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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, April 2, 2010

Like Nirvana, Jay-Z's a Hall shoo-in


By Jon Bream
McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Beck.

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You winced — didn't you? — when ABBA was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month. Or were you cringing when the Hollies were welcomed into the hall?

We all have our opinions about who should be in the Hall of Fame. Here are mine about some of today's big stars — those from the '90s and '00s who have released at least three albums — who have a shot at being inducted someday. (An act is eligible 25 years after the release of its first record.)

For starters, there's no debate about Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Green Day and Radiohead. They are first-ballot shoo-ins.

Here's an evaluation of others, in alphabetical order, rated from 0 to 100.

Backstreet Boys. This boy band was more popular than pivotal. 40

Beck. Inventive, adventurous, hip, even commercially successful. 88

Beyonc . Bedazzling onstage, on record and just about everywhere else. 95

Black Eyed Peas. The ABBA of hip-hop. Mindless fun. 58

Mary J. Blige. The Hall needs more women, especially ones who break new ground, like the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. 92

Mariah Carey. Big numbers don't guarantee induction. 62

Kelly Clarkson. The first "American Idol" had a big voice but no musical significance. 20

Coldplay. Second-tier but solid onstage and in the studio. 82

Creed. So they sold a lot of records by sounding like Pearl Jam. 22

Dave Matthews Band. The most popular live band of its generation also made some records that mattered. 87

Dixie Chicks. Broke ground with their music, feminism and politics. 92

Eminem. He seized the moment with button-pushing provocation and fabulous flow. 94

Flaming Lips. Clever, creative cult heroes. 65

Foo Fighters. They showed how to rock in post-grunge era. 80

Hole. One great album does not a Hall of Famer make. 40

Jay-Z. Made his mark as a rapper, businessman, executive and all-around cultural force. 100

Norah Jones. Defined a new brand of adult pop. 78

R. Kelly. R&B's sexy and oversexed superstar. 60

Alicia Keys. Modernized old-school soul. 75

Lenny Kravitz. Visually, the prototypical rock star. Musically, hopelessly derivative. 15

Lil Wayne. Ubiquitous on the radio, he was the first rapper to become a true rock star. 80

Marilyn Manson. Alice Cooper deserves induction before he does. 35

Matchbox 20. Too bland, too commercial. 25

John Mayer. Bona fide guitar hero, certified narcissist. 64

Alanis Morissette. Liberating female rocker, despite a diminishing career. 85

OutKast. Two landmark albums is enough for induction. 80

Nickelback. Aggressively mainstream, unarguably boring. 28

Nine Inch Nails. A compelling mix of danger, theater and industrial catharsis. 62

*NSYNC. A cut above Backstreet Boys, mostly thanks to Justin Timberlake. 50

Pavement. Beloved princes of indie rock were sloppy and inconsistent. 55

P. Diddy. More significant as mogul/producer than rapper. 60

Phish. Cult-loved live, but they never made an essential album. 50

Smashing Pumpkins. Self-important and important in the modern-rock world. 88

Britney Spears. Tremendous cultural impact, minor musical impact. 65

Stone Temple Pilots. Seattle sound-alikes don't mean much in retrospect. 25

Tool. Led Zeppelin for Gen X and Y, but do other generations care? 58

Shania Twain. She revolutionized country and struck platinum in pop as well. 62

Usher. Great dancer, great abs, not enough great songs. 40

Kanye West. This wonderfully creative auteur pushed the envelope for intelligent hip-hop and self-indulgent obnoxiousness. 95

White Stripes. Self-consciously quirky and inventive, but always exciting. 94

Wilco. Gods to their generation, Wilco is terrific live but less impressive on disc. 80

Lucinda Williams. The Queen of Americana is another woman the Hall needs. 96