Album Review: The Postal Service - Give Up (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

Ten years can go past pretty quickly. It seems like much more recently that this reviewer first heard Such Great Heights, one of the most captivating and thoughtful pop songs of our generation. A little late to the party? Perhaps. But whatever the reason, one thing's for sure: The Postal Service's one and only record, Give Up, is a modern-day classic.

Much hyperbole has been written about their place in the 21st century pop landscape, some of which, admittedly, has seemed a little over-the-top. The fact remains, though, that it was a platinum-selling record in the USA, and proved Sub Pop's most successful release since Nirvana's Bleach.

The album's remastering is fantastic. More emphasis is given to Jimmy Tamborello's electronic glitches and beats, and Jenny Lewis' presence seems more pronounced (which can only ever – ever – be a good thing!) without taking anything away from Ben Gibbard's lead vocal line.

A second disc of rarities and covers is a welcome addition, though doesn't match Give Up's vision. The B-sides, remixes (including DJ Downfall's frenetic mix of The District Sleeps Alone Tonight), and covers of Phil Collins' Against All Odds, John Lennon's Grow Old With Me, and the Flaming Lips' Suddenly Everything Has Changed all give extra value to the release, as do label mates The Shins' and Iron & Wine's versions of We Will Become Silhouettes and Such Great Heights, respectively.

An opportunity was lost with the album's okay packaging – some stories, background or essays would've fitted well alongside the decade-old photos that are included – but when given the musical quality of Give Up, Gibbard, Tamborello and Lewis have their priorities right.