The Postal Service
| Company type | Indie pop ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 in Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Founder | Ben Gibbard, Jimmy Tamborello |
| Defunct | 2006 (initial dissolution) |
| Fate | Dissolved; reunited for tours in 2013 and 2023–2024 |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
Key people | Ben Gibbard, Jimmy Tamborello, Jenny Lewis |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Number of employees | 3 (core members) |
| Website | www |
The Postal Service was an indie pop ensemble originating from Seattle, Washington, composed of vocalist Ben Gibbard, producer Jimmy Tamborello (known professionally as Dntel), and background vocalist Jenny Lewis.
Their only studio record, Give Up (2003, released through Sub Pop Records), garnered predominantly favorable critiques, peaked at number 45 on the US Billboard 200 chart, and achieved platinum status certified by the Recording Industry Association of America. The group dissolved in 2006, deeming a follow-up album unnecessary.
They came together again twice to commemorate anniversaries of Give Up in 2013 and 2023, accompanied by a rotating lineup of musicians such as Laura Burhenn, Jen Wood, Dave Depper, and Jason McGerr.
Their concluding live show is planned for September 21, 2024, at the HFStival in Washington D.C.
Formation (2001–2003)
The band originated when Ben Gibbard lent his vocals to Jimmy Tamborello’s track "(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan" from the Dntel album Life Is Full of Possibilities. This collaboration led to an EP featuring remixes by artists including Lali Puna, The Flaming Lips, Safety Scissors, Barbara Morgenstern, and Superpitcher. The positive reception encouraged further joint efforts. Jenny Lewis initially contributed vocals on several songs before officially joining the group, sharing singing and instrumental duties during live performances.
The band's name was inspired by their creative process: Tamborello produced instrumental pieces and sent DAT tapes through the mail to Gibbard, who then recorded vocals and made edits before mailing them back. Despite the group's name, they actually used services like FedEx or United Parcel Service for sending materials.
"Give Up" (2003–2007)
Their debut album, Give Up, was released on February 18, 2003, under the Sub Pop Records label. Guest vocal contributions came from Jenny Lewis and indie artist Jen Wood, while Gibbard's bandmate from Death Cab for Cutie, Chris Walla, provided guitar and piano on multiple tracks. Although both primary members remained involved with their other projects, The Postal Service supported the album through an extensive tour.
In March 2005, Give Up received gold certification and later reached platinum status in October 2012 from the Recording Industry Association of America. It stands as Sub Pop’s most commercially successful release since Nirvana’s Bleach.
The record generated three singles, with "Such Great Heights" being the most prominent; it appeared in advertisements for UPS, Kaiser Permanente, and M&M's and served as the initial theme song for ABC’s Grey's Anatomy in 2005. The song has been covered by various artists including Iron & Wine, whose rendition was featured on the Garden State soundtrack. Additional covers were performed by Amanda Palmer, Ben Folds, and Postmodern Jukebox. The second single, "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight", was included in the movie D.E.B.S. and covered by British singer-songwriter Frank Turner. The third single, "We Will Become Silhouettes", was interpreted by The Shins and used in the trailer for Funny People.
United States Postal Service dispute
In August 2003, the United States Postal Service raised trademark issues concerning the band's name by sending a cease-and-desist letter. Following negotiations led by Gibbard in Los Angeles, the band reached a licensing deal permitting them to keep using the name, contingent upon promoting USPS and performing at its 2004 National Executive Conference. Afterward, their CDs were made available on the USPS website and featured in its marketing efforts. Tamborello described the situation as initially "depressing," but eventually "kind of fun." Interestingly, in 2007, the instrumental version of "Such Great Heights" was utilized in an advertising campaign for USPS rival UPS.
Apple dispute
In 2006, The Postal Service voiced dissatisfaction over an Apple advertisement that bore a strong resemblance to their "Such Great Heights" music video. Both productions showcased space-suited scientists inside a futuristic laboratory and were directed by Josh Melnick and Xander Charity. Apple did not seek permission from the band or Sub Pop until shortly before the commercial aired. Gibbard criticized the ad as a "shot-for-shot re-creation" executed without authorization. Despite this, Apple promoted the original video on iTunes, where it became one of the platform’s most downloaded videos.
Prospects for a second album (2007–2012)
In June 2007, The Postal Service revealed they had begun preliminary work on a follow-up album but did not specify a release timeline. Gibbard mentioned that touring obligations with Death Cab for Cutie complicated scheduling, while Tamborello expressed hopes to complete an album by the next year.
By February 2008, Gibbard suggested that producing a new album was unlikely due to conflicting commitments and diminishing enthusiasm. In May 2008, he reiterated that another release before the decade’s end seemed improbable. During a December 2008 interview with Rolling Stone, Gibbard dismissed comparisons to prolonged projects like Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy, emphasizing that neither member prioritized a follow-up given their main band responsibilities.
In November 2012, Gibbard confirmed via Twitter that there were "no plans" to record another Postal Service album.
On a 2025 episode of the Bandsplain podcast, Gibbard humorously remarked he would only produce a second Postal Service album if English rock group The La's released their own sophomore record.
Reunion, Give Up reissue, and final disbandment (2013–2014)
In January 2013, The Postal Service hinted at renewed activity through a website update displaying "The Postal Service 2013," sparking speculation about potential performances or new material. It was later confirmed that Give Up would be reissued for its tenth anniversary with a 15-track edition including two new songs featuring Jenny Lewis, released on April 9, 2013.
The band reunited for an extensive world tour with stops at venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre; festivals including Coachella, Sasquatch!, Primavera Sound in Barcelona; and Free Press Summer Fest in Houston.
