Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Predicting 2024's ballot

 As we anticipate the announcement for the ballot for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year, I once again finding myself doing the last minute panic thing to get it posted in time.  But that's okay, because it forces me to be succinct.  Let's face it, the explanations matter less to most readers than the names in bold.  So, what are my picks?


First, I'll start with the newly eligible artists.  None.  Okay, but some thought Coldplay would be nominated once they presumably became eligible (until we learned of the adjustment), but I'm going to apply Occam's Razor to this one and say the Hall is showing their cards.  They could nominate Coldplay too, but they clearly want the White Stripes first.  So they make my list.  Among other nominees, I think A Tribe Called Quest will return, too.  The rationale is a little hard to explain, but Tribe is basically the first hip-hop repeat nominee that isn't a huge name or a foundational to hip-hop.  They're innovative, but they weren't as foundational as Grandmaster Flash And The Furious  Five or N.W.A. or as big as LL Cool J. So for them to be nominated twice already despite not being a bigger name tells me there's a burning desire around the hoagie for this group.  I also think Warren Zevon will return, just because he's been a long time coming, and if he needs a second nomination to get in, they won't give up right away.  And with Rage Against The Machine in, they may want to see if that truly does clear the lane for Soundgarden.

Using the past ceremony as a crystal ball, I imagine there will be a second hip-hop act on the ballot in the form of Outkast. Big Boi did a great job.  Sadly, I don't see Queen Latifah getting nominated or Salt-N-Pepa, simply because Tribe is a bigger priority for someone there.  I think the Dave Matthews Band will probably get another look as well, since Dave just did his best to be oh so charming and toe in the sand humble while inducting Willie Nelson.  I don't think he was insincere, mind you; I just don't like the idea of that attitude being the reason the Nominating Committee latches onto him again more than his music being the reason.  Now, some lamented there wasn't anything for the rock lovers, which I kinda disagree with.  There just wasn't any display of rock and roll as a form of male peacocking.  To which, I say, "So?"  But Sheryl Crow gave a really good performance that rocked, even if she had never brought out Peter Frampton to play with her.  But bringing him out was a big moment, and I think it'll serve as an impetus to get him in while he's with us.  

Conversely, I am kind of led to believe that there will be a moment of "Everyone loves you once you're gone" spirit that will probably see a nomination for Jimmy Buffett, an artist I have an aversion to mainly because of the fan base.  I do like some of his songs, and would probably like more if I did a deeper dive, but the extent to which "Margaritaville" (a song I like) has been transferred from an anthem about escapism to an anthem for the mindset of "any reason to get blasted is a good one"--which in turn is becoming escapism again because of the depressing economic realities younger generations are facing, there's no mindless partying anymore, it's escapism even when we call it partying and celebrating--is irksome.  It's become about the object rather than the reason.  Anyway, I see him being nominated.  

Looking elsewhere, just because I don't see every act returning to the ballot from last year, I think they'll go with Motorhead instead of Iron Maiden and give Cyndi Lauper a year off to go with Cher, just to poke the bear as it were and court controversy.  I'm guessing about sixteen nominees, and I just think it's a shame they snubbed Destiny's Child. I hope they rectify it.  For the older men in the room, let's throw in a possible nomination for Huey Lewis And The News, another name they may want to rush to honor while the lead man is still with us, but has had to give up touring.  Let's give another nod for Mary J. Blige and see if we can finally get Mariah Carey on the ballot too.  I'll even throw No Doubt on there too.

Lastly, for my left field pick, I'm going back to the removal of Jann S. Wenner altogether from the Foundation establishment, following his headlong rush to get canceled last year.  If there were any vindictive NomComm members who wanted to twist the knife, there is one act they could nominate to do that.  Even though there are no articulate women in this group, nor any articulate people of color, it would still bring a cheesy grin to those of us who know to see them nominated.  Reportedly on Wenner's "over my dead body" list, this would also be indicative of Sykes being at the helm because this was an act that really helped MTV in its first decade with programming, which then caused a resurgence in their popularity.  Naturally, I'm talking about the Monkees.  A left field pick to be sure, but think about it.

In closing, those are my sixteen names, and I'd also like to take this opportunity to commit a shameless plug.  Even though I didn't predict "Weird Al" Yankovic to be on the ballot, I did recently have the privilege to be a guest on the "My Weekly Mixtape" podcast, where the host, Brian Colburn, and I cast a vision of a twenty-song playlist that both symbolizes most if not all of the reasons why "Weird Al" should be in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and also displays what I believe is unquestionable musical excellence across his entire career.  Please go check it out; it would mean a lot to me if you would. And if Brian's wife reads this: Ross and Rachel were on a break.  Yeah, I said it. Whatcha gonna do about it, huh?

Saturday, January 6, 2024

Songs Of Proof: The Class Of 2023

 It's hard to type up a blog post on a phone, so bear with me until I have the time to purchase a new laptop.  But, I'm watching the ABC broadcast as I text this up.  So, I'll have ceremony thoughts while sharing my choices and thought process.  


Kate Bush:  It may seem like sacrilege to not use "Running Up That Hill" for her Song Of Proof, but stranger things have happened, thus marking the last mileage I intend to milk out of that joke.  Big Boi gave an enthralling speech, even when giving the prompter people flak for falling down on the job.  The performance of St. Vincent was beautiful, but I felt it was important to use another song, lest anyone think of Kate Bush as a one-trick pony.  And having few pop hits gave me a little more latitude.  But I didn't abandon the charts either.  A great middle ground and truly one of my favorite songs by this amazing artist, "Love And Anger" is a top shelf song that showcases Bush's signature avant-garde theatricality and intertwines it with a solid enough beat for those who would dare wonder what Kate Bush has to do with rock and roll anyway.  Plus, it was a number one hit on the Album (or Mainstream) Rock charts when it came out.  Underrated song that needs more attention, and I think it does justice on an objective level too.


Don Cornelius:  The segue from the Spinners tribute to this induction was clever, and the video package really was amazing for this man.  It's just sad that it's another example that the Hall is more of a rogues' gallery than an upright citizens parade (malaprop intentional).  But not inducting him would have been wrong too.  What "Soul Train" did for the African-American community is too significant to not enshrine him, especially since he had to be the one to get Dick Clark to back down with his copycat competitor program.  He went toe to toe with Dick Clark, whom you did not pick a professional fight with in those days, and emerged victorious, to elevate the Black community.  No, he needed to be inducted, warts and all.  And just as "Bandstand Boogie" represents Clark, the only choice for Don Cornelius is the MFSB (featuring the Three Degrees) classic, "TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)," which was the theme song, minus the singing of the name of "Soul Train."


