How Soon is Maybe? Five Bands that Should Reunite

Ever since the Pixies reformed in 2004 and proved that reunion tours aren’t just for dinosaurs, seemingly every notable indie band from the ‘80s and ‘90s has launched its own comeback. Pavement, Swans, and the Dismemberment Plan are among the hottest currently returning acts. Here’s a handful that haven’t that should.

1. The Smiths
Now that Pavement’s back together, The Smiths are the most beloved college rock band yet to reform. It’s not for lack of (others) trying, either: they were the leading rumored reunion for the 2009 edition of the nostalgia-heavy Coachella festival. Marc Spitz even wrote a novel called “How Soon Is Never?,” in which the protagonist tries to get the band back together. Alas, the members hate each other, and probably wouldn’t reunite for anything less than Police reunion tour-level money. Listen to "I know it's over"

2. The Replacements

The ‘Mats couldn’t reform with their original lineup, as guitarist Bob Stinson died in 1995, but Hold Steady guitarist Tad Kubler would surely be willing to take some time off from his main gig to help out the band that band that allowed his own cultishly adored Minnesotan boozy-smart bar band to exist. Bassist Tommy Stinson’s probably free because his current band Guns N’ Roses’ own comeback didn’t go so well. It all depends on whether leader Paul Westerberg is willing to put his solo career on hold, but if Pavement’s success is any indication, people would be more than willing to take their chances on this infamously messy Listen to "Bastards of the Young"

3. Archers of Loaf
This ‘90s band’s Chapel Hill loud-guitar contemporaries (Superchunk, Polvo) have reunited, so the Archers’ time is probably now. Of the bands on this list, recent history indicates that these guys are the most likely to be playing again soon. Judging from the warm receptions enjoyed by comparable bands like Shudder to Think and Cap’n Jazz, Archers of Loaf would attract larger crowds and greater recognition than they ever got when they were together. Listen to "You and Me"

4. Soul Coughing
The wave of reunification has thus far not reached the really dated, less-than-classic end of the alternative spectrum, but if it does, this band is the one that would be most interesting to watch reintegrate itself into the current landscape. Led by free-associative smart-ass (and Lang alum) Mike Doughty, Soul Coughing is what Beck would have been if he was from New York and actually a slacker. If Cake is still plugging along, why aren’t these guys? Listen to "Miss the Girl"

5. Nirvana

This would backfire horribly, but imagine if Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic got back together, with Courtney Love playing the part of Kurt Cobain. What better way to get into the spirit of misguided ’90s nostalgia than crassly and idiotically bringing back its biggest band? It would unify the Internet in hatred, be a glorious trainwreck, and make more money than the Police, Pavement, and Pixies combined. Listen to "The Man Who Sold the World"