If it only takes critical love from music magazines to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame we can sign Wilco up in 2020.  This group rose from the demise of Alt Country band, Uncle Tupelo and raised the bar thereafter for Alt Country and Alternative music in general.  It isn’t just critics who love them as Wilco has developed a very sizable core audience and much love among those who love Indie music.  The latter is especially impressive considering Wilco has been part of a major label for the bulk of their career.  They may never had a major hit, but this is one of those rare bands that will never have to.

Right after the Three 6 Mafia won the Academy Award for Best Song from a Motion Picture in 2005, host Jon Stewart famously quipped “Three 6 Mafia 1, Marin Scorsese 0”.   It was a somewhat unlikely run, but it was the first time that many truly realized how far Rap had reached the mainstream.  Three 6 Mafia did not reach their heights by selling out, but by delivering the same type of Hardcore Rap they always did.  If this group can win an Oscar, can they win an induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well?

As Grunge ran its course and opened up the doors for commercially successful Alternative music, most took on a very serious tone.  This was not the case for the Presidents of the United States of America who despite their politicized name were a band whose music was chopped full of irreverent humor and frivolity.  As much as fun as they were, they weren’t taken seriously as a band (did they really try?), and fans weren’t interested to see what they would do next.  They are not Hall of Fame caliber, but they were a fun little footnote.

Primarily, in the mold of Art-Punk, The Dismemberment Plan followed in the footsteps of other artistic minded Washington D.C. Punk outfits.  The band was a solid fixture in the independent scene in the late 90’s but really broke out when they added an R&B element to their sound.  This help to usher in a danceable form of Punk that few were trying at the time.  This won’t be enough to gain them induction, but they make a great footnote in the Washington D.C. music scene.