Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Freshman 2022
While the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame doesn’t plan on having their nominating committee meet for the Class of 2022 until after the new year, we still have a pretty good idea of who is eligible based on their guidelines. Typically, there are 15-18 artists total who are nominated and two first year artists eligible for the first time, which I will assume will remain true here.
In this post, I will discuss artists who are eligible for
the Hall for the first time and whether I think they have a shot of being
nominated this year. Artists are
eligible if their first release was released 25 years prior; in this case, this
would be 1996 or earlier (25 years before 2021, when the committee would
normally meet had it not been for Covid).
In this post, I am only considering artists who released their first
album in 1996 (with the exception of Slipknot, who released a demo album in
1996 prior to their debut album in 1999).
I expect Eminem will be nominated, but the second nominee isn’t a lock
(though I think Fiona Apple is most likely).
I sorted artists into 5 categories:
locks, most likely, possible, less likely, unlikely, and no chance. I sorted artists in possible by order of most
likely to get nominated and those in the other categories by alphabetical
order.
Lock to
be nominated (1)
Eminem
· For
o
Considered one of the greatest rappers of all
time
o
Influential as a rapper and lyricist
o
Immense commercial success
o
Multiple albums and songs that are considered
legendary
o
Among the first white rappers (if not the first)
to be taken seriously nationwide
o
Still popular after 25 years
o
He inducted Run-DMC in 2009, which tends to bode
well with nominations
·
Against
o
He has generated much controversy over his lyrics
and image over his years
o
Many are still opposed to hip hop artists being
inducted
o
He has released several underwhelming albums
o
While he hasn’t been cancelled, many of his
early lyrics haven’t aged well
·
Verdict:
He gets nominated and inducted no problem
Most likely
to be nominated (1)
Fiona Apple
·
For:
o
Every album she released has been acclaimed critically
o
She is influential and many have expressed
admiration of her work
o
Has found commercial success with her albums and
some singles
o
Has won several awards for her work
o
Has performed on tracks with other Hall of
Famers, including Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, and Johnny Cash
·
Against:
o
She might be considered too weird stylistically
o
Only had one commercial hit in the U.S., “Criminal”
o
Has only released 5 albums
o
Isn’t as much of a household name as most first-year
nominees
·
Verdict: While
not a lock to get nominated, I think she will and then not be inducted
Others
that are possible (5)
Matchbox
Twenty
·
For:
o
One of the more popular from the late 90’s through
mid-00’s
o
Found an incredible amount of commercial success
on albums and singles
o
Their debut, Yourself or Someone Like You,
received praise
o
They seem to have avoided the bad taste of other
post-grunge bands
o
Rob Thomas inducted Chicago into the Hall
·
Against:
o
Were never particularly influential on music
o
Most of their albums received mixed reviews from
critics
o
Post-grunge has not been viewed positively as a
genre
o
I’m not sure how many people think of them when
they think of the era
o
Has been largely inactive in the studio since
2003, only releasing 1 studio album since
·
Verdict:
If Apple isn’t nominated, I seriously expect it’ll be them
NSYNC
·
For:
o
They are one of the most popular and important boy
bands
o
They were one of the biggest bands in the late
90’s and early 00’s
o
They have influenced several pop artists
o
Important in influencing rap, R&B, and
electronic sound in pop
o
Both the group and Justin Timberlake have inducted
artists into the Hall
·
Against:
o
Boy bands typically do not find much success in
terms of nominations
o
Several albums of theirs received mixed reviews
o
There is some recent backlash towards Justin
Timberlake’s past treatment of Britney Spears and Janet Jackson
·
Verdict: While
I wouldn’t predict them get a nod, they are a serious possibility
Erykah Badu
·
For:
o
An early pioneer of neo-soul, she is nicknamed “The
Queen of Neo Soul”
o
Released several important and influential
albums, including Baduizm
o
Made a massive impact on several musicians to
follow
o
Was influential in black culture in the 90’s and
still is today
o
Found a good amount of commercial success
·
Against:
o
No neo-soul artists have ever been nominated and
few 90’s R&B/soul artists have
o
She has made several controversies in several
years that could create backlash
o
Her most recent album was released in 2010
·
Verdict: While
a serious possibility, the recent controversies might keep her away from a nod
Belle &
Sebastian
·
For:
o
They have released several critically acclaimed
albums
o
Some commercial success in the U.S., but a good
amount in the U.K.
