Blood/Candy

Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow have often put the Posies on hold while performing with Alex Chilton as Big Star. But with Chilton’s unexpected death in early 2010, the Posies are potentially back as a full-time gig. Tunes such as “The Glitter Prize,” featuring Kay Hanley,” “Take Care of Yourself” and “She’s Coming Down Again!” jangle with an unaffected ‘60s-pop joy that was close to Chilton’s own heart. On their own, Auer and Stringfellow also enjoy veering into psychedelic landscapes like the trippy drips of “For the Ashes” and “Accidental Architecture,” where the pure tenor voices sound so innocent in comparison with the harder edge of the times. “Licenses to Hide,” with Lisa Lobsinger, throws in heavier guitars. “Notion 99” and “Holiday Hours” keep things simple with a pop sound that owes more than just a little to the Beatles. While the circumstances are sad, the Posies have made the most of the things, bringing new works into the world that reflect on the values of the music they openly cherish. The deluxe version of the album includes several demo recordings that are necessary for hardcore fans and worthwhile to casual listeners as well. They show the band at their loosest.