These days, in the world of rock, too often do wires get crossed in a snarly network of countless subgenres and categories. New bands that are said to be the Second Coming are all too often the first to be going. It's fierce survival of the fittest out there, but it seems like change for the better has started to take place out of some cities.

From Seattle, a five-piece band called Underride has begun a revival of sorts, zapping the apathetic scene, using their hooky, guitar-driven brand of...