The Postal Service

From Free net encyclopedia

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

Template:Infobox band The Postal Service is an indietronic band featuring singer Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and producer Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel, Headset and Figurine. Several songs on their first LP, Give Up, feature guest vocals from Jenny Lewis, the lead singer of Rilo Kiley, a band which was once on the same label as Death Cab (Barsuk Records) and vocals from Jen Wood, an indie rock solo artist. Chris Walla recorded some of the songs and played the piano on "Nothing Better."

1 Overview
2 Music Video Controversy
3 Discography
4 Videography
5 External links

[edit]

Overview

The way in which the group combines mechanical backing tracks with poppy hooks is somewhat reminiscent of 1980s new wave music as revived by Stephin Merritt on the Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs. 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, the Flaming Lips, Safety Scissors, Barbara Morgenstern and Superpitcher, 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 be able to 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 over the tracks and mail them back. Gibbard didn't write any of the lyrics until the tracks were completely finished.

Despite the fact that their main bands are still active, The Postal Service has supported their full-length album Give Up with a successful concert tour and has stated intentions to tour more in the future. The album's most notable single was "Such Great Heights" that has been featured in various television commercials and movie trailers. The album also recently became the most successful album for the Sub Pop label since Nirvana's debut album Bleach. [1]

In 2004, the United States Postal Service sent the band a cease and desist letter citing their trademark on the phrase "postal service". After negotiations, the USPS relented, allowing the band use of the trademark in exchange for promotional efforts on behalf of the USPS and a performance at their annual National Executive Conference. [2] Additionally, the USPS website sells the band's CDs. [3]

Many of the band's songs have been used for television commercials in the United States. In 2004, the track "Such Great Heights," as performed by Iron & Wine, was used on the Garden State film soundtrack. In 2005, this version of the song was also licensed for use in a television commercial for the Mars Corporation's M&M's candies. "Such Great Heights" has also been featured on Grey's Anatomy and Veronica Mars as well as commercials for insurance provider Kaiser Permanente. In late 2005, the instrumental intro of the song "We Will Become Silhouettes" was featured in a commercial introducing the 2006 model year Honda Civic. As an indicator of their talent and timeliness, an article in Rolling Stone magazine by Stephen Thanabalan also detailed how the band's combination of indietronic with new wave music was set to father a new genre of trends for the decade ahead, much like what the post punk revival and the rise of synthpop in the late 1970s and early 1980s last achieved.

[edit]

Music Video Controversy

A copyright disagreement ensued in January 2006, when directors Josh Melnick and Xander Charity, producers of the "Such Great Heights" music video, created a TV spot for Apple Computer and Intel using almost identical footage. On January 19th, Ben Gibbard stated on the band's website: "It has recently come to our attention that Apple Computers' new television commercial for the Intel chip features a shot-for-shot recreation of our video for 'Such Great Heights' made by the same filmmakers responsible for the original. We did not approve this commercialization and are extremely disappointed with both parties that this was executed without our consultation or consent." The band has not taken any legal action against the filmmakers or the computer giant. Whether coincidental or not, as of March 1st, music from The Postal Service was "being modified" and could not be purchased from the iTunes Music Store. However, music from The Postal Service is now available through iTunes.

[edit]

Discography

[edit]

Such Great Heights

released January 21, 2003 (U.S.)

"Such Great Heights" (4:27)
"There's Never Enough Time" (3:33)
"We Will Become Silhouettes (Cover by The Shins)" (3:01)
"Such Great Heights (Cover by Iron & Wine)" (4:10)

[edit]

Give Up

released February 18, 2003 (U.S.)

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

[edit]

The District Sleeps Alone Tonight

released July 8, 2003 (U.S.)

"The District Sleeps Alone Tonight "
"The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Remix by DJ Downfall)"
"Such Great Heights (Remix by John Tejada)"
"Suddenly Everything Has Changed (The Flaming Lips cover)"

[edit]

Ego Tripping At The Gates Of Hell (EP) - The Flaming Lips

released November 18, 2003 (U.S.)

"Do You Realize? (The Postal Sevice Remix)" (4:00)

[edit]

Wicker Park: Soundtrack Album

released August 24, 2004 (U.S.)

14. "Against All Odds" (3:50).

[edit]

Give Up (Vinyl)

released November 9, 2004 (U.S.)

LP1: Give Up
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"

LP2: B Sides
1. "There's Never Enough Time"
2. "We Will Become Silhouettes (Performed by The Shins)"
3. "Such Great Heights (performed by Iron & Wine)"
4. "Suddenly Everything Has Changed (The Flaming Lips cover)"
5. "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (DJ Downfall Persistent Beat Mix)"
6. "Such Great Heights (John Tejada Remix)"

[edit]