Sheryl Crow: Her segment is really condensed and rushed.  But that's to be expected, condensing a 4.5 hour event down to under 3 hours to allow for commercials.  Anyway, Sheryl's music to me kind of has an alternative beach bum feel to it.  The kind of music someone on the beach plays who has nowhere else to be, but isn't the standard type of music you'd expect from such a character.  And that's not meant in a derogatory manner either. That's just the mental image I get of her music.  To that end, I wanted "A Change Would Do You Good," but it wasn't a Hot 100 hit.  Since her commercial success had a lot to do with her case, I felt it needed to be one.  "Soak Up The Sun" is a favorite but is a little too atypical.  "If It Makes You Happy," I'll admit I thought was an Alanis Morissette song when I first heard it, so no.  The final song standing is "Everyday Is A Winding Road," narrowly edging out "All I Wanna Do."  With a little bit of a road trip feel to its pacing and arrangement, it works the best for that "enjoying life" vibe that I feel is most signature of her music.  And hey, Frampton shredded wickedly while onstage with Sheryl and Stevie.  


DJ Kool Herc:  This was a tough one.  First, a quick side note, if someone is to be inducted as a "Musical Influence", in what is a renaming of the "Early Influence" category, then one should arguably have a catalog to go with it.  I personally would have gone with Award For Musical Excellence for him; I mean, they inducted engineers in that category, so why not Herc there?  I digress, and it seems that if you're not a Performer inductee, then whichever category they stuff you in is irrelevant.  I think it's careless, haphazard, and slipshod, but you're also all sick of seeing me tilt at that windmill.  His acceptance speech seemed incoherent in parts, but I think we can chalk it up to being overcome with emotion.  But with no substantial catalog of his own, choosing the song  for him was tricky.  I seriously thought about going with the James Brown song that they mentioned as being one of the songs that he kept using the break of that pioneered hip-hop.  However, since hip-hop originally started as the milieu and elevation of the deejay, I chose a different direction.  The song chosen is a little off, but bear with me.  Even though the credited artist is absolutely making the song about him, the lyrics namecheck Kool Herc as one of the innovators, and if you just go by the title alone, it could also apply to DJ Kool Herc as well, and how hip-hop was originally about the deejay and not the emcee.  So, for those reasons, the song used is "Girls Love The Way He Spins" by Grandmaster Flash.


Missy Elliott:  This was a great induction.  Queen Latifah gave a great speech, and the video package was on point.  It also makes it seem an induction for Timbaland is inevitable.  Missy's speech was wonderful, and her performance was the halftime show we need.  One of the things I heard said about her was that her sound still sounds current.  I'm not knowledgeable enough about hip-hop to weigh in on that, but it is a good listen at any time.  Thinking about how she wanted to head a label more than perform, I'm not sure if she didn't have confidence in her abilities or just wanted the label more to the point where she downplayed her abilities.  Either way, it just shows that brilliance can't and shouldn't be shrouded, and either way, her story shows that no matter how talented you are and how big the dream, to get it, you gotta "Work It."  Narrowly beating out "Get Ur Freak On," that will be the selection for her.  And if I'm in the wrong, hopefully it's no worse than a misdemeanor.


Chaka Khan:  I'm glad she's in, I'm sad it happened this way, because now there is no chance to have her be a double inductee.  But you can't be a double inductee if you can't even get in a first time.  Bird in the hand being worth two in the bush, and all that.  The song I'm using for her as an Award For Musical Excellence inductee is the same I'd have used if she'd been voted in.  "I'm Every Woman" is a powerful anthem and a party jam as well, and that's fitting because discovery of one's identity is worth celebrating.  It's a personal victory, and to quote "Avengers: Age Of Ultron:" victory should be honored with revels.  As far as her induction segment goes, H.E.R. absolutely killed it, as did Chaka.  Sia... thanks for trying, I guess.  And I have to give it up for Chaka acknowledging Tony and thus also the Hall's attempts to acknowledge Rufus as a band too.  Rock on Tony Maiden, sorry you got shafted by the voters.  Congratulations Chaka.  You are every woman in how you showed how hard it is for institutions to give women the laurels that are no-brainers to hand out.


Al Kooper:  The brass ring just always seemed to elude the man, but he had his hands in enough things to be significant.  I'm glad he got his due recognition and that ABC didn't excise his induction altogether for time's sake.  A hard one to choose a song for.  I almost went with a Lynyrd Skynyrd song; however, I felt he has been too much of a journeyman musician to not use a song he played on more notably.  Having played on "Blonde On Blonde," I decided that "I Want You" is the ideal choice.  The organ line is subtle to where you might miss it, but it really adds a lot to the song.  That really seems to symbolize Al Kooper's career as a whole, so this Bob Dylan song makes the final cut.


George Michael:  Andrew was a pure class act as the inductor, choosing to not even make a cheeky joke about how he's being excluded, only about how he was the cuter one, not George.  I loved his speech.  And he was the perfect person to accept the award in George's honor.  Much was said about Adam's reserved performance of "Faith," but not being a huge George Michael fan myself, I didn't care about how much sex the performance could have exuded.  That said, it was wooden, fir real, that son of a beech.  Sorry.  But literally standing still to a song with that danceable a beat is just bad showmanship.  Getting to the song, this was the toughest one to choose.  My rules about choosing a Song Of Proof disqualify all of his duets and Wham! classics.  "Amazing" is a fantastic song, but it's a little outside of his imperial reign as a megastar, so I felt it disingenuous to use that one.  And since even though I have readers, the Great Playlist is primarily a vanity project, I wanted it to be a song that doesn't make me bored by the second minute, which ruled out "One More Try," "Father Figure," and "Freedom ('90)."  Personal opinion, don't at me, he still deserved his induction.  It came down to two songs, and they both are highly sexual.  Opting to not deal with whether to use part one, part two, or parts one and two; I went with the simpler, anthropomorphic "Monkey."


Willie Nelson:  I actually streamed the livestream while I was delivering my route, and when I listened while delivering, I was initially really annoyed with Dave Matthews' speech.  He sounded rambling and clumsy.  Watching it with more focus on a sick day on Boxing Day, I appreciated his speech a lot more, especially the social commentary.  I really didn't like the weed jokes though.  It wasn't funny to say, "I don't know if you know this..." Everyone knows it, and some cynics claim that it was the weed and not the music that made Willie influential to rock musicians.  Fortunately, Dave's uncut speech did highlight some of Nelson's most important recordings, including the "Stardust" album.   Focusing on the music, I had my choice already, but the video package reinforced the decision.  Willie struggled trying to find fame via the traditional Nashville route.  He was doing well playing gigs, and really found himself and his style after relocating to Texas.  Being a good live act and all those open miles moving back to the Lone Star State, the obvious choice is the crossover hit, "On The Road Again."


