Best time of my life

Labels are tricky things: if they peel off, they leave residue. Such is the fate for a band or an artist who’s been affixed. They may transcend the tag they were given, but the tag leaves a ghostly stamp.

I wrote recently about The D4, the rocking New Zealand band who emerged during the “rock and roll aughts,” and their two great records, 6twenty and Out Of My Head. Among other bands who popped up in the 2000s with shaggy hair, skinny jeans, and loud guitars, I’ll cast a vote for The Star Spangle...