They unveiled two new tracks: "A Tattered Line of String" featuring Jenny Lewis in February 2013 and "Turn Around" in March via radio station KNDD.
To support the reissue, comedy platform Funny or Die produced a parody video titled "The Postal Service Auditions," featuring cameos from well-known musicians and comedians.
On August 3, 2013, Gibbard announced on Twitter that their Lollapalooza after-show would mark their final live appearance. The band officially dissolved following their last concert at Metro Chicago on August 5.
Later projects, releases, and Everything Will Change (2014–2022)
Marking a significant milestone in their journey, The Postal Service unveiled the documentary concert film Everything Will Change on October 7, 2014. Captured during their July 2013 shows at Berkeley's Greek Theater and directed by Justin Mitchell, the film blends behind-the-scenes moments with complete live performance footage.
Jimmy Tamborello contributed a remix for Death Cab for Cutie's 2018 song "Summer Years."
During the summer of 2019, Jenny Lewis joined Death Cab for Cutie on tour in support of their albums On the Line and Thank You for Today. Ben Gibbard invited Lewis to join him on stage to perform "Nothing Better" during encore segments.
In October 2020, The Postal Service launched new social media profiles hinting at an announcement that ultimately revealed a satirical video conference encouraging voter turnout in the United States ahead of the November election.
On December 4, 2020, they issued Everything Will Change as a live album through Sub Pop Records—featuring remastered audio from the documentary concert. This release was preceded by digital singles including "Natural Anthem" and "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight."
Give Up 20th Anniversary Tour (2023–2024)
In late summer 2023, The Postal Service reunited for a joint headlining tour with Death Cab for Cutie to commemorate the two-decade anniversaries of their respective albums—The Postal Service performing Give Up in its entirety, while Death Cab presented Transatlanticism. Originally planned for 17 dates, overwhelming demand extended the tour into September 2024. Performances concluded with acoustic renditions of "Such Great Heights" and a cover of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence."
Prior to their UK and European shows in August 2024, Gibbard noted that due to time constraints imposed by Death Cab’s ongoing commitments, producing a second Postal Service album was not feasible. He expressed a preference for concentrating exclusively on Death Cab to maintain creative integrity across both projects.
On February 7, 2025, The Postal Service released a live version of their "Enjoy the Silence" cover from the reunion tour as part of the charity compilation Good Music to Lift Los Angeles—available for one day to support wildfire relief efforts.
Members
- Benjamin Gibbard – lead vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums (2001–2005, 2013, 2023–2024)
- Jimmy Tamborello – production, keyboards, electronic percussion, programming, accordion (2001–2005, 2013, 2023–2024)
- Jenny Lewis – backing and lead vocals, keyboards, guitar, sampling (2002–2005, 2013, 2023–2024)
Touring musicians
- Laura Burhenn – keyboards, backing vocals (2013)
- Dave Depper – keyboards, backing vocals (2023–2024)
- Jason McGerr – drums (2023–2024 - "Brand New Colony" and "Natural Anthem")
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Highest chart positions | Sales | Certifications | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Dance |
US Indie |
UK | UK Indie | ||||
| Give Up |
|
45 | 1 | 3 | 180 | 34 |
|
|
Live recordings
| Album Title | Release information | Highest chart rankings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK Rec. |
UK Indie Breakers | ||
| Everything Will Change |
|
37 | 16 |
Singles
| Single Title | Release Year | Highest chart placements | Certifications | Associated Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Alternative |
US Dance |
US Rock |
Canada | Mexico Airplay |
UK | UK Indie | |||||||
| "Such Great Heights" | 2003 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
|
Give Up | |||
| "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| |||||
| "Against All Odds" | 2004 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Wicker Park soundtrack | ||||
| "We Will Become Silhouettes" | 2005 | 82 | — | — | — | 7 | — | 92 | 26 | Give Up | ||||
| "Be Still My Heart" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Turn Around" | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Give Up (deluxe edition) | |||||
| "A Tattered Line of String" | — | 28 | 19 | 41 | — | 35 | — | |||||||
| "—" indicates the single did not chart or was unavailable in that region. | ||||||||||||||
Guest appearances
| Track Name | Release Year | Album Title |
|---|---|---|
| "Recycled Air" (live radio session) | 2005 | Yeti Three |
| "Grow Old with Me" | 2007 | Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur |
Music videos
- "A Tattered Line of String"
- "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight"
- "Such Great Heights"
- "We Will Become Silhouettes"
Remix work
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Do You Realize??" (The Postal Service Remix) | 2003 | The Flaming Lips | Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell |
| "New Resolution" (TPS Mix) | 2004 | Azure Ray | "New Resolution" single |
| "Little Girl Blue" (The Postal Service Remix) | 2005 | Nina Simone | Verve Remixed 3 |
| "Mushaboom" (Postal Service Remix) | 2006 | Feist | Open Season |
| "I'm Free" (Postal Service Remix) | The Rolling Stones | "I'm Free" single | |
| "I'm a Realist" (The Postal Service Remix) | 2008 | The Cribs | I'm a Realist |
External links
- The Postal Service page at Sub Pop Records
- Articles with short description
- The Postal Service
- 2001 establishments in Washington (state)
- 2005 disestablishments in Washington (state)
- 2013 disestablishments in Washington (state)
- 2024 disestablishments in Washington (state)
- American electronic music duos
- American remixers
- American rock music supergroups
- Electronic music groups from Washington (state)
- Indie pop groups from Washington (state)
- Indie rock musical groups from Washington (state)
- Musical groups disestablished in 2005
- Musical groups disestablished in 2013
- Musical groups disestablished in 2024
- Musical groups established in 2001
- Musical groups from Seattle
- Musical groups reestablished in 2013
- Sub Pop artists