Track Listing

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1378 in Music
• Released on: 2003-02-18
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
The collaboration between Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard and Dntel's Jimmy Tamborello is an album of breezy electronic pop that updates classic 80s synth-pop with contemporary beats. The line-up also features Jenny Lewis from the band Rilo Kiley. Sub Pop. 2003.

Amazon.com
Give Up, the debut release by this indie supergroup composed of Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie and Jimmy Tamborello from Dntel, is a smart, quaint, and often transcendent little pop record. The roots of the album lie in "(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan," a woozy, gorgeous song recorded for the rad 2001 Dntel album Life Is Full of Possibilities. With Jimmy in L.A. and Ben in Seattle, the two simply mailed tracks back and forth, collaborating via (you guessed it) the United States Post Office. Lyrically it’s far breezier and happier (though not too happy) than anything Gibbard had written up to this point for Death Cab. The music is an elastic, very smart update of synth-pop and the melodies crystal clear, while the backing vocals courtesy of Jen Wood and Jenny Lewis are spartan and pretty. The songs stick in your head for days at a time. Forget the tags that have been thrown up against this music--Poptronica? New new new order? Please just enjoy this album. It just might be a classic--but of what exactly, we’re not quite sure. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

"Give Up" is wonderfully haunting!
The only way to describe this album is "indescribable".

Of the entire collection, one song will forever stick in my mind. "Such Great Heights" was introduced to me by my ex, along with several other songs from the album. Though they were difficult to hear over the rumble of the car's ragged engine, I got a sense of the album's pop-electric-indie ambiance which still haunts me.
"When you are out there on the road..."

The chorus makes me think of flying high above the earth with the one you love, above the troubles where "everything looks perfect from far away." The middle "break-down" is perfectly spaced and wonderfully blended. This song encompasses all moods, from wistful, to happy, to hurting, to love.

This song blends wonderfully into the next song "Sleeping In", which I also fell in love with. Each song is distinct and unique, wonderfully creative. Obviously extremely creative, this pair of talented musicians known as Postal Service (with wonderful, subtle backing vocals by Jenny Lewis and Jenny Wood's duet in "Nothing Better") has collaborated to create a magnificent work.

The beauty of The Postal Service lies in their ability to incorporate non-musical electronic sounds, found them on a driving beat, and blend in soaring, heart-melting vocals that glide over honest, simple, yet profound lyrics and create a unique musical experience. Complex layers of sound intensify the need to cry and dance at the same time.

With Ben Gibbard's lyrics and voice alone, this album would be worthwhile. But the electronic elements and wonderful mixes of sounds make this album truly distinctive and exquisite. I had considered just buying "Such Great Heights" on Itunes, but after reading all the great reviews, purchased the whole album. I'm so glad I did, because I love every song on the album, and have had it on repeat on my ipod for weeks.

Ben Gibbard has an outstanding concept in creating a cd that defies so many "rules" of song, traditional music, and use of sound. His creativity and openness shine through in this charming album. You can't help but sigh as he melodically sings:

"I want to take you far
From the cynics in this town
And kiss you on the mouth..."

Give Up, one for the "classics" of all time
Give Up features 10 tracks of what will, in the future, be considered a classic. Ben Gibbard and Tamborello have tapped into the electro pop genre, but keep a very chill feel to the overall record. Standout tracks for me were "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" and "Such Great Heights." Never a dull moments, keeps full attention, while keeping one relaxed, and best of all the album was crafted and polished by tracks being sent back and forth to each other through... The Postal Service.

Impressive
I like this album as much today as I did when I purchased it four years ago.