The Postal Service: In Their Own Words 

I met Ben Gibbard yesterday while in a record store called "Wall of Music" on Pine Street in Seattle. I was in shock. I went up and said "Hey Ben...". He turned around and went in for a handshake right away. I told him I appreciate his music and that I am a big fan. He was very sincere and thankful towards my response. He was kind enough to ask a few questions and then I was on my way. It was nice to see him in his element and not in a concert setting.

Most artist would already have 5 albums out by now from the amount of copies sold on there first one, you have to love the fact that there not just thinking about money and know that if they made another album it might just not be right. I mean seriously what artist nowadays wouldn't have already gone and done another album to make money. I love the postal service and ya I want them to make another album but like they said it just might not be the same.

I was at that Dallas show. There were no more than 30 people there. After the show was over and the venue cleared, I went back in because I forgot to pay my tab or something. The members were taking their gear off the stage. I walked up to the stage and tried to get up on it, I had trouble getting up because I had a torn acl and torn mcl on my knee. I struggled for a good minute while Ben just stood over me, watching me struggle getting onto the stage. In my drunken stupor, I told him that show was like a religious experience for me. I wished them well on their tour. Fast forward a year later and dcfc was touring with Ben kweller, playing a sold out show in Dallas, right down the street from the venue postal service played. I drove to the venue by myself, hoping to find someone selling a ticket. I found a place to park, and started walking when all of a sudden I see Ben gibbard walking towards me. Holy shit. I walked up to him and said, hey Ben. Big fan of your music. I met you with postal service when you were last here. He looked at me, took two steps back and said, “oh yeah! I remember”. I told him I didn’t have a ticket to the show and he walked me to their manager and said, “get this guy in”. I walked in the side entrance of trees with him and he said, “enjoy the show”. It was co headline tour with kweller, but dcfc played first that night. After their set, I walked out of the venue and saw them putting their gear into their tour bus. I yelled out, “thank you, Ben!” And to my shock, he replied, “no. Thank you, Abe!” I couldn’t believe he remembered my name. One of my favorite memories of my life.

I'm just a f-u metalhead, but damn...this album is, to my humble opinion, one of the greatest of all-time: the sounds, the lyrics, the melodies, the voices...everything is great! Thank you Postal Service for opening my (music) world.

Literally in my top 5 albums. I was skateboarding 8 hrs a day in 2003 when it came out. I had the pleasure of seeing one of their last shows in 2013 at Merriweather Pavillion in Maryland and it was a very special night for me. I cried and sang along to the whole damn thing. It's 2023 and tonight my gf and I danced in the living room to it on full blast. Which led me here. Goodnight.

Every track is magic. GIVE UP is a classic.

The Postal Service & the power of friendship.

Hey Ryan, really?

I totally get it, though. They made something so profound that they themselves were unable to fully see at the time as a masterpiece, not solely because of the clamor of the masses that followed, but by critics, by listeners around the world who had never seen anything like this before, and also because of the unique conditions that lined up for this to be made in the very first place. If you follow Jimmy into his lair in a few videos he'll show you that he stitched all of this together with disposable millennium-era hardware and that in itself is beautiful.

I'll never forget listening to this album the summer before going away to college. I had been hanging with this girl all summer and we had a great time and I finally told her we should try a relationship and she decided it wasn't ideal with her going to college in a different city than me. She really did like me but had to be realistic being in medical school and being realistic about trying to keep a relationship going across the state. I was immensely heartbroken and I remember just driving around town for hours with this album on repeat in a deep state of despair. My brother called me up to hang out and he ended up cheering me up a bit. Anyways, Give Up holds a special place in my heart as the soundtrack for one of the happiest and saddest summers of my life. The album doesn't make me feel exceptionally good or bad, just takes me back to a time when I was experiencing so many different emotions. That's life.

The Postal Service was my first favorite band and my first CD. I begged my parents for a copy of it when I was in third grade. My sister had a couple of their songs on her iPod. Always a special place in my heart 💖

I'm grateful to have experienced this album in my lifetime. This album consumed my mind and when I first purchased it I think I listened to it every single day for almost a year straight. Truly a masterpiece from start to finish and still to this day I listen to it, this album will never get old for me. Salute to Ben and Jimmy... I get why they won't create a follow up but at the same time I don't lol.

One of the absolute best albums ever

It may be impossible to recreate the the same feeling as back then, but I'm confident that you're still more than capable of coming up with another album just as, or even more, amazing as give up!

Could they _be_ any more earnest and likeable?? "I'll go the rest of my life tryna figure out why [Postal Service blew tf up]" So hard to understand how Ben cannot understand, when we understand so perfectly well!

So adorable - will always love this band

Friends passed this album around, it took me into a new genre of music - computer music! electronic indie pop .. my album of 2003,’college and life

This album "give up" is the sound track to my soul. Thank God this happened

My favorite album! Love you guys!

I hope the are Ben and Jimmy mean it, when they say their friendship is more important than the record. Then there is a better chance at a new collab >:D

Jimmy I went to your radio station ten years ago..long time. I was shy then but I've always had love for you. This record saved my life from the media. Thank you for being so honest. Many humble thanks. Peace on your journey.

