Spin.com is currently streaming “Licenses to Hide,” a new track off ‘Blood/Candy’ featuring guest vocals by Lisa Lobsinger of Broken Social Scene. Listen exclusively here.
“Licenses to Hide” is emblematic of the new album’s adventurous attitude, with a dizzying amalgamation of parts, not unlike a piece of musical theater. After opening with a somber, piano-led musing, where Stringfellow delivers a line about “feeling so old” backed by the Posies’ trademark, chill-inducing harmonies (with an assist from Broken Social Scene’s Lisa Lobsinger), the track veers into both ’70s arena rock (think Styx, in a very complimentary way) and a Billy Joel-like, storyteller-style chorus.
“‘License to Hide’ is one of two songs on the record that I think is so completely out of left field for us,” says Auer. “I always thought that the Posies should have something that resembles a showtune in our canon… On a certain day, it could be in one of the Muppet movies — and I mean that in a good way.”