But for their latest disc, Wade wanted to flip the script, bringing a more casual and upbeat sensibility to the table. Evidently, people eat that up, too. The new Who We Are is having a nice run on the charts, and "First Time" is blasting out of lots of cars in America's heartland.

The guys -- drummer Rick Woolstenhulme and bassist Bryce Soderberg join Wade -- are out on tour with the Goo Goo Dolls, but when they recently hit New York we thought we'd give 'em a dose of our blindfold test. We spun them songs without telling them who the artist was. They took guesses and riffed on the music at hand.

Soul Asylum, "Crazy Mixed Up World" from The Silver Lining (2006)

Rick Woolstenhulme: Oh, this is uh...

Bryce Soderberg: Nice sounding little number...I've heard this voice...is it OK Go?

VH1: Soul Asylum.

BS: That voice -- we recognize it from [sings] "Runaway train, never going back..." That was the first song I ever put on repeat. Listened to it while riding home from school on the bus -- I was like 12. We just played with them and Cyndi Lauper.

JW: I got to go on stage with Cyndi Lauper and sing "Time After Time." She practically forced me to do it, but it was fun. That's a great song.

VH1: Are there songs you like to steadily replay these days?

JW: We're kind of obsessed with this new Silverchair song, "Straight Lines" -- it's great. The energy in the track, the emotion in the vocal -- it all adds up.

RW: I like the catchy chorus, but everything about that song creatively is outside the box. They're smart musicians.

BS: I was a huge fan of their fourth record, Diarama. It's like listening to Pet Sounds or Sgt. Peppers. Great songs, one after the other.

The Police, "Invisible Sun" from Ghost In The Machine (1981)

RW: Police!

JW: I'll take Police for 10.

RW: The Police are one of the best power rock trios that ever walked the planet, so we know most of their material. Stewart Copeland -- love him.

BS: We saw them playing the Grammys -- that was so cool. Just the three of them playing "Roxanne."

JW: I think Sting and Jeff Buckley have the two best male voices of all time. They've got the magic.

Tim Buckley, "Valentine Melody" from Tim Buckley (1966)

RW: Keane?

JW: That's Tim Buckley, isn't it? I bought every single one of his records, and I made it through three of 'em. A lot of 'em are not very good. I got obsessed with him for a while after I bought the book Dream Brother, which is his story. It's an amazing book, and so I bought everything he did, like 20 CDs. I'm not a fan of every song, but vocally, they're beautiful. I like Jeff Buckley better, but I love to see where it came from. I think the cool thing about Jeff Buckley was his guitar playing. Obviously an amazing vocalist, but check out his guitar playing -- very unique, very distinct, kind of experimental and beautiful.

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Rob Thomas, "This Is How a Heart Breaks" from Something To be (2005)

BS: This Matchbox? No, Rob Thomas -- his solo record.

JW: This is the second single, right? I recognize it. He's very identifiable. Our first tour was with Matchbox 20, so we got to hear that voice a lot. He's really talented.

RW: I ran into Paul the Matchbox drummer at the Paul McCartney show in Vegas, and he said they were getting back together. We just heard their new single, and it sounded good.

VH1: How was McCartney?

RW: He was McCartney, pretty much amazing. His drummer, [Abe Laboriel, Jr], is amazing, too. One of my idols I might say.

BS: He didn't get off the stage for two hours -- he brings it.

JW: Paul's high register is still spot on. He can really sing.

Sloan, "Listen To the Radio" from Never Hear The End Of It (2005)

BS: Oh, this is Sloan! They're from Nova Scotia, and are really big in Canada. Down here they're underground. They get respect from indie kids. They're probably one of the best '60s-influenced bands out there. Listen to this melody. Very Devo mixed with the Who, with some Zeppelin. Actually, it's one of the first riffs I learned on bass.

VH1: Do you still put on favorite tunes or riffs to play along to?

RW: All the time! Before every tour, I play a lot of records. Especially the older ones. Playing along to old Elton John records is great. They like a painting -- the music is wide open. I'm a big fan.

Kelly Clarkson, "Be Still" from My December (2007)

BS: I've heard this voice before. But I can't really say.

VH1: Kelly Clarkson.

JW: I was going to say Brandi Carlile or Rachel Yamagata. Wow, that's Kelly Clarkson? You never hear her sing this mellow.

BS: Like a Sarah McLauchlan vibe.

JW: I think she's got one of the better female voices out there. If you live in America you have "Since You've Been Gone" stuck in your head. That last record had some great songs on it. She wrote the bulk of this new one herself. Bet it's good. This sounds good.

Radiohead, "Climbing Up the Walls" from OK Computer (1997)

JW: Radiohead, love it. This is off OK Computer -- that record is amazing. Probably one of my top 15. I have friends who only like The Bends and OK Computer, and don't like Kid A or Amnesiac. But I have other friends that only like those last ones. I'm kind of in the middle. OK Computer -- I love every song on it.

VH1: Are there songs or artists you three don't agree upon?

BS: "The Macarena" or Right Said Fred. I'm really influenced by Chumbawumba. The Proclaimers...do you guys like 'em too?

JW: Rick's a big Police fan, Bryce is obsessed with the Who. I love the Beatles, Jeff Buckley, Elliot Smith. XO is probably one of my top three discs. I love it. I respect what these guys like, but we all have our favorites.