The Posies

  • Bellingham, WA
    hometown
  • Alternative
    genre
  • 1986
    started
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About The Posies


The Posies were one of the most popular power pop bands of the '90s; along with other revivalists like Matthew Sweet and Teenage Fanclub, they helped update the classic power pop sound for the alternative age, marrying bright, British Invasion-style melodies and harmonies to loud, grungy guitars and quirky lyrics. The Posies were centered around the partnership of guitarists/vocalists/songwriters Jonathan Auer and Ken Stringfellow, who began recording songs together in Auer's Bellingham, WA, home in 1988. That year, the duo self-released a cassette called Failure, on which they played all the instruments; sounding especially indebted to the Hollies and Simon & Garfunkel, it was soon picked up by the Seattle indie Pop Llama, and wound up getting the band a deal with Geffen. Getting a proper rhythm section in bassist Rick Roberts and drummer Mike Musburger, the Posies made their major-label debut in 1990 with Dear 23, which showcased their budding sense of popcraft with bigger-budget production.

When the Posies returned with a new album in 1993, their hometown Seattle scene had blown wide open. While the band didn't fit into any sort of grunge blueprint, they did toughen up their sound under producer Don Fleming, resulting in their harder-rocking breakthrough album, Frosting on the Beater (the title a masturbation reference). Paced by the college-radio hit "Dream All Day," the album earned an audience among both power pop and alternative rock fans (as well as introducing new bassist Dave Fox). The same year, Auer and Stringfellow backed a reunion of power pop heroes Big Star (namely Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens), a gig they would return to off and on for much of the '90s.

It took a bit of time for Auer and Stringfellow to follow up the success of Frosting on the Beater. When they returned, they had another new rhythm section in tow, drummer Brian Young (also of Fountains of Wayne) and bassist Joe Howard (who usually recorded under the pseudonyms Joe Bass or Joe Skyward). 1996's Amazing Disgrace consolidated the Posies' position as critics' darlings, rocking out even more than its predecessor. Yet Geffen failed to promote the record adequately, and the group had lost some of its alternative audience from three years before; as a result, Amazing Disgrace sold disappointingly, and the Posies were dropped from Geffen. Stringfellow put out a home-recorded solo album, This Sounds Like Goodbye, in 1997, but despite the title, the Posies reconvened on their original label, Pop Llama, for their official swan song, 1998's Success (a nod to their debut's title).

Stringfellow subsequently toured with R.E.M. as a backing musician, along with Young Fresh Fellow Scott McCaughey, with whom he worked in the Minus 5; among other side projects, he also formed a new band, Saltine, that released only one EP. Auer, meanwhile, went solo and formed a backing band, and also produced records for Pop Llama. 2000 saw the release of a Geffen best-of, Dream All Day, as well as At Least, At Last, a four-disc box set of outtakes, demos, and the like on power pop label Not Lame; plus, Auer and Stringfellow reunited for a summer acoustic tour under the Posies banner, which produced the live EP In Case You Didn't Feel Like Plugging In. In 2001, the duo reunited once again for an acoustic studio EP, Nice Cheekbones and a Ph.D., and toured with a rhythm section of Howard and drummer Darius Minwalla. The same year, Stringfellow issued his second solo album, Touched, which featured material originally intended for Saltine. The Posies re-united in full in 2005 and released the excellent Every Kind of Light on the Rykodisc label. In 2010, The Posies returned with Blood/Candy which they recorded in Spain. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

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Music

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  • Dream All Day
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    Dream All Day
  • Golden Blunders
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    Golden Blunders
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    • Flavor Of The Month
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/7/7/1/6/107861776.mp3
    • Golden Blunders
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/2/0/0/5/107850026.mp3
    • Flavor Of The Month
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/8/7/8/6/5/107856878.mp3
    • Any Other Way
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/2/1/9/4/3/107734912.mp3
    • Love Comes
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/4/8/0/0/7/116570084.mp3
    • Suddenly Mary
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/9/8/6/5/107856896.mp3

Photos

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  • The Posies

News

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  • The Posies
    The Posies Tour Internationally
    Paste
    . @ Bottom Lounge & 7 - Newport, Ky. @ Southgate House & 9 - Detroit, Mich. @ The Majestic Theatre & 10 - Columbus, Ohio @ Outland Live & 11 - Millval...
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  • The Posies
    The Posies Tour with Brendan Benson For 'Blood/Candy' Album | Billboard.com
    www.billboard.com
    is gone, then months later [bassist] Andy Hummel. Jody is the last man standing. He was as much a part of Big Star as anybody. They're his songs to pl...
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Discography

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  • Blood/Candy (2010)
    The Posies
    Blood/Candy (2010)
    Rykodisc
  • Every Kind of Light (2005)
    The Posies
    Every Kind of Light (2005)
    Rykodisc
  • In Case You Didn't Feel Like Plugging In (2000)
    The Posies
    In Case You Didn't Feel Like Plugging In (2000)
    Casa Recording Company
  • Success (1998)
    The Posies
    Success (1998)
    Popllama Records
  • Amazing Disgrace (1996)
    The Posies
    Amazing Disgrace (1996)
    Geffen Goldline
  • Frosting on the Beater (1993)
    The Posies
    Frosting on the Beater (1993)
    Geffen Goldline
  • Dear 23 (1990)
    The Posies
    Dear 23 (1990)
    Geffen Goldline
  • Failure (1988)
    The Posies
    Failure (1988)
    Popllama Records
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