the phonograph that plays your favourite albums back (free download of the week)
The Postal Service is a particular love of mine: Give Up will forever be in my Top 10 albums of all time. It was the soundtrack to my teenage years and appeared on every mix CD I ever made. Needless to say, the relationships didn't last, but the musical love affairs did. Ben Gibbard's unique vocals and the glorious mix of electro, pop and indie rock make nearly every song on the debut album one to remember. Who, indeed, can forget Such Great Heights? A song covered by everyone from Amanda Palmer to Ben Folds to Iron and Wine. The Postal Service, with one album, inspired bands all over the world with simplicity and inventiveness. Kowalski and Two Door Cinema Club mention Gibbard and Tamborello as influences, for example.
Another love of mine is KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. Despite being in little ol' Belfast I discovered bands such as Rilo Kiley, Death Cab for Cutie, Elliott Smith and The Decemberists amongst others as a result of Nic Harcourt's radio show. He may have left the show last year, but Jason Bentley continues the great tradition of playing good live music from nearly any genre. I guess it's like a better version of Jo Whiley's Live Lounge.
This week's download is a combination of both of these wonderful things. Accompanied by the mesmerising Jenny Lewis, the trio play a lovely set featuring many of their hits. The idea of the Postal Service playing live is rather unusual in my eyes- I don't like seeing a band that sound exactly the same live as they do on CD and there's not much room for manoever in this genre of music due to the processed electronic instruments.
However, it's a great recording- The District Sleeps Alone Tonight sounds better than it does on Give Up, due to Jenny's harmonies and keyboard part adding a little something to the mix. The lead singer of Rilo Kiley doesn't actually feature on the album but took part in all of the live performances: her talents clearly show through on Nothing Better as she more than adequately fills in for Jen Wood. Jenny's voice is sultry and indeed sexy, adding a little bit more (necessary) emotion to the duet. Finally, the version of Brand New Colony sums up this band perfectly. You've got the catchy, upbeat tune, the genius lyrics of Gibbard and the lovely distorted guitar part in the outro of the song combining with the electro beats reminding us where Gibbard and Tamborello come from.
Download Postal Service Morning Becomes Eclectic
Another love of mine is KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. Despite being in little ol' Belfast I discovered bands such as Rilo Kiley, Death Cab for Cutie, Elliott Smith and The Decemberists amongst others as a result of Nic Harcourt's radio show. He may have left the show last year, but Jason Bentley continues the great tradition of playing good live music from nearly any genre. I guess it's like a better version of Jo Whiley's Live Lounge.
This week's download is a combination of both of these wonderful things. Accompanied by the mesmerising Jenny Lewis, the trio play a lovely set featuring many of their hits. The idea of the Postal Service playing live is rather unusual in my eyes- I don't like seeing a band that sound exactly the same live as they do on CD and there's not much room for manoever in this genre of music due to the processed electronic instruments.
However, it's a great recording- The District Sleeps Alone Tonight sounds better than it does on Give Up, due to Jenny's harmonies and keyboard part adding a little something to the mix. The lead singer of Rilo Kiley doesn't actually feature on the album but took part in all of the live performances: her talents clearly show through on Nothing Better as she more than adequately fills in for Jen Wood. Jenny's voice is sultry and indeed sexy, adding a little bit more (necessary) emotion to the duet. Finally, the version of Brand New Colony sums up this band perfectly. You've got the catchy, upbeat tune, the genius lyrics of Gibbard and the lovely distorted guitar part in the outro of the song combining with the electro beats reminding us where Gibbard and Tamborello come from.
Download Postal Service Morning Becomes Eclectic