My Inspirations

Originally I am going to say this one is a tie between the Eels and Weezer : they are both VERY hard-working bands, with members who know what it takes to be successful, and they both have some amazing (mostly happy/positive) songs and impressive albums!
 

I also like a lot of Pinback songs, and especially some of the members' side bands;
 

Rob Crow: (his name and one of his many bands) for the songs:
Forced Letter, Chucked, Taste, Scalped, Tranked, If Wade Would Call, and Purpose.

Rob's band: Optiganally Yours for the songs:

Gepetto, Night Shop, Held, Hope in Your Eyes, Pirates and Monkeys, and Bionic Whale.
 

Zac's band: Systems Officer, for their songs:
Stand Bye, Forever This Cyanide, Hael, Uhiju, Signature's Red, Sand 1 & Sand 2, and Oui. 
 

Some of my other favorite songs include: 

Alt J: "Lovely Day," 

Blur: "Good Song,"

Radio Head: "15 Step," "Reckoner," "I Might Be Wrong," and "Optimistic"

The Stranglers: "Golden Brown"

Karen O, Danger Mouse: "Lux Prima"

Foo Fighters: "See You," and "This is a Call"

I also like a lot of:

Gorillaz,

The Smashing Pumpkins,

Poolside,

Michael Jackson,

and

The Beatles