Rage Against The Machine:  Honestly, put any song you want here for this band.  Even their cover of "Maggie's Farm" would fit.  I went for a song from the Rock charts, but even a non-charting song is just as appropriate.  The message of change and anger came through in every note and every song.  Ice T's speech was great.  Tom Morello's speech.... it would have been more meaningful in my opinion if he weren't an insider of the institution of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  Nonetheless, what he said was worth saying.  It's reminiscent of what Bernie Sanders has been telling people when he's had to suspend his presidential campaigns, telling us we can't hang all our hopes on him, that it's our revolution, our torch and pitchfork to carry, and our fight to fight.  "Bulls On Parade" is the choice, but there's no bad call here.


The Spinners:  So overdue, so welcome, so horrendous that this last nomination only happened because Thom Bell died.  But finally the Spinners are in.  I weep that the Hall's rushing headlong to more modern acts because given how the Hall operates, it means we can just forget ever enshrining the Stylistics, Delfonics, Chi-Lites, Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes, and all the other amazing soul groups of the '70s.  So much fertile ground there.  This also makes the insult of having no inductor for the Spinners even more egregious.  They got left off the original poster, and they're the only Performer inductee from this class to not get an inductor.  The Hall was just determined to do them dirty, but at least they corrected course to include John Edwards.  And New Edition really captured the spirit in their tribute.  Anyway, I long decided that "I'll Be Around" would be their Song Of Proof, and that still stands.  It has the funky beat that really shows the hybrid style that we call "Motownphilly."  There were a few close competitors though.  But in the end, that song was still around as the most solid example.


Bernie Taupin:  I'm so glad they kept Bernie's cutting remarks aimed at Jann S. Wenner.  Highlight for sure.  Anyway, with the ceremony running long as it was, I was kind of upset that Elton John performed "Tiny Dancer," as that's one of the notoriously longer songs.  I don't hate the song, just a little sick of it.  So, no, not the choice here.  Counterintuitively, I'm going with "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting."  Even in what is such a meat and potatoes rocker of a song, the lyrics still have some incredible poetic value.  Descriptions that evoke sensory triggers, metaphors, and social commentary are all found in this song that seems basic in some ways.  But it's not.  It may not be his most highbrow song, but it still shows his brilliance.  


Link Wray:  A triumph of an induction to be sure.  It'd have been nice to induct him as a Performer, and also a mention of the Ray-Men,  but under the circumstances, a Musical Influence solo induction is empirically better than a Singles not-a-category-category non-induction-induction.  Even though the Song Of Proof is "Rumble" for obvious reasons, I really appreciate the job they did to put some spotlight on his other songs, particularly "Rawhide."  On a personal note, I really like "Copenhagen Boogie" and "Ace Of Spades" as well.  Jimmy Page did a terrific job with the tribute.  A musicians' musician, it's so great that Link Wray got inducted.  Let's keep dismantling that bogus consolation prize and get Chubby Checker, the Chantels, and the Shangri-Las in 2024. 


And soon the Nominating Committee will meet to draft up that ballot.  The timeline has shifted for eligibility, and we'll see how that shapes things.  Meanwhile, putting a cap on the Class Of 2023 with a recap:

Kate Bush: "Love And Anger"

Don Cornelius: "T.S.O.P. (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" by MFSB featuring the Three Degrees

Sheryl Crow: "Everyday Is A Winding Road"

DJ Kool Herc: "Girls Love The Way He Spins" by Grandmaster Flash

Missy Elliott: "Work It"

Chaka Khan: "I'm Every Woman"

Al Kooper: "I Want You" by Bob Dylan

George Michael: "Monkey"

Willie Nelson: "On The Road Again"

Rage Against The Machine: "Bulls On Parade"

The Spinners: "I'll Be Around" (Vocal Group Hall Of Fame Song Of Proof: "It's A Shame")

Bernie Taupin: "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" by Elton John

Link Wray: "Rumble" (with his Ray Men)


Thoughts? Comments?  Make your voice heard below.


Sunday, May 21, 2023

Delayed Reaction 2023

 It's been over two weeks already, so most of what's been needed to be said has been.  So, we'll try to keep most of this short (famous last words).  The Class Of 2023 has been announced, and it's loaded. Good.  


First off, I went 5/7, so I feel pretty good.  I don't know how many did better, but I feel that's the modal average among those of us in the watching community.  Maybe not.  Either way, it's not bad.  Remember when I first reacted to the ballot and said to pay attention to Kate Bush and Rage Against The Machine?  I said at least one of those two was getting in, and I was right.  And it turns out both got in.  It's been a common thing lately with artists that are on the ballot three consecutive years.  Perhaps it's a matter of gaining momentum that they finally break through, but three consecutive ballots seems to be the magic number lately.  It's why I picked Todd Rundgren for 2021.  And it also resets the counter back to zero for acts like Dionne Warwick and Fela Kuti who weren't nominated for their third consecutive years.  

Aside from Rage, the Spinners were my other bracket buster and one of the two names that comes off the list I made almost twenty years ago.  And I'm so happy to be wrong about their chances.  This is big, and I'm here for it.

Sheryl Crow gets in, confirming the LinkedIn nature of the Hall and how relatively effortlessly a popular act can get in sometimes.  A lot of disgruntlement over her getting in, simply because she's such a "safe" pick, but you can't deny her ubiquity and how many songs of hers you know once you sit down and think about it.  Congratulations to her.

Not a lot of surprise about George Michael getting the votes either, though his name being announced just further stirs the pot regarding the fan vote, as he was the only one from the fan ballot to make it.  It's an annual heartbreak for us hobbyists who know how it works to see the disappointed fan bases, who think sheer numbers win the day and that they can love their favorite artists hard enough to get them inducted, like a Care Bear stare of clicks, only to see them find out that all those millions add up to one.  That's why it was kind of funny when the people from Africa on Twitter told the Hall to go sit on it and rotate last year after being duped about the importance of the fan vote for Fela Kuti, but I digress.

And congrats to Willie Nelson making it too.  There's been some discussion about who in the country world could be next for the Hall, but I'm going with a hot take here: no one.  I think the Old Town Road stops here for a spell, and I'll tell you why.  Dolly got inducted, and Willie is getting in for basically the same reason, and it's only partially about their music.  Willie was especially innovative with outlaw country, so it's defensible, but the real reason for those two names is their names.  Dolly and Willie are national treasures, and the Hall needs them for their cache.  After those two, there are no more country artists who are universally beloved who aren't already in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  Not Waylon, not Merle, not Kris, maaayybbeee Loretta or Patsy, but certainly not Garth.  In fact, Garth Brooks is almost considered a benchmark of country music truly losing its authenticity and becoming "Nashville pop."  Maybe his sales numbers get him some chatter, but if I'm trying to think like the Hall, they're gonna say "Amen" on country for awhile, congratulate themselves, and take a bite out of the hoagie.  

