You know what? Settle down - this swell of 80's influenced rock isn't going away anytime soon, and VHS or Beta's here to prove this ain't all bad.

In fact, their sophomore album manages to echo a cornucopia of the Big Hair Decade's alternative rockers without sounding too much like anyone of them (except, I'm forced to add, on "Staring at the Sun," where vocalist Zeke Buck does him damnedest to impersonate Robert Smith's stylings). Whereas most influence bands will garner one or two nods, be it XTC or New Order, VHS or Beta cover the spread -- including, and isn't it about time? --a certain Duran Duran-ness.

For the uninitiated: I welcome you to the blissfully fragmented music and bitingly concise lyrics of Stephen Malkmus. Welcome back, buddy. We missed you like one of those summer beers you wish you had in February. Deeeeee-lish.

The maestro of underdog (are-they-still-indie-rockers) is back. A few years ago I saw him play with the Jicks in LA. There were some dudes close to the stage holding up Pavement CDs while shouting, "Play Pavement!!!!" like it was their right. Well, dammit! That wasn't necessarily a fun thing to see, but everyone was thinking what these guys were drunk enough to say -- and the show did kinda suck. All I fucking wanted to hear was "Range Life."

It's like the Fab 5 took David Byrne on a whirlwind makeover, overhauling The Talking Heads frontman into a newer, sleeker package. That's how I felt about LCD Soundsystem upon first listen.

It's like the Fab 5 took David Byrne on a whirlwind makeover,
overhauling The Talking Heads frontman into a newer, sleeker package. That's how I felt about LCD Soundsystem upon first listen.

Alas, upon further inspection it's not Mr. Bryrne behind this
wonderful creation, but James Murphy from the DFA camp. Murphy's influences are felt through the tracks heavily, and he's the first to admit it, especially in "Losing My Edge" almost a parody of it's self.

Who says you cannot be depressed just because it’s spring? The third album from Stars will break and bend this rule and have you walking around in your warmest (vintage) blazer wishing the sun would go away. This might sound a bit melodramatic, but so is this album.

Hailing from cold, dark Montreal, Stars are no doubt a product of their environment. With solid songwriting and on-point brass and string sections, this may be the most painstakingly honest breakup album since Beck's Sea Change.

I thought I had seen the last of bands who donned only strategically placed socks during their shows. Imagine my surprise when I saw Electric Eel Shock drummer, Tomoharu "Gian" Ito, doing just that. I was so ready to hate these guys, but damn did they change my mind. What's not to love about this trio of Japanese guys getting shit faced, jumping and screaming on stage, faking sex with their guitars and using their bass as a pogo stick -- all while playing Van Halen riffs?

Their music can be described as garage rock, punk and metal thrown in for good measure, but more than anything it's just fun. You wouldn't guess how good they are from their track names. I mean, the album is full of tracks called "Suicide Rock'n'Roll," "Do the Metal, "Zombie Rock'n'Roll, and the like. "Do the Metal?" What?!?