The Orange Humble Band – Depressing Beauty

Ken Stringfellow. Jody Stephens. Jon Auer. Chris Stamey. Mitch Easter. If you are of a certain gender (male), age (um…) and persuasion (into REM when Stipe had hair), then these names may well make your heart skip a beat. The Orange Humble Band may never have achieved either the commercial or critical success of the handful of bands whose various members reconvene here for their third album, but they continue to craft guitar pop that smartly references the late 80s college radio scene that kick-started their original careers.

Stringfellow, still possessed of one of the sweetest voices in rock, remains best known as the front man of The Posies and playing with Stephens and Alex Chilton in the reformed Big Star. Here, seemingly backed by a cast of thousands, he adds 15 more songs to his huge repertoire. Essential? Not even close. Impossibly likeable? For sure. [Gary Kaill]