In the last entry, the fifteen nominees for
this year’s class were ranked by hopefully objective merits. All attempts were made to remove personal
bias from the entry, even to the point of removing as many personal pronouns as
possible. Now, however, the other side
of the coin is revealed: personal tastes.
As stated in the past, considering personal tastes is not entirely
unfair. For starters, the Rock And Roll
Hall Of Fame states “unquestionable musical excellence” as pretty much the only
criterion outside of the twenty-five year rule.
However, there has never really been any clear cut guidelines on what
constitutes “unquestionable musical excellence,” yet the discussion of music
between people on an everyday level sees the word “excellent” thrown about
almost solely in the context of personal taste (unless someone is begrudgingly
acknowledging the musical proficiency of an act he or she doesn’t personally
care for). So, it is not unreasonable to
infer that when the people behind the Hall employ the phrase “unquestionable
musical excellence,” that those people are likewise influenced by their
personal tastes. So including a pecking
order of preference is perfectly appropriate to a discussion that forces one to
choose five out of fifteen.
Additionally, as I’ve said in years past, I’m honest enough with myself
to know that I wouldn’t vote solely on objective merit. What I like is going to come into play, but
it doesn’t rule all either. There are
acts I love that I wouldn’t vote for simply because I don’t feel they’re worthy
(some on this ballot). So for the sake
of honesty, it’s time for me to disclose how much I personally like or dislike
this year’s nominees.
1. Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double
Trouble: I won’t lie: I didn’t dare to hope that
they would be nominated, and I was so ecstatic when I found out that Stevie
was, and even more so when they tacked on the rest of the band. Nip that problem in the bud. Well done.
I love their exhilarating brand of blues-rock. Fantastic, life-affirming, raw. To recap, I called them the most deserving
candidate too.
Average of the two ranks: 1
2. The Spinners: Another act I just didn’t dare hope would be nominated. I love Philly soul, and I’m so happy they’re
back. I really hope they make it, not
just because I love them, but because the Hall needs some soul acts again, and
soon. But they only ranked ninth in
merits.
Average of the two ranks: 5.5
3. The Smiths: Those who know me are probably very surprised to see the Smiths
ranked this high. To a degree it is
surprising, but I can’t deny it. Between
Johnny Marr’s magical guitar playing and Morrissey’s almost hypnotic vocals,
the Smiths are just wonderful music all around.
They ranked fourth in the merits.
Average of the two ranks: 3.5
4. Joan Jett And The Blackhearts: As I said two years ago, the reason they have a chance of getting
in any given year is because of their fun-time rock and roll, with party jams
like “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” and “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” that most
people can and do enjoy. Unfortunately
for them, most people understand and many even agree with the rank of
fourteenth in merits.
Average of the two ranks: 9
5. The Marvelettes: As I also said two years ago when the Marvelettes were last
nominated, I’m not a huge fan. But their
stuff has grown on me a bit more recently, and I do enjoy the fun of early
Motown. Sixth for merit, as a reminder.
Average of the two ranks: 5.5
6. Lou Reed:
Much like Morrissey of the Smiths, there’s a calming quality to the man’s voice
that is unsettling in songs like “Walk On The Wild Side,” but hopeful in
“Perfect Day,” and some mix of the two in songs like “Satellite Of Love.” Recapping, he placed twelfth for merits.
Average of the two ranks: 9
7. War: Cool
songs like “Low Rider,” the fun of “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” the funk of “The
World Is A Ghetto,” “The Cisco Kid,” and much else of their catalog all serve
to place them squarely near the middle of the candidates, but they ranked
eleventh in merits.
Average of the two ranks: 9
8. Bill Withers: Makes sense for funk to be on the heels of funk, right? Alright then.
He’s best known for his smoother songs like “Lean On Me” and “Ain’t No
Sunshine,” and actually if those were more typical of his style, he’d rank
higher. “Grandma’s Hands,” “Use Me,”
“Make Love To Your Mind,” “Heartbreak Road,” etc. are also fine songs, I just
like the atypical stuff better. Very
close to his merit rank, which was seventh.
Average of the two ranks: 7.5
9. Green Day: Not a huge fan of modern alternative, but they are rather fun. “Minority” is probably my favorite song,
though I also enjoy “Warning” and “Basket Case,” and yes, as a teen of the
mid-to-late ‘90’s, my high school’s class song that year was indeed “Good
Riddance (Time Of Your Life).” Like Bill
Withers just above, they fall one lower in taste than their merit rank, this
time eighth.
Average of the two ranks: 8.5
10. Chic: ”Good
Times” and “I Want Your Love” were the only two songs I actually kind of liked
the first times I heard them. “Le Freak”
had to grow on me, though it hasn’t fully.
I still don’t like “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowzah, Yowzah, Yowzah).” Unlike the two artists above, they landed
exactly the same spot as they did on merits.
Average of the two ranks: 10
11. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: As much as I love Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble, you’d
think I’d love the Paul Butterfield Blues Band almost as much, but strangely
not so, though I like “East-West” and their version of “Walkin’ Blues” (though
I like Hot Tuna’s better). Dwindling
dangerously near the bottom this year both times, they were thirteenth in
merit.
Average of the two ranks: 12
12. N.W.A.:
They have a few songs I love, a few I think are okay, and several that are kind
of monotonous in their profanity and themes.
And with the limited catalog they have, not much room for that. Fortunately, they’re second in merits.
Average of the two ranks: 7
13. Nine Inch Nails: I have some bad memories of my college radio days, and Nine Inch
Nails kind of reminds me of them. Still,
attempting to distance myself from the memories, it wasn’t too bad. Unsurprisingly, I like the later, more
commercial stuff better. Also
unsurprisingly, not an act one should research when encumbered with a splitting
headache. They ranked fifth in merits.
Average of the two ranks: 9
14. Kraftwerk: Three of the top five deserving acts rank in the bottom five for
taste. I should either be applauded for
being able to at least recognize the worth of acts I don’t care for, or
chastised that I can’t align the two universes better. Still, I like much of the music that followed
in their wake. And I do like a few
songs, such as “Neonlichten,” an English-language cover of which is done by U2,
as well as the later remix of “Autobahn.”
Third in merits.
Average of the two ranks: 8.5
15. Sting: I
fell asleep the first time I tried to immerse myself in his solo efforts
more. His music bores me. I’m not a big fan of the Police either, which
alienates me from my eldest brother. I
did worry that my personal taste was influencing the merits rank too much, but
the circulating opinions on Future Rock Legends makes me feel comfortable that
ranking him dead last that time as well was indeed the right call.
Average of the two ranks: 15
So there’s an honest confession about which
artists would make my iPod and which ones wouldn’t. Coming soon, a look at how these ranks would
influence my vote (and how others feel about the nominees as well).
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