The origin story of The Postal Service is as simple (and twee) as they come: An electronic music producer (Jimmy Tamborello) and an indie rock singer-songwriter (Ben Gibbard) decide to collaborate on a few songs, sending each other music via snail mail. But The Postal Service’s only album, “Give Up,” eventually went platinum, and the band is selling out arenas decades later. It’s a record that seems to have captured how rapid advances in technology would change how we communicate and even love, bridging the distances that separate us. This week, NPR Music critic Ann Powers and editor Daoud Tyler-Ameen discuss lead single “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service, from 2003. To access this episode and every episode in this series, plus get sponsor-free listening for every episode of All Songs Considered and Alt.Latino, sign up for NPR Music+ at plus.npr.org/nprmusic. NPR Music+ is a new way to support NPR and public radio. Follow NPR Music coverage and the Tiny Desk Concerts at npr.org/music
The origin story of The Postal Service is as simple (and twee) as they come: An electronic music producer (Jimmy Tamborello) and an indie rock singer-songwriter (Ben Gibbard) decide to collaborate on a few songs, sending each other music via snail ma… [756 chars]
Source: NPR | Published: 2026-01-15T08:05:01Z
Credit: NPR
