Pitchfork

A recent single by English rock trio the Cribs may be called "I'm a Realist", but if the song's next contention-- "I'm a romantic"-- doesn't convince you singer Ryan Jarman feels more like "an indecisive piece of shit", have you seen the track waving from such great heights? Lap-poppers the Postal Service have given "I'm a Realist" a remix that trades the original's buzzsaw guitars for the skittery beats and gentle electronic washes that characterized the Sub Pop duo's breakthrough, Give Up (incidentally, Pitchfork's #29 album of 2003). The programming by Dntel's Jimmy Tamborello is joined by lulling "bum bum bum" backing vocals, ostensibly by Postal partner and Death Cab for Cutie frontguy Ben Gibbard, while the original's bleary indecisiveness echoes in the middle, culminating nicely in some hooligan-like group chanting. You can even try singing along at home: "I'm/ Thinking it's a sign/ That the freckles in our eyes ..." oh wait, wrong single.

[original track from Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever; out now on Wichita/Warner]