The Posies: Power Pop and Alternative Rock Pioneers

The Posies are an American alternative rock band renowned for their sophisticated power pop songcraft and melodic intensity. Formed in Bellingham, Washington, the group achieved critical acclaim and a dedicated following through albums like 1993's Frosting on the Beater, which became a defining record of the 1990s guitar pop revival.

Early career

The Posies were formed in 1987 by songwriters and guitarists Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow. Their self-released 1988 cassette, Failure, led to a deal with the independent label PopLlama Records, which issued their proper debut album, Dear 23, in 1990.

Breakthrough

The band's major breakthrough arrived with their 1993 album Frosting on the Beater, released on the DGC label. This record amplified their sound with a heavier, grunge-influenced guitar attack, yielding college radio hits and solidifying their status within the alternative rock scene.

Key tracks

Dream All Day - This driving, melodic single from Frosting on the Beater became the band's most recognizable song and a staple on alternative radio.

Solar Sister - Another standout from their breakthrough album, showcasing the band's trademark harmonies and layered guitar work.

Flavor of the Month - A jangly, bittersweet track from Dear 23 that established their early power pop credentials.

Coming Right Along - This later-period track highlights the enduring quality of Auer and Stringfellow's songwriting partnership.

Following their 1990s peak, The Posies continued to record and tour intermittently while members pursued other projects. Both Auer and Stringfellow served as touring and recording members of the reformed Big Star in the 2000s, and they have maintained active solo careers. The band has released several albums in the 21st century, including Every Kind of Light (2005) and Solid States (2016), demonstrating a consistent commitment to guitar-based melodic rock. Their influence is heard in the work of numerous power pop and indie rock acts that followed.

Fans of The Posies' harmonic, guitar-driven sound also enjoy Big Star, the seminal 1970s band whose legacy The Posies helped carry forward. The jangle-pop sensibility of Teenage Fanclub shares clear musical DNA with The Posies' approach. For the Pacific Northwest alternative rock context, Matthew Sweet operated in a similar power pop vein during the same era. The intricate songcraft of Jellyfish also offers a parallel in lush, classic pop-inspired rock.

The music of The Posies is featured on a variety of alternative rock radio stations and online rock radio streams that focus on the 1990s guitar canon and timeless power pop. Their catalog, from early indie releases to major-label peaks, receives regular rotation.

Listeners can discover the melodic rock of The Posies through the radio stations available on onairium.com, where their essential tracks are part of the curated alternative rock programming.