When the singer of Death Cab for Cutie Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello, a producer, of Dntel, Headset, and Figurine, decided to work on a side project, The Postal Service was born.  The Postal Service is an indie electro pop band that utilized guest vocals from Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley and indie solo artist Jen Wood.  

The Postal Service

The way in which the group combines electronic backing tracks with poppy hooks is somewhat reminiscent of 1980s new wave music.

How It All Began

When the singer of Death Cab for Cutie Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello, a producer, of Dntel, Headset, and Figurine, decided to work on a side project, The Postal Service was born.  The Postal Service is an indie electro pop band that utilized guest vocals from Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley and indie solo artist Jen Wood.  

The group formed when Gibbard contributed vocals for a song to Dntel.  The collaboration led to an EP of remixes involving The Flaming Lips, Lali Puna, Safety Scissors, Brenda Morgenstern, and Superpitcher.  The EP was a success, so the pair decided to continue to work together.  

The Resulting Music

In 2003, The Postal Service released their debut album, Give Up.  Although the members of the band were still working on their own band's projects, The Postal Service completed a successful concert tour, promoting the album.  Their biggest hit from the album, Such Great Heights, was used in commercials for Kaiser Permanente and UPS; it was later covered by the band, Iron and Wine, and was used on the soundtrack for Zach Braff's film, Garden State.

Later that year, the band received a “Cease and Desist” letter from the United States Post Office, citing trademark infringement for using the name, “postal service.”  The United States Postal Service dropped the suit when The Postal Service agreed to perform at the USPS National Executive Conference and to take part in promotional efforts for the United States Postal Service.  At one point, their CD was being sold at post offices around the country.

An Unclear Future

In 2006, a demo release appeared on the internet.  The Importance of Being became available on YouTube and as an mp3 download.  Gibbard released a statement promising a new album in the near future.  However, as yet, that album has not yet surfaced.  In 2008, Jimmy Tamborello announced that he and Gibbard would not likely release an album within the decade.  He and Gibbard have continued to work with their original bands, and it is surmised that these have detracted from their abilities to continue to produce music as The Postal Service.

While The Postal Service is not actively recording or touring, they do still maintain a page on Myspace, and fans manage a facebook page on their behalf.  Free mp3 downloads are offered at their Myspace page.  It is interesting to note that Tamborello did not say “never” concerning the release of a new album.

Did you know . . .

0. The band took the name, The Postal Service, from the way in which they communicated. Gibbard would mail lyrics to Tamborello via the USPS, and Tamborello would produce the record with the recordings.

1. In 2006, Apple Computer used their song, Such Great Heights, in a commercial without permission from The Postal Service.  The band did not file suit; they did give a public statement of disapproval.

2. In 2009, Rolling Stone Magazine named The Postal Service's song, Such Great Heights, to be the 27^th best song of the decade.

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