From Wales, the talent and overall ability of Super Furry Animals in unquestionable. 

Sugar Ray started out as a Funk Metal/Alternative Metal Band, but their true success was when they created a slickly produced Alternative blend of Pop.  Their songs were a little gimmicky, but it worked for them.  Sugar Ray had enough Alt appeal to work for some of that group, and the pretty boy good looks of lead singer Mark McGrath gave them an instant female fan base.   They scored two number ones and if they can gain a career renaissance in the next decade they could be a Hall surprise.

Sparklehorse was basically the one man operation of Mark Linkous who may have delivered the most introspective and morose songs of recent memory.  The music of Sparklehorse was laden with antidepressants and internal conflict, yet there was a hypnotic beauty to the music.  To the shock of few, Linkous committed suicide like so many in Rock has.  It is possible that one day the music of Sparklehorse will become more celebrated than on college radio.  It took Nick Drake decades to really become honored in the music world.  The same could happen here, if it ever happens at all.

Although Sleater-Kinney was not the first Riot Grrl band (or to some even a Riot Grrl band at all), they emerged as one of the highest regarded feminist based Indie Rock bands ever.  The band was poignant and powerful and could generate attention for their causes (regardless of what they were) with equal parts melody and articulation.   This was a group loaded with multiple sonic weapons and the only thing they were missing was commercial love to go along with critical respect and passionate fans.  Chances are they didn’t miss the commercialism that much at all, and the fans they have likely preferred it that way.