The Postmarks

Not to be confused with Postmark or Postal marking.
The Postmarks
OriginMiami, Florida, U.S.
GenresPop, indie pop
Years active2004–2010
LabelsUnfiltered
MembersChristopher Moll
Tim Yehezkely
Jonathan Phillip Wilkins
Jeff Wagner
Brian Hill
Websitewww.thepostmarks.com

The Postmarks were an indie pop band from Pompano Beach, Florida formed in 2004.[1] They released three albums and an EP between 2006 and 2009.

History

The band formed in 2004 with an initial lineup of Tel Aviv-born Tim Yehezkely (born May 20, 1982, in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel) (vocals), who left her Chemistry course at Florida Atlantic University to join the band, along with multi-instrumentalists Christopher Moll and Jonathan Wilkins, who had both previously played in See Venus.[2][3][4] Their self-titled album was released in February 2007 and has been met with critical acclaim from Rolling Stone and Spin,[2] as well as Pitchfork Media,[5] and a host of other publications.[6][7][8][9][10] The group was discovered by Andy Chase of Ivy and subsequently released on his Unfiltered Records label.[11][12] Before the release of the album, an EP of remixes was released on iTunes featuring remixes by James Iha, Brookville, Roger O'Donnell, Tahiti 80 and more.

In Spring 2007, the band toured North America with Smoosh and Memphis.[13] The lineup expanded to include Jeff Wagner on keyboards and Brian Hill on bass guitar. A brief summer tour took place to coincide with the band's appearance at the Lollapalooza festival. The group is featured in the "Love" episode of the Nick Jr. show, Yo Gabba Gabba!.

By the Numbers is a series of cover songs released every month of 2008 with each track containing a number in the title.[14][15] The initial release of the series was exclusive to Emusic in the form of free downloads.[16][17] The mp3s have since been removed, and the complete collection was released in November 2008.[14][18] The album met with positive reviews, receiving a 7.4 rating from Pitchfork Media, and the Orlando Weekly saying "the album charms with a sense of whimsy".[19] PopMatters called it "a LP's worth of surprisingly coherent recontextualisations...a luxuriating delight".[20] American Songwriter called it "Moody and Cool".[21]

The band's second album of original material titled Memoirs at the End of the World was released in 2009.[22][23] The album received a 7.6 rating from Pitchfork Media, with Matthew Solarski calling it "a thing of pristine orchestrated pop beauty".[23] Following the release of the album, the most extensive touring to date took place, including the band's first visit to Europe and a US tour with Stellastarr and Peter Bjorn and John.[24]

The group went on hiatus since 2010. Tim Yehezkely has another project called Tim & Adam with Adam from I Am Stereo; They released a self-titled album in 2013.[25] Christopher Moll has moved onto a self produced project with a retro-soul sound called The Lovers Key, along with singer Maco Monthervil.[26] Jonathan Phillip continues with his personal music project Our Man In Pompano. Jeff Wagner has been active in the Miami Noise music scene since 2011, appearing with The Dot Dot Dot Orchestra and performing solo as Colour With Sound.

Musical style

The band's music has been described as indie pop or chamber pop.[8][27] Paul Lester, writing in The Guardian, described them as "a cutie version of Cowboy Junkies/Mazzy Star's narcotic alt.country, Slowdive minus the feedback or Stereolab without the electronic effects".[12]

Discography

References

  1. ^ Sendra, Tim "The Postmarks Biography", AllMusic. Retrieved July 3, 2014
  2. ^ a b Dávila, José (2007) "The Postmarks Always Sing Twice", Miami New Times, April 5, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  3. ^ Samuels, Rayme "Band of the hour: The Postmarks", Miami Herald. Retrieved July 3, 2014
  4. ^ "The Postmarks", Spin, February 9, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2014
  5. ^ Hogan, Marc (2007) "The Postmarks The Postmarks", Pitchfork Media, February 12, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2014
  6. ^ Carter Flinn, Sue (2007) "The Postmarks The Postmarks", The Coast, December 6, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  7. ^ "Daily Download: 'My Little Heart', the Postmarks", Salon, February 14, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  8. ^ a b Keefe, Michael (2007) "The Postmarks: The Postmarks", PopMatters, March 21, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  9. ^ Pais, Matt (2007) "From Starbucks to porn? The Postmarks' soothing sounds work anytime, any place ... maybe", Chicago Tribune, April 25, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  10. ^ Cunningham, Jonathan (2007) "The Postmarks The Postmarks", Broward Palm Beach New Times, January 25, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  11. ^ Garisto, Julie (2007) "Meet ... The Postmarks", Tampa Bay Times, September 26, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  12. ^ a b Lester, Paul (2008) "New Band of the Week: No 297: The Postmarks", The Guardian, March 28, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  13. ^ Chung, Patty (2007) "Smoosh + the Postmarks", PopMatters, May 7, 2007. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  14. ^ a b Sendra, Tim "By-the-Numbers Review", Allmusic. Retrieved June 6, 2014
  15. ^ Vallejos, Tamara (2008) "The Postmarks: 'One Note Samba'", NPR, November 13, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  16. ^ Hogan, Marc (2008) "The Postmarks By-the-Numbers", Pitchfork Media, November 14, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  17. ^ Solarski, Matthew (2008) "Postmarks Address Bowie, Cure, JAMC on Covers LP", Pitchfork Media, November 6, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  18. ^ Young, Jon (2008) "The Postmarks, 'By-the-Numbers' (Unfiltered)", Spin, December 18, 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2014
  19. ^ Le-Huu, Bao (2008) "The Postmarks: By-the-Numvers", Orlando Weekly, November 13, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  20. ^ Raper, Dan (2009) "The Postmarks: By-the-Numbers", PopMatters, January 14, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  21. ^ Horowitz, Hal (2009) "THE POSTMARKS > By-the-Numbers", American Songwriter, January 1, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  22. ^ Sendra, Tim "Memoirs at the End of the World Review", Allmusic. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  23. ^ a b Solarski, Matthew (2009) "The Postmarks Memoirs at the End of the World", Pitchfork Media, August 12, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  24. ^ Dávila, José (2009) "The Postmarks: Twice Is Nice", Miami New Times, August 20, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  25. ^ Puriri, Karamea (2013) "Review: Tim & Adam - Self-Titled", SLUG Magazine, June 7, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  26. ^ "Producer and Songwriter Behind The Postmarks Debuts 'The Lovers Key'", broadwayworld.com, March 5, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2014
  27. ^ Lesemann, T. Ballard (2009) "The Postmarks are immersed in classic pop", Charleston City Paper, October 21, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2014