Alternative pop with rock hints
Hailing from Seattle The Posies have maintained a consistent career since the 80s as the alt-pop group to go to. With this, their latest album, "Blood/Candy", we get a collection of tracks that are a smooth mix of catchy pop and easy listening rock
This is definitely an unobtrusive mix of tracks that flow nicely into one another with great harmonies that evoke later years Beatles. I dare you not to hear it on for example Track three 'Licences to Hide' where you can hear the influence of Wings slip into it at times.
Most of the tracks wouldn't feel out of place next to the poppier Foo Fighters tracks -think 'Learn to Fly' leanings combined with pop harmonisation. And the vocals in places (shoot me now for this comparison) are similar, though not as forced or angsty, in style to Aiden Grimshaw from X Factor. Yes, I know, no credible rock journalist should have written that sentence but I bet you all know exactly the kind of sound I'm talking about!
For me though there is a real overarching feeling of The Beatles throughout all the tracks. In fact on each song at some point or another I keep on expecting it to suddenly stop and break off into a "strawberry fields, forever" refrain. This is by no means a bad thing, it's a classic sound to hark back to and it's safe.
I think safe is the key word for this album. These are lovingly created solid tracks but as a whole I found there was nothing to get really excited about. Though, I did enjoy listening to the album. It will appeal to a wide range of music fans, actually it'll appeal to anyone who appreciates well crafted, good music. I just needed it to step up a gear to really get me to sit up and crave to hear more.