Give Up
by The Postal Service
  • Record Label: Sub Pop
  • Release Date: Feb 18, 2003
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 142 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 130 out of 142
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 142
  3. Negative: 8 out of 142

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  1. yikut
    Mar 10, 2005
    1
    after dntel's 'life is full of possiblites' and 'evan & chan' i had such high hopes for this. it was such a disappointment. ive tried several times to listen to it but for me, it lacks any sort of strength or reason. i was expecting something with the emotional force of 'evan and chan' and a little more of dntel in there. i was also disappointed that the after dntel's 'life is full of possiblites' and 'evan & chan' i had such high hopes for this. it was such a disappointment. ive tried several times to listen to it but for me, it lacks any sort of strength or reason. i was expecting something with the emotional force of 'evan and chan' and a little more of dntel in there. i was also disappointed that the idm elements of dntel were all watered down. it was more figurine than dntel. im glad that so many people liked it and will maybe go back and find some dntel. for me, i just couldnt get into it.… Expand
  2. ToddJ
    Jan 7, 2006
    10
    This Album is just amazing
  3. gooseguy
    Oct 27, 2003
    10
    BEST ALBUM OF 2003 BY FAR..pure heart and soul was put into this album..makes me feel happy and puts me in a great mood ... also makes you want to dance.... in this crazy world WE NEED MORE MUSIC LIKE THIS!!! these artists have got what it takes to become one band...only complaint i have is that it ends to soon:( lets hear it for the postal service... they delivered a great message and BEST ALBUM OF 2003 BY FAR..pure heart and soul was put into this album..makes me feel happy and puts me in a great mood ... also makes you want to dance.... in this crazy world WE NEED MORE MUSIC LIKE THIS!!! these artists have got what it takes to become one band...only complaint i have is that it ends to soon:( lets hear it for the postal service... they delivered a great message and sound to me. I will be waiting for postal service to deliver me many, many, many more c.d.'s in the near future!!!! thanx guys for one of the best musical experiences of my life!!!! … Expand
  4. saturnh
    Mar 7, 2003
    10
    lovely, just lovely.
  5. colinm
    Apr 21, 2003
    10
    there only one thing to say about this cd rock.............simple rock
  6. TrevorC
    Jun 4, 2003
    10
    The best synthpop I've heard in years!
  7. DanielE
    Sep 20, 2003
    10
    I have listened to other music since I found the Postal Service three months ago, but I would rather have been listening to PS. It's the most fulfilling sound I have ever heard. I plan to pay these guys to make more myself if I ever get rich.
  8. sonja
    Sep 6, 2004
    10
    i really never liked techno..pop...dance...but i absolutely LOOVE this cd...they are so great..its beautiful music
  9. MichaelB
    Oct 3, 2005
    10
    There is something about the music... it's great
  10. KevinW
    Oct 7, 2005
    9
    Very beautiful, subtle music, especially This Place is a Prison and Nothing Better. Such Great Heights is also a great pop song.
  11. jacks
    Feb 4, 2005
    10
    This album is the best I have ever heard. Nuff said.
  12. DaveP
    Apr 27, 2005
    10
    Don't be told this is depressing - this is dreamy hope at its best. The combination of Gibbard's naive, innocent lyrics and voice and Tamborello's sophisticated electronica beats mix into something wonderful. I've recommended this to so many people - and now you too!
  13. KevinL
    May 31, 2005
    10
    LOVE IT!!! it's the best music for me so far
  14. BenD
    Jul 1, 2005
    9
    When you put Ben Gibbard and Jenny Lewis (Two of the best voices in indie rock) together along with the infectious beats of Jimmy Tamborello, only good things will come out of it
  15. PaulH
    Jul 3, 2005
    10
    Highly addictive stuff that's already starting to spawn off copy-cats ( Digital Ash...).
  16. MarkS
    Aug 30, 2005
    8
    This a terriffic album with some of the best songs I've heard in ages. Tamborello is a real talent in creating textures that are at once rough and lovely, and richly rewarding on close listening. The only weakness is the uneven quality of the lyrics which range from the sublime (as in The District Sleeps Alone Tonight) to the, er, less sublime (Nothing Better), sometimes in the same This a terriffic album with some of the best songs I've heard in ages. Tamborello is a real talent in creating textures that are at once rough and lovely, and richly rewarding on close listening. The only weakness is the uneven quality of the lyrics which range from the sublime (as in The District Sleeps Alone Tonight) to the, er, less sublime (Nothing Better), sometimes in the same song (Such Great Heights).… Expand
  17. MacT
    Jan 9, 2006
    9
    Gibbard needed something. This was it.
  18. MattJ
    Mar 14, 2006
    10
    Put it this way, its been in my car for 2 years!
  19. JennaP.
    Jun 23, 2006
    10
    So I normally reserve my '10s' for Sufjan Stevens and..well that's about it but I must say that Give Up most definitely deserves it. There truly isn't a weak link in the chain. To the contrary of what some critics say, I believe this is a classic and a touchstone in electronica/indie pop music.
  20. EmmaM
    Jul 2, 2006
    10
    I really enjoy this album-it has the perfect balance of indie edge, but also has a soft side to it. Jolly good gents!
  21. AE
    Aug 31, 2006
    10
    ben gibbard = brilliant. love him love him love him. what amazing music
  22. Loren
    Jul 8, 2003
    10
    This album is brilliant..amazing. It makes you fel like you're floating. Makes you want to cry, makes you want to dance. Makes you want to sing. It's incredible.
  23. JCP
    Jul 9, 2003
    10
    an absolute addiction. The only problem with the disc arises when you ask what will happen if they don't make another. 3 hours with this and you'll have the month's music sorted.
  24. cliffh
    Sep 14, 2003
    10
    They got such an awesome sound.
  25. Jeremy
    Dec 9, 2004
    6
    Very catchy and poppy. But the sounds design is a little simple. Every sound feels like it comes straight from a synthesizer with no manipulation whatsoever. Tons of basic wave formations, and every drum sound comes directly from that machine that your little brother has. If more emphasis was put on the sound design, would be amazing.
  26. alanj
    May 24, 2004
    10
    Awesome...
  27. Kimberly
    Jul 19, 2004
    10
    Absolutely amazing. The Postal Service can take you to a plane that is..beyond reality...the depth and heights of this music is incredible. You cannot pass up on this album. "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" is one of the most incredible songs I have ever heard and probably ever will. These guys deserve their props.
  28. RyantheMighty
    Aug 12, 2004
    9
    Really, I can't imagine how this album could be much better. I highly recomend drinking a decent bottle of red wine, lighting some candles and letting yourself get taken away by this album. Enjoy
  29. Tekelia
    Aug 12, 2004
    10
    if i could give this cd an 11 i would, shit ya
  30. andyc
    Feb 25, 2005
    10
    give up is one of the greatest albums i have ever heard. ever time i listen to one of the songs it sounds just as amazing as the first time i heard it.
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Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Most Discussed Album of 2003
44
#44 Most Shared Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. Almost Cool
    78
    Some people who liked the more experimental side of Tamborello's DNTEL project will simply find it a little too boppy for their liking, but it's one of those little discs that practically drills down into your subconscious.
    Read full review
  2. Pitchfork
    80
    The core tension between Tamborello's complex, almost impossibly dense production and Gibbard's cutting voice makes Give Up a pretty damned strong record, and one with enough transcendent moments to forgive it its few substandard tracks and some ungodly lyrical blunders.
    Read full review
  3. Mojo
    80
    Somewhere between Faultline's bedroom-boffin invention and Stephen Merritt's pensive elegance. [May 2003, p.99]
See all critic reviews »