o
They are one of the faces of indie pop in the 90’s
and 00’s
o
Their catalog is longer than most other serious
contenders
·
Against:
o
Few indie artists have received a nod, and no indie
pop bands have
o
After their first few albums, you won’t see any
albums considered all-time greats
o
They didn’t achieve the commercial success in
the U.S. others did
o
I don’t think they’re a big enough name to be
nominated their first year
o
I don’t think they were influential to rock or
their genre as others
·
Verdict: I
don’t expect them to get a nod, but if Apple isn’t chosen, we could see them
Fatboy Slim
·
For:
o
While not the first, he is one of the most
important big beat artists
o
Influential in sampling, electronic music, and
crossing over into indie/alternative
o
Multiple beloved albums, including You’ve
Come a Long Way, Baby
o
Still has many fans in the industry
o
A well-regarded live artist
·
Against:
o
Electronic artists have not historically received
nominations
o
Is arguably a 1-hit wonder in the U.S., as only “Praise
You” reached the top-40
o
His most recent album, Palookaville, was
not well received
o
His impact might not be as recognized in the
U.S. as it is in the U.K.
·
Verdict:
Due to the uncertainty of how to treat electronic music, he won’t get a
nod yet
Less
likely (15)
Deerhoof
·
For:
o
Have a devoted following among fans and musicians
o
Several indie/noise musicians have deemed them
influential
o
Hall of Famers like David Bowie, Foo Fighters,
Phil Lesh, and Radiohead were fans
o
Large catalog of positively reviewed releases
·
Against:
o
Stylistically are super weird
o
Several critics were not fans, especially of
their early work
o
Likely aren’t popular enough outside of their
genre
·
Verdict:
Considering I’m slightly shocked Frank Zappa is in, I don’t expect them
to get in soon
Destroyer
·
For:
o
Several releases have garnered critical acclaim
o
Seem to be beloved within the indie community
o
Garnered attention for their songwriting and
performing
o
Praised for their experimentation in genres
·
Against:
o
They are not a well-known band outside of indie
circles
o
Have not found anywhere near enough commercial
success to garner attention
o
Took until the 2000’s for them to become a somewhat
known artist
o
The only indie band to make noise, The Smiths,
were not inducted
o
Likely too eclectic by some standards
·
Verdict: I
could see them getting love in a couple decades, but no nod for now
Fountains of Wayne
·
For:
o
They had multiple albums that received positive
reviews and acclaim
o
Late member Adam Schlesinger was praised as a
songwriter and producer
o
“Stacy’s Mom” became a smash hit and has been
well received
·
Against:
o
They are a 1-hit wonder, as they are primarily
associated with “Stacy’s Mom”
o
Few albums had enough commercial success to
justify it
o
Few power pop bands have received consideration
and fewer Warped Tour groups have
·
Verdict: While
an interesting consideration, they won’t get a nomination
Foxy Brown
·
For:
o
Immensely popular for a time period in the 90’s
o
Was the second female with a number 1 album with
Chyna Doll
o
Influential on several female rappers, including
Nicki Minaj
o
Has been praised for her delivery
·
Against:
o
Legal issues limited her career to 3 solo albums
o
No female hip hop artists have been nominated
o
She only had 1 single that reached the top 40
o
Many seem to remember her for legal issues
instead of her success
·
Verdict:
While it won’t happen this year, I wonder if it could happen in the
future….
The Get Up
Kids
·
For:
o
Incredibly influential in Midwest emo music,
which shaped a lot of 2000’s rock music
o
2nd album Something to Write Home
About is a legendary emo album
o
Never released a bad album
o
Have a devoted cult following fanbase
·
Against:
o
No emo band has been nominated (unless you count
Green Day’s 2 2000’s albums)
o
Likely not commercially successful enough
o
5 of their 6 albums didn’t receive critical
acclaim
o
Other more influential emo bands haven’t been
nominated
o
Probably not a big enough name
·
Verdict: They won’t get a nomination yet. Maybe if other emo bands do first?
