'Smile' is the new 'Fuck'

A while ago "Fuck" was the word all bans wanted to use in their name (Holy Fuck, Fuck Buttons, The Fuck, Fuck the Facts, The Fucking Champs, and so on). Well, I couldn't help but notice a new word has become popular among bands: Smile!

It's certainly more positive!

I don't know quite what creates band name word zeitgeists--both "black" and "deer" came before "fuck"--it could be the new president giving bands a new brighter outlook on life or the blame could simply fall in the hands of Brian Wilson, but let's look at a few of the bands from the "Smile" set.

A BRIEF SMILE. (MP3: "Motorcycle") The vocals sound a little too whiny for a band with "smile" in their name (though it is a BRIEF smile), but I love the noise in the beginning of this track. They're releasing three free EPs over the course of three months (May, June, and July).

ALL SMILES. Apparently, this is a super group of sorts with members of Grandaddy and Modest Mouse. So that should form your basis for judging this band. I could picture frontman Jim Fairchild having a big ol' smile on his face while singing these songs.

SMILE SMILE. (MP3: "Sad Song") Despite using the word smile TWICE in their band name, this one sounds like the saddest of the three...Heck, they even got a song called "Sad Song." Though hey are on tour now with Metric and Sebastian Grangier./span>