Talking Heads Come on, David Byrne, start making sense: It’s time to press-gang Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth and that drummer guy back into service—but not merely to perform the same old songs about buildings and food; we don’t need you as a nostalgia act. No, these queasy times demand their own brainy, angular, itchily anxious, polyrhythmic soundtrack—one filtered through your now-mature perspectives on life and loss. One more thing: Leave the Big Suit in mothballs. –Scott Dickensheets

Pavement Tempted as I am to wish for a Neutral Milk Hotel resurgence, I fear Jeff Mangum’s second act couldn’t possibly live up to the first. So I’ll go with a group that could actually pull it off. In part it’s a selfish thought, since I missed out on a handful of chances to see Pavement in its day, but more so I’d just like to know whether Stephen Malkmus is as shot a songwriter as his solo fare suggests, or if placing him alongside Spiral Stairs again could rekindle his fire. Here’s hoping we find out. –Spencer Patterson

ABBA That’s what this dreary recession needs. What would be superfabulous is this: Anni-Frid, Björn, Benny and Agnetha rekindle their efforts, comb out the long hair and beards, don the sparkly pantsuits and come up with something even more swimmy/pop/dreamsicle than “Dancing Queen.” We could break out the roller skates and love potions and choreograph our lives to be, as Muriel from Muriel’s Wedding says, “better than an ABBA song.” If only. –Stacy J. Willis

Genesis No, not the Phil Collins version (as if you had to ask). Unlike Collins, Peter Gabriel has managed to remain respectable, and fans certainly remember his stint with Genesis fondly. And come on, who wouldn’t want to hear The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway live in its entirety? –Ken Miller

Soundgarden Rumors abound that the ’90s grunge titans are on the cusp of a reunion; band members are getting together to compile a box set, and Kim Thayil, Ben Shepherd and Matt Cameron played three Soundgarden songs together at a benefit concert in Seattle in March. Soundgarden is one group from alt-rock’s heyday that never outstayed its welcome or suffered an artistic decline, and the fierce Seattle foursome could certainly show today’s bland hard-rockers a thing or two about songwriting and musicianship. –Josh Bell

Uncle Tupelo With the original Jayhawks lineup playing select dates and Texas wailers Slobberbone rocking together again this summer, why not the godfathers of alt-country? Well, co-founders Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy reportedly can’t stand the sight of one another, so that’s a hurdle. And Tweedy’s doing okay with his little side project, Wilco. But neither Farrar nor Tweedy has been able to recapture the gritty urgency of his Tupelo-era work. Play “Factory Belt” once and tell me you wouldn’t be front-and-center at a reunion show. –Patrick Donnelly

The Archies Where to begin? Jughead’s eating disorder. Reggie’s conniving to supplant Archie as de facto bandleader. Archie’s juggling of the Betty and Veronica “two-headed Yoko.” All of it derailed the band soon after “Sugar, Sugar” topped the charts for four weeks in 1969. But if Reggie can finally accept his role, Jughead can gorge without the purge and Archie can keep his hands off the women, the band has a second chance. –John Katsilometes