Ben Gibbard’s Transcendentalism and Give Up Turn Ten

Both of Ben Gibbard’s (of Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie) brain children turned ten this year. Yes, ladies and gentlemen Death Cab’s album Transcendentalism and Postal Service’s Give Up, a.k.a. the anthems of our youth, are officially the same age as a fifth grader. Plugin all you millennials and get ready to board the nostalgia train with the release of ten-year anniversary albums of both of these albums.

 Give Up was really just a side project for Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie, but it turned into something of a cultural movement. “Such Great Heights” first got attention when it was heard on a 2004 episode of Veronica Mars. After that appearance, Postal Service songs popped up all of prime time in Grey’s Anatomy, Garden State, D.E.B.S. This album made Postal service into a pioneering group of synthpop and the soundtrack to an entire generation’s formative years.

The Postal Service became somewhat of a legacy by never releasing a second album, even after the immense success of their debut. In this way they escaped the pressure of producing another game-changer, a pressure that swallows so many groups who produce strong debuts. Instead, they will remain in music industry’s memory as revolutionists in electronic/ synthpop. The album was second most sold album in Sup Pop records’ catalog, topped only by Nirvana.

The ten-year anniversary album of Give Up includes the original ten tracks remastered, as well as, 15 bonus cuts that include outtakes and remixes. The album also has two covers by Iron and Wine and The Shins.

What has been dubbed as Ben Ginnard’s “day job”, Death Cab for Cutie, is also celebrating an album making it into double digits

this year. The anniversary album of Transcendentalism was released last week. Just like Give Up, the tracks on this album have been remastered and fans will find bonus tracks on the set.

So many first slow-dances, first kisses and first heart breaks have been punctuated by tracks from this album. An entire generation has been emotionally supported through formative years by these tracks and this group has paved the way for heart-wrenching emotional music we see in groups like the Front Bottoms and Manchester Orchestra.

To think these albums have been out for ten years is mind-blowing. Folks, it’s safe to say we are adults and we were lucky to have such a fantastic soundtrack to grow to.

Myspace is the New Comeback Kid

Social media has played a huge role in today’s artistic world. Sites like facebook, Twitter and Tumblr have all helped to spread music far and wide. I talked with Music reviewer for the Celebrity Cafe Nina about how she uses various social media.

However, one site many artists and writers are unaware of as an option is Myspace! That’s right, Myspace has been given new life and this time it isn’t focused on “top 8 friends” or having the best layout, its all about the arts.

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Justin Timberlake and Chris and Tim Vanderhook bought the website in 2011 and has since worked to make it a place for artists to upload, share and connect with each other as well as produces and agents. The site is still trying to rebuild a more music-based following and they are off to a promising start. Large artists from all genres have created pages and uploaded their work.

“’Creatives out in the world that didn’t really have a digital home,” said Chris Vanderhook in an interview on Hear and Now. The Vanderhooks, along with Timberlake, plan to give modern creative this outlet, not only to be discovered, but also to help artists monetize their work.

Myspace is an excellent resource, perfect for seeking out new music or following groups you already know and love. The setup is fairly painless and once you are in you can create playlists and publish articles. There are also pages and pages of music which you can sift through to create your own mixes, for personal use or to share. (I made a mix for you all!)

Myspace has followed in iTunes footsteps and created a radio feature where you can customize and save your favorite stations.  Or you can go through and make a playlist on the fly of song you see that interest you.

The amount of music on the site is growing at a rapid pace with over 13,000 songs being uploaded daily. More and more groups are choosing to add Myspace to their social media platform or make it their own form of social media. This means it will be easier from now on to connect with groups, artists, producers or journalists to make the music world much more accessible and a little smaller.

So, music fanatics, writers, labels, producers, or any other person with a vested interest in music would be wise to hop on the virtual wagon. Unlike the Etinies, ponchos and stretchy chokers you wore in the early 2000s, Myspace is making a comeback as a tool for everyone in the music industry.