If you've ever heard one of your favorite pop-punk bands talk about their influences, you probably noticed the name Lifetime. When the hardcore scene was at its peak, Lifetime strayed from the formula and broke the mold with raucous punk anthems and playful lyrics like "I'm gonna poke you in the eye."

It's been a year since Louis XIV first began pissing off conservative critics and radio listeners across the country with their debut single ("Finding Out True Love Is Blind") that pays tribute to women of all creeds and colors by propositioning them equally.

Flashback four years: Somewhere in suburban Chicago, local heroes Fall Out Boy are preparing to take the stage. Fourteen-year-old girls across America haven't heard the name Pete Wentz and MTV2 watchers, who have not yet succumbed to the power of "Sugar We're Going Down," have just awarded Michelle Branch the Viewers Choice Award.

Last year, the world was a-buzz about Montreal and her multitude of pop-music offerings. But what to do when it's time to move on? Make like a settler and go west, my son! More specifically, head to Vancouver, where clean streets and cleaner beaches don't stop the kids from making dirty, ironic rock. Here's a guide to the best of the west.

When SPIN.com featured Robbers as a Band of the Day just over a year ago, the quartet was about to release its debut full-length, Tree City. In the hectic months that followed, the band followed the basic trajectory for an up-and-coming rock outfit: They replaced a band member, played a major film festival, sold a song to a car company, and rubbed shoulders with Justin Timberlake.

By: Alexandra Gershman