 | Tracklist:
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
| Ranking: #123 for 2003 | |
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On 80 Lists
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| Summary: A fluid and hugely poignant hybrid of the warm and the mechanical. |
The clicks and beeps of electronic music are in most instances detached from the sort of emotional outpouring with which Ben Gibbard concerns himself as frontman of indie-pop showstoppers Death Cab for Cutie, so when he announced he was recording with producer Dntel, famed for that exact brand of computerised atmosphere, heads were bound to turn. But any fears that Gibbard would be swallowed beneath the static and recurring beats prove at best unfounded, at worst disingenuous, for what Give Up evidences is that truly talented songwriters can stamp their authority on even the most unexpected of musical niches.
Far from a re-alignment of Gibbard's vocal and lyrical sensibilities to suit the genre, his collaboration with Dntel as The Postal Service sees him effortlessly translate those soundscapes and techniques into the same heartfelt and gorgeous songs that he writes with his full-time band. He holds the same cutting observational streak, the same ability to convey moods and mindsets; he's, incredibly, largely unmoved by the walls of binary that surround him. Defiant in his romanticism on mega-hit 'Such Great Heights' and his anti-romanticism on 'Nothing Better,' relatable in his idealism on 'Clark Gable' and his defeatism on 'This Place Is A Prison.'
Clearly, though, the end product is not a Death Cab for Cutie record, however much Gibbard maintains his pensive tack - in fact, the result is something considerably unique. Dntel's appreciation of the tone of Gibbard's songwriting is amply evident in the piano flourishes of a cute song like 'Such Great Heights' and the Radiohead-like screeches in a song as difficult and ambiguous as 'Natural Anthem.' Nothing about Give Up is homogenous, and the diversity owes easily as much to Dntel's varied and befitting moulds as Gibbard's inherent fluidity as a writer.
The Postal Service's Give Up is a warm project, a welcoming front door into the world of electronic music for those more accustomed to acute displays of emotion, and an album which fantastically blends two contrasting sounds to incredible effect. Gibbard would return to work with Death Cab, sneaking back to this area of the musical spectrum only for singles and to record the superb 'Couches In Alleys' with Styrofoam, and Dntel would fall back into his own projects, but Give Up remains a monument to the capacity for brief but dynamic collaborations to make a mark on the landscape.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4.5
whatever
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excellent review, have a pos.
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brand new colony is so fucking good
Digging: Fantastimo - Fantastimo Journey Digging: Fantastimo - Fantastimo Journey
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strikey : (
| | | Album Rating: 3
Pos. Great review, as always. Need more be said?
You rock Knott.
Digging: My Bloody Valentine - Loveless | | |
That's what I'm talkin about, baby. I know its not much coming from me, but you're fucking swell.
Digging: Suis La Lune - Riala Digging: Suis La Lune - Riala
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
yeah cheers
album title is ironic
sup kane
| | | Album Rating: 3
album title is ironic
Figured =(
| | | Album Rating: 4
This album feels so nostalgic to me even though I heard it pretty recently if that makes sense. Clark Gable might be my favorite
Digging: fun. - Aim and Ignite Digging: fun. - Aim and Ignite | | |
Damn, that was a quick write up then haha!
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Oh Strikey
Digging: Amon Tobin - Amon Tobin Digging: Amon Tobin - Amon Tobin
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Question-- why do people call you strikey?
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i used to listen to this a lot more often when i was younger
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Used to be my screenname on here before I changed it to Knott-, Xeno.
Oh, Dev.
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Xenophanes being new again itt
Digging: Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself Digging: Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself
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Hey I've been around for a couple of years ;P, don't sell me short, bud !
| | | Album Rating: 3
Damn n00b!
(says the guy who's only been here four months)
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i'm gonna pos this while i still can
| | | Album Rating: 4
i hope the title of the album you just reviewed isn't an omen, knott!!
seriously, you're one of the best reviewers here and will definitely achieve staff status eventually if there's any justice on this site. keep 'em coming.
(note: didn't read the thread prior to posting that)
Digging: The Dopamines - Vices Digging: The Dopamines - Vices | | | Album Rating: 4.5
idk
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