Rock N Roll Kings

So Ken's John Brannon/Laughing Hyenas post got me thinking about the biggest names in underground rock n roll from the 80's to today. Or, as I like to call this period, "my time." Below are my results (IN a particular order). Note that to make the list you had to be unreal great for a sustained period of time (although later you could suck), not too popular (hence no Billy Joe, Kurt Cobain, etc) and what I loosely define as A GAME CHANGER.

1. Paul Westerberg (early to mid Replacements era). The best lyricist of the group, wonderful songwriting, surprisingly good guitarist. Westerberg captured the awkward years of your late teens and early twenties, while transforming the furious energy of hardcore into some unforgettable melodies. Granted, the Replacements are now pretty well known, but it's not like KFOG ever played Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out.

2. Greg Cartwright (Oblivians, Compulsive Gamblers, Reigning Sound). May pass Westerberg, might have already. While Cartwright started out as a beer soaked blues punker, his music later became, dare I say it, roots rock? Well at least more traditional, which in his case didn't equate with boring.

3. Kim Salmon (Scientists, Beasts of Bourbon, Kim Salmon and the Surrealists). Dark, hard- hitting stuff whose musical touchstones included Hank Williams, 60's garage groups and, of course, The Stones. Lyrically, Salmon is transfixed by all of the upbeat stuff in life like U.S. trailer parks, Elvis impersonators, and junkie girlfriends. Don't bring this music home to mom.

4. Mick Collins (Gories, Andre Williams' Silky album, Dirtbombs). Granted, his songwriting can be more than suspect at times, but you could easily make a mix with 20 great tunes of his. And it’s nice to hear a brother's voice for a change. Collins brought some much needed soul and vocal talent to the underground.

5. J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr. through Bug). A first class asshole by most accounts, but You're Living all Over Me and Bug are the purest of sugar sweet highs. It's no accident they covered Frampton.

6. The Hunches (the whole freakin band and all of their records). I know nothing about these guys individually and long periods of time go by between plays. But I'm always amazed at how good this band is. Noisy as all hell, but beautiful hooks and musicianship. I suppose you could say The Hyenas started this sound, and you're right. But I just think consistently The Hunches write better songs.

7. Bob Mould (Husker Du up to but not including Candy Apple Grey). Sort of a deconstructionist in terms of the early Husker stuff who gave Ginn a run for the money in terms of aggression. A recent listen revealed them to be more punk (and great) than I remembered. Listen to that live album. The Du just burn through their set like the most possessed of queers.

8. Jay Reatard (The Reatards and solo). The youngest guy here, but his zeal may propel him to the near top of this list in the future. The most recent collection of 45's is just chock full of great tunes. New wavy, but with guitars and a keen sense of melody.

9. Greg Ginn (early Black Flag). Destructo guitar architect for LA's darkest musical moments. Ginn was the most innovative guitarist of the 80's and with Chavo equated to just a beast of a band.

10. Jon Spencer (Pussy Galore, early JSBX). Yeah, I know he became an annoying clown, but the early stuff was pretty ingenious and gasp! He actually had a live schtick and put on a show. An early warped, fun sense of the blues and showmanship are what landed him here.

The on deck circle....The Black Lips, and..... The Jonas Brothers.

Let the brawling begin. But you gotta list your own if you object..