Still here in 2021!

You will very obviously do what you want in this situation but please don’t make a follow up album this far into the future. I promise it will not be the same vibe that all these people are hoping for. Leave things tidy and perfect as it is. Let it live it’s life as a successful only child. Of course I’d love a second postal service album that felt like it was a natural step but it’s been just about 20 years. American football attempted this move and it didn’t play out the way people had hoped. Just a random internet man’s opinion. Anyways, have a pretty cool day. Or don’t

i would sell my soul to satan right now for a follow up album from the Postal Service. Just throwing that out there...

It is awesome, to finally hear from the postal service themselves is so rewarding.

One of the top 10 LPs of all time in my opinion.

it's the "never mind the bullocks" of electronic music

Having one good album is better than having a pile of shit music because I agree with these guys, you have to feel the collaboration is going to go somewhere.

This whole album was ahead of its time. I remember hearing it for the first time in 2000 and feeling like I had landed on a new planet filled with amazing melodies and syncopated grooves

I love these guy's so much. This music got me through certain times in my life when i was younger. Would love to meet them both one day and explain the impact their music had on my life ❤

I'm kinda surprised they jived enough to do well live considering they never even recorded in the same room, or so it seems they never have.

This album changed my life's trajectory, in the sense that music has had an effect on my life... and it HAS!

The Dream of Evan and Chan ferever.

ben's hair is looking great again.

I hope they never make another album…

They will see us waving from such great heights. 'Come down now,' they'll say... But everything looks perfect from far away. 'Come down now,' but we'll stay.

My favorite band and i wish they would continue, but i respect there decision

Going to see them tomorrow night at Red Rocks!! Cannot wait :)

where can i find more of the original tour photos?

When Hurricane Katrina hit Miami in 2005, we didn't have electricity for a loooong time. I had this Postal Service album and a CD player though, so I was set lol.

Love these guys!

Hard to describe what this album meant to me. I had just moved to the USA attending grad school in the peak of winter, Illinois in 2007, and for some reason whilst it was released in 03 it was played in a number of bars and university cafes along with the likes of The Shins and their peers - it was a genuinely magical moment. Perhaps it's the magic of nostalgia speaking but that time was truly magical and all I need do is put a Postal Service song on for the feeling of that moment to come back full force. Beautiful stuff.

Miss them..

As amazing as Give Up is, I think Jimmy is just too awkward and socially reclusive to do anything long term. I think Ben would want to continue given his exposure to the musician's life with Death Cab, but Jimmy probably wanted the plug pulled. Understandable.

Yes really, "Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available." Then it links you to the youtube html5 trial page and what your browser supports. that was on my tower running firefox 19. This video plays on my laptop running the previous release of firefox.

Can we have a new record please? Can the gods spare us one?

Great video... so this means there will be no sophomore release? :P

I just don't understand how you make an album that good and just never try again.

So.. it started with Ben dating Jimmy's roommate?

I agree 100% with this. I have so many memories that come back when listening to Give Up and that's half of why I will forever love the album. A new album wouldn't have that sentimental value and all of the people that wanted a second album would call it a flop, even if it was a solid 10. They're smart and I respect them for doing what feels right, and not following fame and fortune.

One of my all time favorite albums. I love every song on it. I'd love a follow up if it can be as good, but not having one would be less of a disappointment than getting one and not liking it.

@speier those are some of my favourite lyrics!! If I ever get a tattoo, it'll be full of their lyrics. 3

Beautiful

i don't think ben gibbard would approve. i understand what you mean though.

I agree with them, a follow-up album wouldn't be the same or as near as what Give Up is.

I respect Jimmy so much. Ben too of course.

Adorable, all of this is simply two guys being adorable and talented!

is there a link where I can watch the entire documentary?

1:24 RELEASE THOSE DEMOS!

such great heights is ridiculous

happy. Hope there's a 2nd release.

video is unavailable.

ummmmmmmmm…

another album would be nice

Yes... maybe... dang it...

Common RU-vid bug.

The video plays perfect.

Give up part 2!!!

Tweeted @musosguide

6;18 - love you

Love these guys

See you soon

So so so so so so so so so so so thankful to see their final show ever this summer at Lollapalooza. Absolutely love these guys. Give Up has been a huge of my life :)

it obviously doesnt make sense to gibbard that the postal service is great because they havent made another fuckibg album

Only 300 views...?

I've followed this band since I was 14. I've wished for a reunion tour and now, aged 21 I have finally got tickets to see them in London in May. There may be tears

Yuck. Nobody cares

I can imagine someone from the postal service about to drop off a package labeled, "Benjamen Gibbard." The feelings I would have holding something that priceless and valuable. That feeling dropping it off in the mailbox and driving away. It sorta gives me a richer respect for the Postal Service (the band and the service) in a new way. To make a new album, just keep sending the cd's through the mail. That way, you preserve the spirit and you can make a new album, with time constraints.