Postal Service
Christopher Locke
Give Up
The Postal Service is one of those amazing side projects, where the side project becomes way better than the members' regular gigs. The group is mostly made up of the guy from Death Cab For Cutie (who toured with the Dismemberment Plan), the girl from Rilo Kiley (and Troop Beverley Hills) and the guy from Dentl. But together, they form a group that makes my earbuds drool.
The upbeat tempo and soothing melodies provide a perfect soundtrack to working or driving. Most songs on this album have simple singable lyrics, layered over gently computerized beats and synthesized tunes. The compositions are simple and elegant, leaving each component room to breathe. I like this album for a lot of the reasons I like 80s music, even though it's not 80s music.
The band briefly reunited, maybe as a thank-you to their fans who constantly demand more more more! The reunion tour was phenomenal. It looked like a concert Bill and Ted would have imagined, 30 years into the future. It was excellent.
You'll love The Postal Service for making this record, and then you'll hate them for not making another one.
Side note- If you already know and love this album, but you haven't bought it on vinyl, you're missing out. There's a whole second disc of remixes and extras. It's like listening to an album you know and love, but haven't heard yet.