The Posies - Disc of the day

The Posies
Frosting On The Beater

(DGC, 1993)

The Grunge/Powerpop Crossover Moment™ in excelsis.

Basing themselves in Seattle would prove a blessing and a curse for Bellingham, Washington’s The Posies. Frosting On The Beater, their second album for Geffen Records’ alternative DGC imprint, came out only after the label insisted they go and write some – presumably Nirvana-ish – hits. Unusually, though, it’s a beauty: the songwriting unforced, the clanging guitars and peachy harmonies a natural fit. With Dream All Day, Solar Sister, Love Letter Boxes and Flavor Of The Week (a little dig at Seattle’s grunge clones), the overall approach suggested The Hollies gone a bit heavy metal. Critics drooled but the public didn’t really bite. Lacking a tortured Kurt Cobain or a fey Evan Dando, The Posies seemed worthy, but anonymous. They made more albums, split up (founder member Ken Stringfellow playing guitar with R.E.M.) before re-forming. This album’s Coming Right Along featured in the soundtrack to 1995’s heroin drama The Basketball Diaries. Like that film, Frosting On The Beater conjures a quaint, hazy memory of the post-Nirvana, pre-Britpop ’90s. That Gin Blossoms revival starts here?

Mark Blake

Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 6:00 AM GMT 12/03/2008

Further Listening

Cheap Trick – Heaven Tonight (Epic, 1978)

Red Kross – Phaseshifter (This Way Up, 1993)

Fountains Of Wayne – Traffic And Weather (Virgin, 2007)

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This album is an absolute gem. I'm so happy that Mojo has recognised it! I rate it as the best guitar power-pop album, bar none. It's right up there with early Big Star (in fact Ken and Jonathan joined the re-formed Big Star shortly after this album) and Teenage Fanclub's Bandwagonesque and Thirteen.

Posted by Jon Dennis at 4:05 PM GMT 12/03/2008 Report Abuse

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