Give Up

I was introduced to this album in 2006. I fell in love with it immediately.Fast forward 14 years and I had to buy it on vinyl.The record came in great condition. No damage to the sleeve and the vinyl itself is in perfect condition. The sound quality is exceptional. If I didnt know it was a vinyl I wouldnt be able to tell.I love this album and its a darn shame they never put out a follow-up.

If there's anything to the clever adage that, "Talking about music is like dancing about architecture," then trying to describe The Postal Service's "Give Up" would be more along the lines of pantomiming Stonehenge: to do so would be incomprehensible, over-ambitious, and ultimately unsuccessful. However, to not review this disc would be the greater crime, so here goes.To begin with, the new listener must dispense with all the tired comparisons to other artists we've seen in the 200 previous reviews of this CD. Those reviewers, well-meaning as they all are, have only managed to parallel one flavor of genius with another (Radiohead, for example). Searching for traces of Radiohead, U2, or even Beck in "Give Up" will be about as fruitful as looking for the Seattle sound in a Blondie record. The Postal Service sound represents that unique, unmatchable byproduct that can only come from a beautiful mistake (the Gibbard and Tamborello hybrid). Forgive my arrogance here, but I think this album will do for the ever-widening and accessible world of electronica what the Beatles did for rock and roll. That is, "Give Up" will save electronica from itself, bringing a much needed sense of vision to a brand of music which, as of late, has aspired to no greater purpose than that of moving bodies and disengaging minds (a disappointing trend being followed by a lot of the new Trance produced lately)."Give Up" is the impossibly optimistic answer to all the question marks left in the wake of the last thirty years, a confusing, sometimes hopeless smattering of everything from the revolutionary, but tiring Kraftwerk, and the dead-on New Order to the vapid one-trick ponies like Ace of Base. At a time during electronic music's short history when some may already be tempted to assume we've seen it all (and certainly the Vengaboys were proof enough of that), now come the likes of The Postal Service...which, by the way, should not be considered a strictly "electronic" duo. To the contrary, these two have simply used the digital medium as a tool in their grander endeavor: good music.Ben's words fit Jimmy's sounds like a glove, though never predictable and frequently addictive. Songs like the masterful "Brand New Colony" redefine the love song the way Brian Wilson helped reinvent the pop song; it's a tale of devotion and adoration--minus the pomp--rivalled by nothing else out there today. The first single, "Such Great Heights" and it's commercial follow-up, "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight," show off the Gibbard-Tamborello craft in all of its glimmering majesty, neither of them running a single second longer than they should."Sleeping In" and "Recycled Air" are equally devastating in their atmospheric melodies, while still painting emotive portraits using Gibbard's economy of words.The Postal Service, as evidenced in this their uncanny debut, is a sonic miracle, equally comprised of unfettered art and deft science. If this is any indication of things to come, electronica--and the broader spectrum of pop, for that matter--may still have a fighting chance at life.

It's amazing. Back when groups like New Order, Joy Division, and Depeche Mode were discovering that they could create a new kind of folk music with their Yamaha DX-7's, I had no love for their music. I thought it cold and processed, and instead turned toward the even more cold and processed sound of glam metal (although my love of the Replacements, Billy Joel, and the Pretenders kepy my soul from turning to lead).But now, I'm not so sure. I'm fascinated by "Give Up" from the Postal Service, which is mostly programmed electronica/synth music heavily inspired by Erasure and New Order. The vocals are compelling but still oddly distanced - there's no outbreak of blue-eyed soul, and everyone pretty much sings as if they're afraid to color outside the lines. But against all odds, "Give Up" is a very moving and stirring collection of tunes.My faves are "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight," a hauntingly atmospheric opener; "Sleeping In," which has such thoughtfully wry humor; "We Will Become Silhouettes," a sort of semi-paranoid apocalyptic tale; and the furious closer "Natural Anthem." But there are gems everywhere, and I think it's because The Postal Service brings a strong human touch to their music. You can hear it in the passion lurking behind the staid vocals, and in the thrilling inclusions of instruments (a guitar here, drums there) that pepper the arrangements.I rate "Give Up" 4 stars, mostly because I'm still coming to terms with it (does this mean I have to like Depeche Mode now? I don't wanna like Depeche Mode). But I will probably upgrade that to 5 stars soon, because this is pretty amazing - and transcendent - music.

The album itself is a sold collection of folk-like beats, in a slow melancholic fashion. Songs such as "The District Sleeps alone Tonight" and "Sleeping In" highlight the album's ability to discuss dark topics with a bit of electric-synth style stuff thrown in as well.The Postal Service truly gets to the heart of the matter by fusing together several different types of music into one gorgeous collection with velvety vocals and sweet, captivating melodies, this album provides something different in each track, giving the listener the ability to select as he or she pleases.

The only real criticism I can make of this album is that it's too short.Give Up is an almost uniformly perfect record, atmospheric, cleverly written and flat-out gorgeous. "Such Great Heights" is certainly the album's peak, but "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight," "Sleeping In," "Nothing Better," "Recycled Air," "Clark Gable," "This Place is a Prison" and "Brand New Colony" make sure it's not alone.In an era when it's a treat to find an album with even three good songs on a CD that justify its purpose, it's a thrill to have back to back to back great songs.The strongest possible recommendation for this album. Get it, now.

This truly is an amazing album, got it about 6 years ago after a recommendation from a friend and I can quite happily say its my pick me up album, frst thing in the morning or last thing at night, its truly a gem!!! The last couple of years of elctro pop lovers will love this, it goes beyond the surface level of Owl City, but easier to get in to than Dntel or Figurine, Owl City were clearly influenced by the guys behind postal service (Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello). Not a bad track on this, actually recommend getting the singles around too and if you can find poastal services cover of phil collins 'against all odds' (don't laugh, you won't regret downloading it) ahh here it is  Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)  you will love it!!! One of the best covers of all time, asvoted by many a music website.Seriously just buy it!! It's amazing!!! Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)

Very good

good transaction

the album is ancient - well 2003. I bought it because I was was looking for something like death cab for cutie and have been hypnotised ever since. it cheers me up, it makes me dance, it can be background music. others have described the songs already so i don't need to, but this is one album that gets played every day and has done for the last month..

Excellent album , sounds great in vinyl, nothing else to add.