Topic: The Postal Serivce and The Pier (Read 13942 times)

trolley · « **on:** 18 Jul 2005, 11:25 »

Ok, so I work at a home and garden furniture store in England called The Pier (known as Pier 1 in the US), and the store music we usually have is a couple of CDs that loop, day in, day out. They are mixtapes of music from all different cultures and styles, mirroring the multicultural stylings of the furniture and stuff we sell. Basically it's a mix of panpipe, joss stone and jem.
I've had to listen to the same tracks every weekend for months, so imagine my absolute delight yesterday when in the middle of serving a customer The Postal Service's 'Recycled Air' comes on. I was almost struck dumb to actually hear The Postal Serivce being played anywhere, least of all in a shop in a shopping centre. I know they're quite used in america (vernonica mars, the oc etc.) but to hear it here, I was in heaven. I must have looked like a loon, grinning ear to ear.

I guess there isn't much point to this, but I needed to share my pure unadulterated glee. Come pop down to Bluewater and visit me in The Pier, and we can chill out to PS together

Tinsel_Shine · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 12:21 »

I heard them playing in Gap maybe a month or so ago. I was kinda shocked at first, because I had no idea Gap had any sort of taste in music, but I thought it was quite cool considering the alternative would probably have been chart music (there are so many shops here that I find it almost painful to shop in, simply because they constantly play RnB).

Aphi · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 12:23 »

There's a new m&m's commercial with "Such Great Heights" in the background.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 12:37 »

Maybe it's time to consider the fact that The Postal Service will soon be charts music...

Se7en · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 12:38 »

well its pretty normal for shop assistants to get to choose the piped music in the shop, so its not too suprising.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 12:43 »

I once went into a new-agey style shop (the kind of place that sells all the alternative/stoner accessories in this mall-less isle) and the piped music was 'Motorbreath' by Metallica.

Rawk.

Mrs. Firefly · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 12:45 »

Postal Service sightings:

*I was with my sister in Old Navy when Brand New Colony came on. It was odd.

*I was watching Room Raiders (Yes, I watch bad TV. Sue me.) and the guy holds up PS's Give Up album and exclaims, "Wow! You have the same taste in music I do!" This was slighty surprising, considering the usual caliber of music tastes that most contestants have. (By which I mean that most people on the show think Justin Timberlake is the best thing since sliced bread)

Tinsel_Shine · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 12:53 »

Quote from: KharBevNor

Maybe it's time to consider the fact that The Postal Service will soon be charts music...

I hope not. I'd hate if they were overplayed to the extent that I actually started finding them annoying.

Edit: Thinking about it though, I think even overplayed postal service would be a vast improvement (for me) on any form of popular RnB. Most RnB makes me ears want to kill themselves.

trolley · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 12:59 »

Quote from: Se7en

well its pretty normal for shop assistants to get to choose the piped music in the shop, so its not too suprising.

If only. We have a set The Pier tape. God, the power i'd wield with the oppotunity to play my own music.

sp2 · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 13:24 »

Postal Service isn't really all that esoteric. Sorry. Better luck next time.

trolley · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 14:09 »

I don't think you quite understood the point i was making. The point I was trying to convey was that I had happened to hear one of my favorite bands in a place I never expected. A band that, by all intents and purpose, remain relatively unknown to the mainstream. As i stated in a previous post, I understand this is not the case in America, but in England it's somewhat rare to come across a band such as this playing in a big shopping centre.

As a parting thought, take the pole out of your ass and cheer up. Acting aloof and superior on the internet impresses noone.

saturnine1979 · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 17:47 »

i'd consider the Postal Service to be one of the more mainstream indie groups (a juxtapostion, i know) of today. it's the band that mainstream people cite when they want people to think they know a lot about music or if they want to seem like they have really good taste.

it's like seeing someone's music interests on an info page read like this:
Let's see um, my favorite bands are: 3 Doors Down, Audioslave, Nirvana, The Postal Service, Shinedown, Three Days Grace... ummm anything but leik Country or Rap I guess. lol i love music <3 <3

kidd o · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 18:47 »

how priceless

I just always find it interesting how people have been trained to dislike music shown to them by people that don't look like them.

never made any sense to me...

sp2 · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 19:25 »

Quote from: trolley

A band that, by all intents and purpose, remain relatively unknown to the mainstream.

If you believe this, you're an idiot.

I'm not trying to be a snob. I'm just trying to get it through to you that they are pretty well known by most anyone who listens to music as anything more than background noise. They're EXACTLY the kind of music you'd expect to hear in a shopping mall. They're calm, soft, inoffensive, and people know them decently well.

Had you said that you had heard, say, Bauhaus, I'd be more surprised, not because they're less mainstream, but because they're just emphatically not mall music. But Postal Service? The only band that makes better mall music is pretty much Coldplay.

Kai · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 19:56 »

And I think Coldplay currently takes the throne back, seeing as they just released a new album, chock full of more music to wet your bed to.

Woo! Coldplay and Postal service bashing in the same thread! this RULES!

myfriendthelily · « **Reply #15 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 19:59 »

Quote from: sp2

If you believe this, you're an idiot.

