Search - Posies :: In Case You Didn't Feel Like Plugging in

Sic Transit Gloria!

Owen | Seattle, WA | 08/23/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Has breaking up been the best thing to happen to the Posies? Since they called it quits two years ago, they've had a greatest hits package, a live album and now-an "unplugged" set. Founding members Jon Auer & Ken Stringfellow still haven't officially joined any other groups, they're still doing occasional shows together and there's even a 4-disc box set on its way next month. Pretty active for a group that isn't around anymore. And it's too bad, because the Posies definitely had one of the best songwriting partnersips in Auer & Stringfellow since Big Star's Alex Chilton & Chris Bell or the dB's Chris Stamey & Peter Holsapple. Here they pare down their trademark power pop guitars and put the emphasis on their harmonies. And even though the whole "unplugged" craze is kinda died off, the disc still makes a swell companion to the recent and electrified "Before the Iceberg". Of course, this set is more intimate, and in just 39 minutes they offer not just a show but an entire history-both fan faves and seldom performed songs-that lets the music do all the talking."

God Bless The Posies

V. Berrini | NJ, United States | 08/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Coming on the heels of the somewhat dissapointing live release Alive Before The Iceburg, In Case You Didn't Feel Like Plugging In (title co-opted from Ministry!) is especially welcome.Like the Posies' recent shows, this album strips the band down to Jon and Ken, which in the end is all that matters. The songs here sparkle, from the reclaimed Failure chestnuts "I May Hate You Sometimes" and "Believe In Something Other Than Yourself" to a brilliantly rearranged version of "Grant Hart" to straight readings of "Every Bitter Drop" and "Solar Sister". Jon and Ken's harmonies sound great, and it's something of a revelation to hear the Posies transform into power pop's own Everly Brothers. This CD is a gift to be treasured. Every Posies fan should support it's release."

In Case You Were Never Able To Show Up...You'll Love This

Larry "Shortstack" Palais | 07/25/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having never had the chance to see the Posies live, "In Case," has helped to turn what would otherwise be a complete void into just a partial one, though what you'll hear here is really just Auer and Stringfellow and a couple of guitars. I listen to this album often and the one thing that immediately gets me is the intimacy of the thing, which can be attributed to much more than its "unplugged" atmosphere. Performed on their home-turf, in Seattle in early 2000 (long after the "grunge" label they were inaccurately tagged with had worn off, for lack of there really being any music left that even resembled grunge), you quickly realize that they're playing to a crowd of die-hard fans here and little else. The crowd sings along accurately, receives the on-stage banter genuinely, cheers and laughs at all the right moments and help make this recording what a great live album should be - fun. One still wishes they were there, but the superior sound quality and perfect choosing of what had to be dozens of recordings of Auer/Stringfellow sets gets you about as close as you can without having been. The actual performances themselves are stellar. Stripped down (but not low-key by any means) this album actually comes across more powerfully to me than its sister-album released the previous year, "Alive Before the Iceberg," which featured what remained of the full Posies, with pounding drums and full-on distortion. This set includes many fan favorites, opens with the best version of "Grant Hart" I've ever heard and masterfully works its way through some of the best moments of this duo's already impressive catalogue. That, along with the on-stage banter make this an absolute must-have-and-listen-to-incessantly for fans and a respectable introduction for novices. It does come up a little short though, clocking in at only about 40 minutues and excluding what would have been welcome versions of "Dream All Day" or especially "Everyone Moves Away." But when the worst thing you can say about an album is that you wish it had been longer, that's a pretty good thing."