But big huzzah for Missy Elliott getting in.  She is truly deserving, and it is great that we finally have a female rapper getting inducted, hopefully not the last.  And it's so great that we finally have an African-American woman getting in on her first year of eligibility, as well, though I'm still really sad we couldn't have more in the form of Destiny's Child.  I said it then, and I'll say it again: if Beyonce is not good enough to be a double FYE, then who is?  Apparently Dave Grohl (not gonna argue against Lennon, obviously).

And that segues into the first point on the other categories.  Chaka Khan is getting in for Musical Excellence (the other name from the aforementioned list), and it's bittersweet for me.  If getting more women inducted is important, and it is, then having more women as double inductees should also be considered important, and I do not see any possibility of Rufus getting acknowledged now that this is happening.  I actually have a flicker of renewed hope for Chic getting in under the newly renamed Musical Influence moniker (more coming), but I genuinely do not see Rufus being nominated for the ballot now that Chaka is getting her laurels, nor do I see any special committee having any impetus to acknowledge Rufus in this way, not even to give Khan the second induction she absolutely deserves.

Al Kooper getting in is pretty cool, but I'm not especially thrilled.  Undoubtedly deserving, but growing up and listening to Oldies radio, he was always and exclusively referred to as the guy who was in Blood, Sweat, And Tears before they got popular.  I've enjoyed going down the rabbit hole of his career on Spotify, and I really hope the video package and induction speech do him justice.

There are two inductees that really make me tilt my head, but not because they're being inducted, but where.  The first is Bernie Taupin.  If there's any quibble with his merits, it's that as a songwriter, he had a client list of one, Elton John.  That's still a huge asset for him though, but when it comes to songwriters and producers, unless your name is George Martin, being famously linked to one name only is a roadblock to the Hall usually.  Even so, I have no qualm with Bernie getting in, but Musical Excellence is a bit of a headscratcher.  Songwriters traditionally get in under the Non-Performer category, so why Bernie here? But then again, I'm a Logical; I like structure, accuracy, consistency, and all that.  But I've also been following the Hall long enough to know that Hall gonna Hall.  So I just roll my eyes cynically, but still happy for Mr. Taupin.

But the Non-Performer we do get is a big one. Don Cornelius has been chosen, and it's a major form of representation that we thought if we would get, it'd be in the form of Thom Bell.  But this is huge.  Sadly, it also continues the trend of the Hall being a rogues gallery.  I admit, I knew nothing about the domestic violence until Joe Kwaczala brought them up on the reaction episode of "Who Cares About The Rock Hall."  But '70s soul getting a second representative this year is gladdening.  But I will add that between Taupin and Cornelius, the new line seems to be about what they did.  Songwriting is a part of the creative and creation process for music, which seems to justify Musical Excellence, whereas Cornelius was involved in the exhibition, the promotion of the music, so Non-Performer.  In short, the operative phrase is "music business," and if the former word applies to you more, you get Musical Excellence, whereas if the latter applies to you more, you're a Non-Performer.  But I'm sure that line will be erased next year so let's move on.  At least we didn't get any lawyers this time, to quote Michelle Bourg.

Moving onto the renamed Musical Excellence category... at least it's honest-ish.  I hope it doesn't preclude pre-rock acts from getting in anymore, and I really don't want the category to be a Veterans Committee category, though it seems that ship has sailed.  First though, Link Wray is going in, and a big hell yeah to that.  The completist in me wants the Ray-Men included, but I'd be lying if I said I thought that had a snowball's chance of happening.  But the big uptick to this is that it starts dismantling the sham that is the Singles "category."  In a way, it's giving Little Steven what he wants, but it's also what we'd rather have than that.  I really really really really really hope Chubby Checker is next.  The man deserves it.  Shut up; yes he does.  I really hope they do more than focus on "Rumble" too.  "Copenhagen Boogie" may not be as revolutionary, but it is a jam!

Speaking of revisitations, what one Podcaster said with irony, I'll say with conviction: let's talk about a band called Chic.  Think about it.  This is a band that has been sampled so many times in hip-hop that Musical Influence would absolutely befit them.  Their eleven nominations were always about Nile Rodgers, much to the Hall's detriment, but the rest of the group deserves the acknowledgment as well.  And hey, I'm sure his buddies would love to induct him a second time too.  Those eleven nominations will not have been completely in vain if we can induct this outfit into the Hall, and since categories are meaningless anyway, this would at least make sense under the new and tortuous parameters.

Speaking of tortuous parameters, that brings us to the last name, and an important one, but another one that shows the seeming meaninglessness of category distinctions.  DJ Kool Herc is a seminal figure in hip-hop and rightly belongs in.  Under the old guidelines, though, he couldn't have been in this category, even while they inducted Kraftwerk and Gil Scott-Heron as Early Influences, because he didn't release any records. Caveat: I've heard he has released an album, back in '15.  Is that correct?  Seems no one can find it.  Best I've been able to find is the collaborative album with Mr. Green, narrated by DJ Kool Herc, "The Last Of The 'Classic Beats'."  It's a short album and a good listen, but the music comes from Mr. Green, with spoken bits from Herc.  I would have put him under Musical Excellence for the energy of his live work at parties and such, and insisted that the Musical Influence category requires an actual discography, however brief.  But here we are.  And while it wouldn't be unwarranted, this induction actually does make it possible to induct ragtime pioneer Scott Joplin as a Musical Influence, even though there are no wax or vinyl recordings of the man playing his own compositions, as he created barrel rolls for player pianos to play his compositions in an automated fashion.  Again, not unwarranted, but seemingly previously impossible, given the Hall's previous methods of operation.  Heck, this makes it possible to induct classical composers now, who predated the recording technology, for the influence their works had on progressive rock outfits.  All things that were probably previously possible, but now have a precedent of sorts with Kool Herc's induction.

So that's the Class and those are my thoughts.  It's good to get another perspective after the news has settled and simmered a bit (though I wouldn't object to being on a reaction episode sometime), and I hope you've enjoyed it.  And yes, Brian Colburn, with a class this size, I already have a Playlist Wars-style playilst made for this class, and I'd enjoy knowing what your theoretical list would be too.  

Doubt I'll be able to attend the ceremony, but I still look forward to it.  Not ready to think about 2024 yet.  Just enjoying this moment.  Let's all do that: take some time and just enjoy the music.

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Predictions For 2023

 As I previously said, I don't have the spare time for the full treatment that I normally put into my predictions.  I'll still list them by seeds, but I'll just cut to what is usually just the "In The End" part.  No percentages either.  I'll just say I think that there will be six.  I just can't see the Hall inducting half the ballot, even though they've inducted 55% when they had nine nominees.  I think six will be the limit.  My seeds:


1. Willie Nelson He's a national treasure and the voters as a body won't pass up the chance.  

2. Sheryl Crow The Hall can be very LinkedIn-like sometimes, and I have to believe the connections are too many for her to miss.

