In his boisterous directorial debut, "That Thing You Do!", Tom Hanks's record-executive character Mr. White makes the following request: "I want something peppy, something happy, something up-tempo. I want something snappy." Mr. White would have loved the Wellingtons.

In 1983, Dom Mariani and Richard Lane formed the Stems, one of the most tuneful and tasty garage rock bands of the era. Avid fans of pop, R&B, and 60'...

With an absolutely ferocious, borderline-insane live show that's been talked about all over Europe for the last couple of years, the Disciplines are no longer a side project. They're a real band.

In a world without record stores, live shows fill the void, and the universal language of music is never more tangible than experienced from right in front of the stage at Fillmore, Coachella and the Greek, and this is what I listened to.

The Posies, who for more than two decades have staked their claim as one of the finest power-pop bands in the world, have announced the upcoming release of their first new album in five years.

If you amassed a decent music collection during the '90s and '00s, then there's a good chance you own at least one record on which Jason Falkner has played, written or produced.

Although Crash Test Dummies and Tonic technically might be classified as "nineties bands," both groups' latest offerings are a couple of the best albums of their careers and should be taken seriously in 2010 and beyond.

Rachel Flotard, the do-it-all frontwoman for power-popping, Seattle-based Visqueen is planning a fundraiser, promoting a record, running her own label, preparing for a trip to Southeast Asia in December and hustling to book a major tour for 2010.

R.E.M. will be releasing Live At The Olympia, a 39-song, two CD set containing "working rehearsals" from 2007. I was lent a track that captures the band's energy and insightful views.

Is there something in the air? Not since the Sixties has there been such an explosion of duet albums (at least in rock and roll).

Smoking Kills was one of the best import releases of 2008, and with two extra tracks added, it's now one of the best albums to come out Stateside in '09.

The new and unlikely power-pop supergroup featuring members of Smashing Pumpkins, Cheap Trick, Fountains Of Wayne, and Hanson, sound like a bona fide band, and a damn good one.