Postal Service - Give Up
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Music Reviews of Give Up
Music Review: A perfect album...if you give it a chance.
Rating: 5 Stars
I first heard Such Great Heights in Iraq when I was in the military, I thought it was genius. A perfect blend of quirky beats, electronic sounds and soft lyrics. I picked this CD up...I am so glad I did. One of those CD's you can put on anytime and enjoy, not like some hate metal CD you can't listen too unless you feel like being amped. The songs are very simple, and thats a good thing. They are not too complex but have the fundemental pleasantness about them. I once listened to this CD all day while painting my home, it never gets old, it always seems fresh. Songs like Clark Gable and The District Sleeps Alone Tonight are unbelieveable, and some are jsut good. There is not one bad song on this CD. I have played this before in my office, with people initially commenting "Oh dude what is this crap" and "What the heck are you listening to?" most of these people never give this CD a chance. Eventually thru heavy play people appreciate it and like it. Not so much my Depeche Mode though. Buy this CD if you are introverted...or enjoy pastel life, contemporary by nature. This CD is for you, if you are a trend follower listening to Little Wayne and think the world revolves around what American Idol contestant whom just won last month and put an album out this month written by music exec's has to offer and offer only and anything else is "not cool" please pass, you are a disgrace to individual thinking.Music Review: Oh, my teeth.
Rating: 3 Stars
Saccharine pop. With all due respecet to Amazon, I am not sure "breezy pop" quite gets us there. It is roll-your-eyes-at-the-lyrics, uber-twee-synthpop.
And to be clear, I have no problem with pop, although, I like it best when it doesn't take itself too seriously. And when it doesn't make me swallow fascile metaphors, song after bubbly song.
For my money, there are a lot of keyboard-based bands out there that carry the 80s synth torch with far more deference than Postal Service has. If you would like hear a more substantive take on this, check out Mates of State. Or, if you have heard them, and you want to hear what they would sound like as interpreted by a soundrack composer for a movie produced in 80s, then pick up this album.
I guess it is kinda charming in its exhuberance, and it is a well-executed idea, even if I don't cotton to it. They make good keyboard sounds, and they are clearly talented musicians. But assuming that indie is all about more challenging music or at least a more tangential take on rock/pop etc I am not sure (except for whatzis name from Death Cab for Cutie, who also flirt with being too pop for my exacting indie standards) how this qualifies as an indie.
Moral of the story: don't expect that. Expect effervescent, sappy music, that if you have $12 and a soft spot for that kind of thing might make a fun disc to have in rotation.
Music Review: A Fantastic Fusion of Musical Genres
Rating: 5 Stars
After hearing the Dntel song "(This is the Dream of) Evan and Chan," one can conjure up how fantastic electronica and indie can sound. When I first heard that song I wished Ben Gibbard did more involving electonic tracks, and it seems as though my wish was granted.The Postal Service is the dream of Ben and Dntel's Jimmy Tamborello. The lyrics and music create an atmosphere very different to what is generally heard in electronica and indie rock. Lyrically this isn't Ben's best in terms of content, but it's better than most singer/songwriters out there. What it seems the lyrics are trying to is to compliment the music itself, not overpower it. This is most evident on the last track "natural anthem," where there is about 4 minutes of music before any singing starts. The music of Jimmy Tamborello is a lot more refined and less glitchy than his Dntel work. I'm not going to compare it to electronica artists like Aphex Twin or Photek because it's functioning to compliment the lyrics of Ben and create the atmosphere of this album.
This is beautifully produced music from two artists in their own right. The Postal Service is not incredibly innovating lyrically or instrumentally. What makes this album innovative and five-star worthy is the fusion of both these aspects. This is a defining CD in that it has set a precedent for all similar types of indie/electronica music to come.
Music Review: A Dream Discovery
Rating: 5 Stars
Once upon a time, not too long ago, I was in my favourite little Indie Music shop, and barraging the owner with questions as to which albums the store had...
As I reeled off my wish list (ranging from "The Shins", to "The Clash"), I came to "Death Cab For Cutie".
"Ahh..", muttered the owner, searching through the catalogue, "No, we don't have that in at the moment, but we do have "The Postal Service".
After deciding that I wasn't going to find anything better, I bought "Give Up". As I listened to it, and decided that it was definitely not similar to "Death Cab", I slowly fell in love with it.
Sweet, and mellow, the album comes pretty close to perfection.
Normally, I don't really buy albums, I prefer to choose individual songs on iTunes, but with "Give Up", there really aren't many songs that I could give up.
Personal favourites:
2. "Such Great Heights"
3. "Sleeping in"
4. "Nothing Better"
6. "Clark Gable"
The stand out though has to be "Nothing Better", a sweet duet of love lost and found. Absolutely divine.
And as for the band itself... Like many of the reviewers before me, I'm hard pressed to define them, and I don't want to even try. This band defies definition. Not rock, not pop. If you like beautiful lyrics coupled with dreamy music, then this CD is a gem.
Music Review: worth your time
Rating: 5 Stars
I've noticed some negative reviews for this album. I try to be open-minded, but really, how could anyone NOT appreciate this album? It's nice to know that some artists out there are willing to write beautiful music that everyone can relate to.
The first track, "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight", is catchy and the perfect song to open the album, but it is surely not the best one. "Such Great Heights" is my personal favorite because of it's clever and beautiful lyrics and addictive beat, and I know it's been getting a lot of airplay on the radio, but haven't you ever thought there was a reason why? "Nothing Better" is no different, with it's gorgeous melody and unique lyrical concept, but it still isn't as listenable as "Heights". The next two tracks are skippable, but then there's "Silhouettes", which is upbeat and fresh. "Brand New Colony", with it's nintendo-ish sound and heartbreaking lyrics ("I'll be the phonograph that plays your favorite albums back, as you're lying there drifting off to sleep".... now that's what love is). The closing song strikes a sour note, but the high notes of this album are able to erase it from your memory. Overall, an inventive and bright album that everyone should listen to.
By the way, the cover of "Silhouettes" by the Shins is just as good as the original - I highly recommend it, along with their latest album , "Chutes Too Narrow".