3. Missy Elliott In recent years, the Hall has been on the ball about getting the titans of hip-hop inducted immediately, and I expect that to continue.

4. Warren Zevon I originally had him sitting on the outside, but those handling his affairs tweeted about the inductees being announced Wednesday, so I have to imagine they got the phone call.

5. George Michael I don't get it personally. His music is alright, but it doesn't move me. But I'm clearly in the minority.

6. Kate Bush If any of my predicted inductees were to be inducted in one of the other categories, it's her.  The astonishment of the "Stranger Things" rennaissance may have lost its luster, but the Hall will still want her in. And if not now, when?  So, I think she's getting in one way or another, but I'm betting she'll just have the votes this time.

7. The White Stripes The upset special.  May sneak in, especially if there is a seventh, but may just end up being the Radiohead this time, as in, "How the hell did they miss the first time around?".

8. Iron Maiden The other nominee that could get the Musical Excellence laurels, especially if Kate Bush does get the votes.  Just still not seeing them make it.

9. The Spinners Their nomination wasn't so much about them, in a way, as it was about Thom Bell, and it'll be him getting the Non-Performer induction instead of this group getting in as Performer or Early Influence. But boy would I love to be wrong.

10. Cyndi Lauper My intuition is telling me she was just the painful last cut for too many voters.

11. Joy Division/New Order This group could easily make a fool of me too, but I think it will take just a couple more tries to get them in.

12. Soundgarden I just see them splitting the vote against Rage Against The Machine, but they've got the support of musicians and writers.

13. Rage Against The Machine I just see them splitting the vote against Soundgarden, but they've got the support of the insiders at the Foundation.

14. A Tribe Called Quest With Missy Elliott on the ballot, no chance.  


Voila.  My predictions.  As for the other categories, I think Thom Bell could be a Non-Performer, and either Kate Bush or Iron Maiden for Musical Excellence.  Not sure if they'll actually have an Early Influence inductee or not. I think with the lack of inductors for three inductees last year, they'll want a smaller class to keep things tight, especially for HBO.  But boy would I love to be wrong.  We'll find out in a couple days.

Sunday, April 16, 2023

Personal Preferences Of The 2023 Slate

 Moving quickly to personal preferences of this year's nominees, it's been a bit of a roller coaster.  Since I listen to these artists while working, it's tough to not allow the stress of the daily workload or the amount or quality of sleep I got the night before, or if I wake up with a migraine affect my appreciation.  In other words, I'm human. Worse, I'm an adult who doesn't have the free time I once had.  Other than taking sick leave one day and a week FMLA, I've been working six days a week (minus weeks with holidays) since the week after Labor Day, and once, I got mandated on a Sunday.  Enough complaining though.  The reason why ranking by personal tastes matters is because it is an influential force in a voter's decisions.  And since a voter can only vote for five, sometimes the reason to choose an artist and not another is that a voter just likes them more.  So I give two ranks and try to average them out, and see how that works out.  And I'll be including favorite songs by each artist.  Onto the list.


1. The Spinners

I did not like this group when I first heard them, but they have grown on me, and now this is a group I really want to see make it just for the sake of my ears.  I love soul, many kinds of soul, many soul artists.  Especially vocal groups.  

Favorite song: "One Of A Kind (Love Affair)"

Merits Rank: 10

Average Of Ranks: 5.5


2. Sheryl Crow

I really enjoyed a lot of her duets and side projects in addition to her albums and singles.  And that's why "safe" music has a fighting chance.  You can just jam out to her.

Favorite song: "Soak Up The Sun"

Merits Rank: 13

Average Of Ranks: 7.5


3. Willie Nelson

The man of many nicknames, I find it simpler to just call him The Friendly Red-Headed Stranger Outlaw.  Whatever.  His music is fun to listen to, even if you're not a big country fan.  

Favorite song: "Roll Me Up"

Merits Rank: 1

Average Of Ranks: 2


4. Cyndi Lauper

Admittedly, my ability to appreciate her songbook interpretations are a bit more mood dependent than might be fair.  That said, when listening to just enjoy it, it's pretty fabulous overall.  If she's a K-Mart Madonna, point me to the blue light.

Favorite song: "She Bop"

Merits Rank: 14

Average Of Ranks: 9


5. The White Stripes

It's a Michigan thing.  Or it's just a matter of great music and great production.  And while all the iconic songs have Jack singing, can we just give some love to Meg's vocals too?  "In The Cold, Cold Night" is just plain sexy.  Not quite my favorite, but up there.  My favorite here has a pretty clear Kinks' influence, which I love.

Favorite song: "Apple Blossom"

Merits Rank: 4

Average Of Ranks: 4.5


6. Missy Elliott

My rule is that the favorite song must be one where she is the primary artist, but listening while doing other things and not always having time to glance and see who got top billing nearly makes it a matter of guesswork.  That said, there are some great songs where she is a featured artist too.  "Tempo" is awesome, as is "Told Ya," and "One, Two Step," to name a few.  "Whatcha Think About That" is probably my favorite feature of hers.

Favorite song: "Hot Boyz"

Merits Rank: 3

Average Of Ranks: 4.5


7. Kate Bush

Some of her higher register performances are a little difficult to me when sleep-deprived.  The fact that listening to performance art while doing blue-collar work is itself an odd juxtaposition, to a degree, but she still makes the upper half for taste.  

Favorite song: "Rubberband Girl"

Merits Rank: 11

Average Of Ranks: 9


8. A Tribe Called Quest

I still can't audiate a full song or remember much of what is expressed in the verses, but I can recall a bit more of the choruses' hooks, and they were catchy.

Favorite song: "I Left My Wallet In El Segundo"

Merits Rank: 5

Average Of Ranks: 6.5


9. Warren Zevon

My first listen through was a bit of a slog because it took me time to acclimate to his voice again.  He's an acquired taste to some extent, but he does have some fine arrangements.

Favorite song: "Excitable Boy"

Merits Rank: 12

Average Of Ranks: 10.5


10. Rage Against The Machine

Even though they're meant to be listened to studiously, the funky beats and rhythmic delivery by De La Rocha makes them good for grunt work too.

Favorite song: "Testify"

Merits Rank: 9

Average Of Ranks: 9.5


11. George Michael

Some of the more popular and well-known slow songs didn't do it for me.  "One More Try" bores me, as does "Father Figure," and they always did, even when I worked in radio.  There were some pretty cool and interesting finds though.

