The Postal Service – The District Sleeps Alone Tonight

Indietronica? Sure, why not? Benjamin Gibbard's emo vocals over Jimmy Tamborello's slightly abstract electronic composition actually works well, although THE DISTRICT SLEEPS TONIGHT veers more towards pop than their collaboration on the Dntel album, even culminating in a near-danceable house beat. DJ Downfall starts his mix with a bass that verges on Euro-disco, but once the beat kicks in and the electronic flashes arrive fast and heavy, there's no question: Euro-disco. John Tejada comes through with a tech-house mix of "Such Great Heights" that, at times, cuts up Gibbard's vocals and, at others, puts them on center stage with electronic harmonizing. The b-side, "Suddenly Everything Has Changed," seems earnest, but is endearing nonetheless.

With their second single, T.P.S. get remixed, and take their turn covering someone else.

<i>DJ Downfall</i> strips the song down, then adds a beat and new electronics, but keeps to the original feel. <i>John Tejada</i> was the reason I picked this up, and he doesn't disappoint. Lots of editing and chopping, making a glitchy tribute to the original song. The final track covers <i>The Flaming Lips</i>, doing better than the Lips did (but then I'm none too partial to them). This cover is just a bit less amusing than The Postal Service's Phil Collins cover, but it's close.