Day 3 - The Posies

The Posies, at the height of their early 90s commercial appeal, were one of those bands that I always kind of considered a fine power pop outfit (Who doesn’t like “Dream All Day” or “Solar Sister?”) and nothing more until hearing Ken Stringfellow’s 2001 album, Touched, followed by Jon Auer’s 2006 album, Songs From The Year Of Our Demise, at which point I realized the error of my previously held belief. The Posies’ latest full-length and first in five years, Blood/Candy, is easily their best album out of a twenty-one year recording career…by miles. I love it when a band that I’ve continuously taken for granted over the course of their lifespan comes out and belatedly “WOWS” me with a new recording and boy, oh boy does Blood/Candy wow.

Drawing from such 60s/70s classics like the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds (1966), Love’s Forever Changes (1967) and Big Star’s #1 Record/Radio City (1972-74) as well as more contemporary works like R.E.M.’s Life’s Rich Pageant (1986) and Matthew Sweet’s Girlfriend (1991), Blood/Candy is a perfect tapestry of everything Stringfellow and Auer have accomplished musically, on both their solo releases and as the Posies. The perfect crunch of pop tunes like "The Glitter Prize" and "So Caroline" are magnified in their intensity when surrounded by the majestic baroque grandeur of "For the Ashes" and "Accidental Architecture." With a sound this lush and this deep, it’s no wonder that this album sits squarely amongst my Top 5 favorite new releases for the year. Believe me; you will be missing out on something really special if you don’t hear this album.

The Posies “She’s Coming Down Again!” (mp3)

(from the Rykodisc CD, Blood/Candy, 2010)