Favorite song: "Monkey"

Merits Rank: 6

Average Of Ranks: 8.5


12. Iron Maiden

This is the act that really suffers from listening to while working.  Prog rock and prog metal like Iron Maiden really requires time to sit and bask and savor the movements within a single song.  That said, I didn't hate them, and the riffs were pretty cool.

Favorite song: "Run To The Hills"

Merits Rank: 2

Average Of Ranks: 7


13. Soundgarden

Last time they were nominated, they really tanked on this list.  This time, I didn't find myself dreading the thought of listening to them again, but the favorite song is a Beatles cover from my least favorite Beatles album, so that's kind of telling.

Favorite song: "Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey"

Merits Rank: 8

Average Of Ranks: 10.5


14. Joy Division/New Order

The nice thing about the joint nomination is that I don't have to decide which incarnation I liked less.  If they're your thing, more power to you, but neither do anything for me.

Favorite song: "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

Merits Rank: 7

Average Of Ranks: 10.5


So, when looking at the averages, it appears my votes should go to Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott, the White Stripes, the Spinners, and A Tribe Called Quest.  And that's pretty close, actually.  I probably have voted fewer than five times (I'm a slacker), but when I have, Kate Bush has been in the five spot instead of Tribe, mainly because I just want to see her get cleared off the board. Rage, being insider and all, can go another round.  Announcements will be soon, and I'll probably have a last second prediction up that will look nothing like my usual format. Sorry.

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Merits Of The 2023 Nominees

After much longer delay than anticipated, I have the merit rankings up.  Short and sweet, the delay is because my laptop is on the fritz, so I'm putting this together on my phone, which is much more difficult. Forgive the typos and sloppy proofreading. If anything is unclear, ask in the Comments and I'll try to clarify.  As always, I'm using my I-5 system: Innovation, Influence, Impact, Intangibles, and Issues.  My apologies to those who wanted mentions of biggest singles and albums artists.  My research books are all in storage, and I don't have time to retrieve them.  And again, two brief reminders: one, I intentionally had issues for all nominees, simply because no one nominee is going to be unanimous on every ballot turned in.  However, the Issues stated are not my issues specifically.  They're more often than not ones I have already seen having been stated previously, or if not, ones that could conceivably be made, even if I don't agree with them.  Second, this is a ballot with fourteen incredible names on it, so being ranked low on this list is not a slight against the artist's overall worthiness of induction.  You know I want bigger classes and just putting in all fourteen would be fine with me.  The difference between any two spots is usually razor thin, and I made a lot of swaps and switches, so please don't take anything to mean so-and-so is unworthy. Not what I'm saying at all.  Onto the hopefully objective Merits rankings.


1. WILLIE NELSON

Innovation: One of the pioneers of outlaw country, which not only changed country music, but along with southern rock, helped bring country closer in spheres of influence with the post-British Invasion rock scape.

Influence: Massively influential in country music, but also influential in rock, as especially evidenced by the variety of duets he's done.

Impact: The man could pretty much do no wrong on the country charts. Much less successful on the pop singles charts, but still a handful of showings. Additionally, his work with Farm Aid has helped make him a national treasure.

Intangibles: He's also renowned as a songwriter, and an overall heavily awarded artist. He also had a Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor: Willie Nelson's Peach Cobbler.  

Issues: Along with the argument of country being in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, there's also the question of whether it was his music that was influential or his lifelong love affair with marijuana. Those who believe it was the latter may skip him to vote for an artist whose music changed the world, and not their tour bus. 


2. IRON MAIDEN

Innovation: They didn't invent heavy metal, but they elevated it with political themes and really helped cement the imagery of heavy metal that is often remembered.

Influence: Easily one of the most influential bands in heavy metal and hard rock.

Impact: A band of mostly middling album sales and nearly non-existent singles recognition in the U.S, they were much bigger in the U.K. Plus, their tours historically sold well, resulting in incredible name recognition.

Intangibles: Though not really a band member, their mascot Eddie just seems to be an X-factor for them. Additionally, they have something of an underdog legacy, overcoming a limited airplay handicap to still be considered a major player in the pantheons of rock, even in the U.S.

Issues: They're a band many know the name of, but not a band casual listeners would instantly recognize if one of their songs came on the radio or streaming service. You've heard of them and know something about them because somebody you can tolerate in small doses is emphatic about them.  


3. MISSY ELLIOTT

Innovation: Not too sure about this one. Admittedly, I'm not knowledgeable enough about hip-hop to state what makes her sound unique.

Influence: Very much yes. Via her commercial success, she opened up doors that myriads of female rappers have stormed through, and many have taken after her style, as evidenced by her many, many features.

Impact: Her lowest charting studio album peaked at #13, and between her lead and featured singles, she has charted over 40 times on the Hot 100, and that's not even getting into the R&B/rap charts.

Intangibles: While not the first female rapper to become famous to mainstream audiences, the level to which she became famous, particularly on the strength of Supa Dupa Fly, makes her a force to be reckoned with.

Issues: The "features" aspect of rap culture makes it murky to determine any given participant's strength as an artist, and she has more charted credits as a featured artist than as lead artist.


4. THE WHITE STRIPES

Innovation: While rock and roll is itself most predominantly based in the blues, they upped the bluesy level into a distortion-driven alternative rock style.

Influence: Their credit as one of the last great rock bands is partially due to the number of alternative-rock bands that took cues from them.

Impact: Three Top Ten albums and eleven charted singles on the Alternative Rock Charts (in the States)

Intangibles: Jack's continued career as a producer and solo artist has only heightened the production values and musicianship of the duo's catalog.

Issues: Relatively limited catalog, due to breaking up near the height of their powers, so not a lot of longevity.


5. A TRIBE CALLED QUEST

Innovation: When you talk about about formative acts of the sound of '90s hip-hop, this outfit is near the top of the list.

Influence: Their influence on hip-hop and rappers to come, as well as on their contemporaries was massive. Widely influential.

Impact: A handful or two of charted singles. Albums charts, four top ten albums with a fifth that is critically well-regarded.

Intangibles: With their level of artistry, and renown of the individual members, they're a synergy, so much more than the sum of the parts.

Issues: You've heard of them if you're a music lover, especially of hip-hop. If you're a casual pop music fan, the name "A Tribe Called Quest" probably sounds like the name of a video game.


6. GEORGE MICHAEL

Innovation: Seemingly little, though his British take on new jack swing in a few of his records was novel.

Influence: Larger than expected, even namechecked by inductees in the past couple of induction ceremonies.

Impact: Possibly the biggest pop singles act on this ballot, with multiple #1 hits, and even bigger in his home country of the United Kingdom.

Intangibles: Incredible versatility, he could go from new jack swing to ballads to dance songs. His voice could adapt incredibly well to what the song required.

