The Postal Service were the 2001 collaboration of Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard and producer Jimmy Tamborello, named for the tracks they mailed back and forth, with Jenny Lewis on vocals. Their lone album Give Up (2003) became one of Sub Pop's best sellers and an indietronica landmark. Shop The Postal Service vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
The Postal Service formed in 2001 as a collaboration between Ben Gibbard, frontman of Death Cab for Cutie, and electronic producer Jimmy Tamborello (Dntel), with frequent vocal contributions from Jenny Lewis. The duo created their music by mailing recordings to each other, which inspired the project's name. Their work is closely tied to Sub Pop Records, where their album became a long-running success.
The Postal Service helped define indietronica, pairing Tamborello's glitchy, melodic electronic production with Gibbard's earnest indie pop songwriting and vocals. Give Up balances danceable beats with emotional, intimate lyricism, and its influence on the blending of indie rock and electronic music is widely cited.
Give Up is one of Sub Pop's best-selling albums and has been reissued in deluxe and anniversary editions, including expanded vinyl with bonus tracks. Original and colored-vinyl pressings are widely collected by indie and electronic fans.
With a single album, listeners new to The Postal Service start with Give Up (2003). For related listening, see and .