I'm not trying to be a snob.

wow. it must just be your superpower then.

you know, if you cared about anything but flapping your lips, you might have noticed that this fellow is talking about england, not america. these are two different countries sir, with two different mainstreams. also he is the one who works in The Pier. not you. he is the one who therefore knows what is played and not played. not you.

your opinions aren't priceless.
your judgements not final.
your value not supreme.

get over yourself.

on a similar note, i once walked into a starbucks in taipei, taiwan (the worst place in the world to try and find drinkable coffee), and was greeted by one of my favorite cowboy junkies songs. not particularly surprising given the fact that it was starbucks, but still, this was taiwan, and i wouldn't have guessed it. trolley, i shared your bliss.

sp2 · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 21:42 »

Quote from: myfriendthelily

your opinions aren't priceless.
your judgements not final.
your value not supreme.

And the Postal Service aren't esoteric. What's your point? I have British friends that think they're mainstream, too. I'm pretty sure they've been on a major label since forever, which pretty much means that they're going to get radio play, because a major won't produce your album unless they think they're going to make a lot of money off it by playing it everywhere they can.

I'm not saying Postal Service suck. I don't really give a shit if you like them or not. But they're not fucking esoteric. They're not indie. They are mainstream. That is not a judgement of quality, that is a judgement of popularity.

I mean, would anyone take me seriously if I posted announcing that I'd heard a Cake song on the radio?

I think a Nothing Nice To Say reference is necessary here.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 22:06 »

Quote from: sp2

Had you said that you had heard, say, Bauhaus, I'd be more surprised, not because they're less mainstream, but because they're just emphatically not mall music. But Postal Service? The only band that makes better mall music is pretty much Coldplay.

I just had this mental image of all these hip types in a mall looking up aghast as The Postal Service turns off and 'Mask' starts playing.

It made me glow inside.

Actually, if I controlled the music output of a store, I would probably Have Neil Gaiman - March of the Sinister Ducks [feat. Bauhaus]. On twelve times in a row, then ob-la-di, ob-la-da.

sp2 · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 Jul 2005, 22:14 »

Quote from: KharBevNor

It made me glow inside.

Gives me a warm tingly feeling. I won't say where.

trolley · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Jul 2005, 03:59 »

Quote

I have British friends that think they're mainstream, too. I'm pretty sure they've been on a major label since forever, which pretty much means that they're going to get radio play.

I think living here my whole life gives me a better perspective on this than you having a few friends who are Brits. And no, postal service don't get radio play. And no, they're not considered mainstream over here. I have yet to meet anyone with a casual interest in music or otherwise that knows them or knows of them. As I say, this may be different in America, but by the same token, Bright Eyes are in the top 10 albums over there, but remain largely unknown by the casual radio listening public over here.

Ahh, can someone close this? I just wanted to have a friendly chat about something that made me feel good, and some people just insist on being dicks so they can wave their superiority round on a stick.

Inlander · « **Reply #20 on:** 19 Jul 2005, 05:04 »

Quote from: sp2

I'm pretty sure they've been on a major label since forever

Sub Pop's a major label?

sp2 · « **Reply #21 on:** 19 Jul 2005, 09:03 »

Wasn't subpop bought by Universal back in the early 90s?

FruitKat · « **Reply #22 on:** 24 Jul 2005, 01:13 »

I love it when a song I like comes on in a store or something...
I have a bit of a dance to myself uh... yeah...
I can relate

it's a nice feeling.
(My attempt to get rid of the negativity)
Also, the Shins was on the weather at night not long ago and I went YAY SHINS ON THE WEATHER... and actually watched the weather...
(Please don't congratulate me on how mainstream the Shins are to you, I don't care. It isn't the point.)
This thread just reminded me of that, sorry if I'm too late.

elcapitan · « **Reply #23 on:** 24 Jul 2005, 01:17 »

Quote from: myfriendthelily

on a similar note, i once walked into a starbucks in taipei, taiwan (the worst place in the world to try and find drinkable coffee), and was greeted by one of my favorite cowboy junkies songs.

And that makes about ten people in the world I've met who know who Cowboy Junkies are.

Threatis · « **Reply #24 on:** 24 Jul 2005, 01:19 »

well, thats three of us in one thread then.

elcapitan · « **Reply #25 on:** 24 Jul 2005, 01:20 »

Slight exaggeration.

But it's uncommon among the people I hang around with.

Threatis · « **Reply #26 on:** 24 Jul 2005, 01:27 »

when ui had a shitty counter job at a gas station to pay the bills, i used to play The Locust to drive customers away

Kai · « **Reply #27 on:** 24 Jul 2005, 17:35 »

if I had to listen to The Locust at a gas station, I would kill the cashier with a slurpee cup and one of those cheap lighters they sell for 7 bucks and then turn the weapon on myself. I hate that shit.

Threatis · « **Reply #28 on:** 24 Jul 2005, 18:46 »

hahaha, as is most peoples opinion of the Locust.

seriously, the one time i was playing Deerhoof, one guy came in and said "Cool; Panda,Panda, Panda". I was impressed.

Kai · « **Reply #29 on:** 24 Jul 2005, 19:14 »

Granted, I do like a good bit of hardcore or whatever the hell The Locust is, I just tend to prefer it to not be utter shit.

ZsaZsa · « **Reply #30 on:** 28 Jul 2005, 07:16 »

Did you know there is a slower, more melodic version of "Such Great Heights" on the Gardent State Soundtrack

Valrus · « **Reply #31 on:** 28 Jul 2005, 08:52 »

Oh my God, you are gonna get raped

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: The Postal Serivce and The Pier (Read 13942 times)

trolley

Tinsel_Shine

Aphi

Se7en

Mrs. Firefly

Tinsel_Shine

trolley

sp2

trolley

saturnine1979

kidd o

sp2

myfriendthelily

sp2

sp2

trolley

sp2

Threatis

Threatis

Threatis

ZsaZsa