would decide to make an album of the affair after "This Is The Dream of Evan & Chan" made the rest of Dntel's (great) album seem like a silly waste of time. The formula of that particular song isn't tampered with much and you get what you paid for: surprsingly melodic and lush electronic beats and catchy, fun vocals. The songs Ben Gibbard sings here are a clever turnaround from the usual broken hearted hindsight readings he goes through with his band. He switches the attitude and instead of being an introspective chap that maybe thinks a bit too much, he's gotten all positive and optimistic. Even somewhat harsh break up songs like "Nothing Better" (featuring a great guest vocal from Jen Wood) come off as groovy, fun numbers. Most of the songs recall the good ol' days of early 80's new wave where you could get your heart broken and still want to dance when it's said and done. The mixture of booming 808 hits, lush keyboards, dreamy vocals and spare, minimalist guitar playing might make you think this is the great lost New Order album or something. But honestly, would New Order have ever been able to successfully incorporate Clark Cable into a song? We both know the answer to that.
~Austin
Album: Such Great Heights EP
Year: 2003
Label: Sub Pop
Producer: artist
Best song: "There's Never Enough Time"
An interesting idea... read further...
First of all, they picked a great single for this album. Wonderful choice. There is one new tune here that wasn't on the album and it's the great song "There's Never Enough Time." Shame it wasn't on the LP, but I suppose they needed something for b-side material and this works just fine. The interesting thing here is that they've gotten two other Sub Pop bands to cover Postal Service tracks. The Shins give "We Will Become Silhouettes" a ragged, jubilant reading and Iron and Wine gives the EP's title track a downright strange rendition. Definitely never could've imagined these songs in these settings, particularly "Such Great Heights" (I mean, it sounds like Nick Drake or something!). Overall, a nice companion to the album and worth checking out for nothing more than the oddball covers.
~Austin
Album: The District Sleeps Alone Tonight EP
Year: 2003
Label: Sub Pop
Producer: artist
Best song: "Suddenly Everything Has Changed"
Obligatory remixes and a fantastic Flaming Lips cover.
This single brings out the remixes that make the original tracks even dancier (if you can imagine that) that you knew would be accompanying this project. I'm not too keen on either one but I guess John Tejada's rework of "Such Great Heights" is the more imaginative of the two and is my favorite. But the winner here is again the new track, a cover of the Flaming Lips tune "Suddenly Everything Has Changed" and easily one of the better songs the whole Postal Service project has produced so far. Hard to call it a must have with only one song really being worth the price of admission, but it's a good one.
~Austin
I am thinking it's a sign that you should go back to the main reviews page.