Issues: Big Hall versus Small Hall debates might involve debates about why there isn't a joint nomination for the Wham era, and an exclusion of Andrew Ridgeley.  If Joy Division and New Order can be combined, why not Wham and George Michael solo? This may cause a detraction of votes.


7. JOY DIVISION / NEW ORDER

Innovation: Early post-punk band that helped define the style and on the ground floor for a lot of the synth-pop dance sounds of the '80s.

Influence: Both incarnations were influential in their respective styles that they helped pioneer, often namechecked as influences.

Impact: Two major albums from Joy Division, more from New Order, whereas New Order had more albums and a few charted singles on the pop charts, and much more a force to be reckoned with on the dance charts.

Intangibles: The ubiquity of the album cover for Unknown Pleasures gives them a cultural presence outside of the music itself.  

Issues: They've got a few. The infamy of Ian Curtis's death almost outstrips the legacy of Joy Division's music. The stylistic differences between Joy Division's catalog and New Order's are pretty significant, and New Order formed too quickly, relatively speaking, for that difference in styles to be a natural evolution of Joy Division's sound--when put together, it speaks to argue against the joint nomination. Additionally, the fact that both band names have had to be repeatedly defended against allegations of ties to white nationalism doesn't help all that much.


8. SOUNDGARDEN

Innovation: Despite spending more years paying their dues, they were one of the first on the scene to help define the sound of grunge.

Influence: While not as big as a few of the major grunge bands, they were an incredibly influential band, due in part to their being among the first grunge acts.

Impact: They had a serious string of hits on the Album/Mainstream Rock and Modern/Alternative Rock charts.

Intangibles: As another band with a mythos surrounding their lead singer, it helps elevate their legacy.

Issues: They're not Nirvana. Or Pearl Jam. They will always pale in comparison to those two, and maybe even next to Alice In Chains, and that will make them look less worthy, perhaps unfairly.


9. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

Innovation: Among the pioneers of nu metal, combining punk, rap, metal, and even elements of reggae, and brought it as close to the mainstream as can reasonably be expected.

Influence: Because their scene was more underground, it's a little harder to measure, but a lot of the nu metal bands took their lead from this band.

Impact: A few charted songs on the Album and Modern Rock charts, and a couple charted albums.

Intangibles: There is a sense of authenticity to them, and congruity with their name, their music, and their image offstage.

Issues: Their lyrics are often incomprehensible, so you don't know what they're saying, only that they're angry. Additionally, not big on longevity.


10. THE SPINNERS

Innovation: Despite not really inventing Philly soul, their style was more rhythmically driven, funkier even, than several of their contemporaries, making it something unique that they brought to the table.

Influence: The genre of soul greatly shifted while they were at the height of their powers, but there is some influence upon the likes of Daryl Hall And John Oates, as well as subsequent musicians.

Impact: They paid their dues and still had some chart action in the '60s, then became huge in the '70s and continued into the early '80s with the hits.

Intangibles: Though not their biggest success, they were on Motown, which the Hall has a great respect for; then they were one of the biggest acts in the style of Philly soul, which appears to need more representation in the Hall.

Issues: Phil Spector famously fought against the inductions of the Ronettes and Darlene Love, believing that he was the real artist, and the singers were essentially as much session musicians as the Wrecking Crew. Some feel that way about Philly soul, that producer Thom Bell deserves all the accolades, and the artists were inconsequential.


11. KATE BUSH

Innovation: Her sound is incredibly unique to her that it cannot be called anything but groundbreaking. Her infusion of Celtic, Bohemian, and so many other influences is just staggering.

Influence: Big Boi from Outkast is a noted fan who took songwriting cues from her, as do a lot of singers and songwriters. The most direct descendants of her sounds would be artists like Tori Amos, Dido, and Annie Lennox.

Impact: She's much more commercially successful in her native United Kingdom, but even in the States, she had several charted albums and songs on the Mainstream Rock charts. And the resurgence she's had because of "Stranger Things" has caused her music to be rediscovered.

Intangibles: Her performances pioneered the usage of headset microphones. More importantly, her overall level of artistry, particularly by Western standards, is extremely high.

Issues: Her self-imposed decisions regarding her output and public appearances in general, let alone touring, have diminished her ability to reach larger audiences and reach superstar level.


12. WARREN ZEVON

Innovation:  Even though he's one of several singer/songwriters from the '70s, his style is a little different, in a way that isn't quite "coffeehouse," but has a little more infusion of different styles, making something a bit different.

Influence:  His strongest category, he has been a very influential figure, especially among other singer/songwriters.

Impact: A smattering of charted albums, only two Hot 100 hits, but thanks to David Letterman, and a ubiquity for the one big hit, his is a name whose name has traveled a little further than may have been expected.

Intangibles: An artist's artist, a songwriter's songwriter, a critic's wet dream.  

Issues:  From a technical standpoint, he's not that great of a singer, and many would be hard-pressed to know him for anything beyond the familiar "Ah-ooooo!" song.


13. SHERYL CROW

Innovation: I give her credit for bringing an updated and maybe even alternative feel to a pop sound that has a very "beach music" feel.

Influence: Not a particularly strong category for her. Probably some artists that are just not coming to mind right now.

Impact: A fairly respectable run of charting singles, and her albums do well.  

Intangibles: An in-demand duet partner, indicating some level of musical versatility.

Issues: "Picture." Also, her music has a tendency to be labeled "safe" which hurts her rock cred.


14. CYNDI LAUPER

Innovation:  Not a strong category for her.

Influence:  More so for her style than the music, perhaps, but her brand of pop has had ripples that still continue to reach.

Impact:  Several Top Ten hits, with some additional hits on top of that.  Plus, she's a name that keeps coming up, whether it's her songwriting or her part in Cosentyx commercials, she keeps resurfacing.

Intangibles:  Her songs have aged better than a lot of songs from the '80s, she is a heavily awarded artist, and some may have even forgotten that she duetted with none other than Frank Sinatra.  Even if it is a Christmas song, that's not a gig one could have landed without being incredibly talented.

Issues:  Those less prone to carefully compare and contrast might dismiss her as a K-Mart brand Madonna. Additionally, there's a difference between being a song interpreter and being a songbook interpreter, and some may feel she became the latter after having too short-lived a prime period.


So there it is.  My rankings.  Break out the tar and feathers.  Or just write your thoughts in the Comments below.  Enjoy!




Sunday, February 5, 2023

Yikes And Away: The Ballot Of 2023

On Wednesday, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame announced the nominees for their Class Of 2023.  It's a name so full of good names, that it leaves one feeling underwhelmed.  Maybe it's because most of the names should have been inducted awhile ago, or maybe it's just a short-circuiting from inability to decide whom we'd vote for.  In my case, it's also because except for one, none of them are acts I listened to in my teens or twenties.  But I always enjoy brushing up on the nominees, so I'll be enjoying the process.  Ranking them in future lists may be extremely difficult.  Woe is me.  

