The Posies were one of the most popular power pop bands of the '90s; along with Matthew Sweet and Teenage Fanclub, they helped update the classic sound for the alternative age, marrying bright, British Invasion-style melodies and harmonies to loud, grungy guitars and quirky lyrics. Centered around the partnership of Jonathan Auer and Ken Stringfellow, the Posies made a critical splash with their home-recorded debut, 1988's Failure. The ornate, polished sound of their first major-label album, 1990's Dear 23, gave way to a tougher, more guitar-based style on 1993's Frosting on the Beater. While the Posies broke up in 1998 (Auer and Stringfellow began solo careers), the pair reunited throughout the 2000s for albums and live work, eventually making their way to a 30th Anniversary tour in 2018.