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.

Many bands seemed to be primed for something big and then wind up having to settle for just a devoted cult audience.  In the case of the Delgados, they didn’t even get that.  As much as their Lo-Fi brand of Indie Rock was respected and they got positive press from critics, they seemed to get lost in the shuffle, and they lacked that certain intangible that could have got them more notoriety.  As it is now, this is a band that will likely have to settle for being a band that some Indie fans liked, but couldn’t get passionate about.