Ten years ago, the “imaginary band” The Postal Service released their only full-length album and went on a short tour. In creating their side project, Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello, traded sounds through the mail to create a genre-defining smash that lorded over the fall semester of every college freshman who heard it. The album, Give Up, became the best-selling record in the history of Sub Pop.
Flash forward to 2013, and the band, known for dodging questions, has regrouped to celebrate Give Up‘s 10-year anniversary with a reissue and tour. On a muggy Tuesday night, The Postal Service wowed a nearly packed Merriweather Post Pavilion making fans crave for more. However, if this truly is the end, it is a fitting wave goodbye.
Fleshed out by D.C. native Laura Burhenn, of the Mynabirds, on keyboards, xylophone and vocals, and Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis, the band made its way through the entirety of Give Up, along with two B-sides, two “unearthed” tracks and a cover of Beat Happening‘s “Our Secret.”
Unlike many reunions, in which bands grind through their sets in begrudged anticipation of a paycheck, the re-formed Postal Service actually seemed to enjoy themselves, especially Gibbard. He swayed and danced his way through the set. Lewis, who is in the periphery on the record, became a shining star, adding vocal runs and flourishes fleshing out tracks that were a tad unfinished. Tamberello was no slouch either. While he did spend most of his time cueing beats, he added his vocals to “Sleeping In” and “Recycled Air” and played the vocoder on many tracks.
Peppered into the set were two new tracks from the band “Turn Around” and “A Tattered Line of String,” both recently featured on the deluxe edition of Give Up. Coming form the failed sophomore record sessions, the tracks are thrilling and enjoyable and provide insight on where the band could’ve gone next.
Postal Service are a synth-pop band, and while they the genre existed before and after them, current synth-pop would very different without them. After years of watching Owl City pantomime their songs, it is welcome that they are back to show the kids how to do it.