Running down the nominees, we begin by running up a hill, because Kate Bush has been nominated again.  And Rage Against The Machine has also been nominated for the third consecutive time.  Keep an eye on these two.  They are names we are starting to get tired of seeing, but there's a good chance one or both of these two will get in.  

Among the widely predicted, Missy Elliott appears as a newly eligible (more on that to come).  The first female rapper nominated, and the only Black woman on the ballot, it's possible the Hall was just trying to keep the lane relatively clear, but it ends up not being a good look.  It'll end up looking even worse if she doesn't make it.  Looking at who else I predicted, George Michael has finally been nominated.  I'll just say right now that my rankings for both merits and personal taste will exclude Wham, which could be good or bad for him.  I love "Freedom" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," but I loathe "Careless Whisper" and "Last Christmas."  So, none of those songs will be factored in, though probably three of those will be included when I binge his material to get a fuller understanding and appreciation of his catalog.  And the last name that I got right was Sheryl Crow, which was pretty much just about reading the cues and seeing how much she'd been playing ball with the Hall.

Onto the names I didn't predict, congrats to those who correctly picked Cyndi Lauper to find her way onto the ballot.  I don't have the same level of fandom for her yet, and maybe won't, but I'm certainly intrigued by the rise in popularity and will be curious to see how she comes out.  I'm not sure how many picked some of the other nominees either, but I understand there'd been at least one prediction for Willie Nelson, which is pretty cool.  It'll be interesting to see how much of his cache and clout leading up to his nomination is really about his music, or if it is, as Kristen Studard hinted, all about the weed.  Returning to the ballot, as some predicted, is Iron Maiden, taking the apparent metal slot, with Judas Priest being in now.  Pretty cool as well.  We need more metal in the Hall.  I'm not sure how many predicted A Tribe Called Quest to return.  I sure didn't.  I figured them for a one-and-done like other important, but not widely popular hip-hop acts like Eric B. And Rakim or Afrika Bambaataa.  This could be a new turning point for the Hall.  Stay tuned folks.  The return of Soundgarden isn't too huge a surprise, as it's pretty in line with what Sykes has been trying to accomplish.  In contrast, the return of the Spinners to the ballot is a bit of a surprise, but a very welcome one, as my years of listening to Oldies radio while doing homework are being revisited by this nomination.  It's nice to get nostalgic.  But the Spinners aren't the only callback to the '70s, as Warren Zevon is on the ballot.  I have his album My Ride's Here, but I haven't listened to it in years.  It'll be nice to acquaint myself with that again, as well as his other songs that aren't "Werewolves Of London."

Moving on to the final two, it's pretty cool to see Joy Division/New Order nominated jointly together.  At least, it's cool as long as the Hall doesn't bungle the PR on it like they did with the Small Faces/Faces situation.  That was truly embarrassing, as the people at the Hall made it clear they didn't even believe what they were saying in defense of it.  With this grouping, it's defensible, and I'm not opposed to it.  Admittedly, there is a bit of a stylistic difference between the two eras, but that's true about groups that didn't change their name when personnel changed, like with Genesis, or Van Halen.  Just because Joy Division sounded more akin to the Cure and New Order to the Pet Shop Boys doesn't mean it wasn't a natural evolution that happened to coincide with the personnel and name changes.  Like I said, as long as the Hall doesn't screw it up, it's good.

The last nominee, and the one that's getting the attention, is the White Stripes, a band that I somehow missed during my college radio days.  By all previous measures, they weren't eligible until next year, but because the Rock Hall's calendar got jostled off-cycle by the pandemic in 2020, the Nominating Committee is now meeting in the same year as the induction ceremony.  It certainly simplifies the math of it all.  The only problem I really have with this nomination and tweaking of our understanding of the 25-year rule is that it signifies the Hall's definite and indefinite commitment to a schedule cycle that no one really seems to like very much, if at all.  At least, we in the fan and watching community don't like it (and I haven't heard anyone in the Foundation speak positively about it either).  Joe and Kristen got exhausted with the extra work and lack of downtime, or at least the time to do lighter episodes about artists that aren't in and have never been on the ballot, like Pixies, to allude to an early episode.  Eric and Mary have also expressed disgruntlement about the schedule, though their "except the Mondays we're not" caveat hopefully gives them a little buffer to help them keep their sanity.  I really haven't heard anyone say they like this schedule, and that includes me.  With this schedule, I'm almost certainly never going to be able to attend an induction ceremony, as I'm never able to roll over vacation time because I'm always under scrutiny for too many hours during the fiscal year, unless I'm able to owe vacation time and earn it later in the fiscal year.  But even then, our busy season really begins after Columbus Day, so being able to get approved for vacation in late October or early November is incredibly difficult.  And with Cleveland in the cycle for the ceremony, it'll be even worse with the volatile autumnal weather.  Take it from a native Midwesterner: no one wants to visit Cleveland in early November.  This new schedule is apparently here to stay, much to our chagrin.

There's really no issue with the nominees individually.  There's a lot of concern about diversity not being the greatest, especially racial diversity, but when you consider each nominee, it's a pretty solid ballot.  And that's kind of what is to be expected with a collaborative effort.  Compromises made resulting in only big names getting through instead of more dangerous and offbeat possibilities.  The extremely experimental artists are omitted, as are the dangerous ladies for whom it'd be on-brand to set literal fire to things during their performance instead of having only have blazing and incendiary lyrics.  But for me, the biggest disappointment and biggest letdown for diversity is that Destiny's Child didn't get nominated.  With no nomination of Destiny's Child, we will not be having Beyonce as a double-FYE (first-year eligible) inductee.  If Beyonce wasn't good enough to be a double-FYE, then what woman is?  Make that "would have been," because I honestly don't know of any other woman from this point forward who might possibly be a double-FYE.  Admittedly, I'm not up on modern music, so I genuinely don't know.  Destiny's Child was a huge part of the late '90s and early '00s soundtrack; just because Beyonce's solo career has surpassed the group's efforts doesn't mean the group should have been ignored.  I'm not even a member of the Beyhive, and I'm dismayed about this.  This absolutely should have happened, and with this small a ballot with this little representation of racial minorities and women, it's inexcusable that it didn't.  

So yes, there are fourteen great nominees on this ballot.  Only a couple actual surprises, and to parrot Michelle Bourg, Kate Bush being the consensus pick is wild.  But here we are, and soon there we will be: evaluating, predicting, commenting, critiquing, awaiting the category picks, and hopefully even attending.  Except for me on that last one, unless a miracle happens.  This new calendar sucks.