The Hives
·
For
o
Never released a bad album and multiple albums
received acclaim
o
Their second album, Veni Vidi Vicious, is
regarded as a classic album of the decade
o
Have energetic live shows and a devoted following
o
They had multiple hits in Europe
o
Feel like a band that the Hall would love
·
Against:
o
They are not at all a household name
o
They weren’t particularly popular in the U.S.
o
Not as well-known as other garage rock revitalization
bands
·
Verdict:
They won’t get a nod this year, but expect them to get one within the
next 15-20 years
Lil’ Kim
·
For:
o
One of the biggest females in hip hop, called
the “Queen of Rap”
o
Never released a bad album
o
Paved the way and expanded what many female
artists could rap about
o
Found commercial success in the U.S.
·
Against:
o
Not as well-regarded as other inducted hip hop
artists
o
No female hip hop artist has been inducted
o
Few releases received overwhelming acclaim
o
Not often considered among the all-time great
rappers
·
Verdict:
She won’t be the first female hip hop artist nominated; maybe after
Missy Elliott
Maxwell
·
For:
o
One of the earliest and most influential
neo-soul artists
o
He found critical acclaim as a performer,
songwriter, and producer
o
Both him and his work seem to be beloved and
praised by others in the industry
o
Still has a large following
·
Against:
o
No neo-soul artists have ever been nominated and
few 90’s R&B/soul artists have
o
He has only released 5 albums since 1996 and 2 since
2002
o
Isn’t as much of a household name as other
neo-soul artists
o
Erykah Badu is also eligible this year (could split
the committee)
·
Verdict:
I think he has a shot in the future, but at least D’Angelo and Lauren
Hill must come first
Nickelback
·
For:
o
One of the most commercially popular rock bands in
the 21st century
o
While frequently criticized, the criticism has
waned in recent years
o
One of few bands to crossover into hard rock and
pop fandom
o
Every album since 2001 reached top 10 and have
had several top 10 and top 100 singles
·
Against:
o
They have been the runt of jokes regarding their
lack of creativity
o
Have never released an album that was well
received by critics
o
Post-grunge music hasn’t been well-received, and
they are the face of the genre
o
Most artists who were hit makers without
influence didn’t get nominated initially
·
Verdict: Their
only hope is that more post-grunge groups than Foo Fighters get in
Patty
Griffin
·
For:
o
She found critical acclaim in multiple releases
o
She found some commercial success and some
crossover outside of Americana music
o
Multiple artists outside of the genre have
expressed admiration, including Kelly Clarkson
o
She has received multiple Grammys
·
Against:
o
No Americana artists and few folk artists have
received nominations
o
She likely isn’t a big enough name to warrant a
nomination
o
She might be viewed as too country and not
enough rock
o
She hasn’t seemed to receive a ton of attention
in the rock world
·
Verdict:
While it’s not impossible for to get a nomination, it won’t happen this
year
Porter Ricks
·
For:
o
Their debut album Biokinetics is
legendary in the world of electronic
o
They were influential in dub techno music
o
They found critical acclaim
·
Against:
o
The only electronic groups to get nominations
are Depeche Mode and Kraftwerk
o
Dub techno is likely too obscure to get any love
o
The name isn’t a household name or even a known
name
o
Albums after their debut didn’t have the same
level of influence or acclaim
·
Verdict:
They are likely too unknown to receive any serious consideration at any
point
Robbie
Williams
·
For:
o
Massively commercially successful in the U.K.
o
Legendary celebrity and icon in the U.K., as
well as praised as a vocalist
o
Several albums that received decent reviews from
critics
·
Against:
o
Didn’t have enough success outside in the U.S.
to be justifiable
o
Boy bands and former members of boy bands have
not fared well
o
Several releases of his received mixed reviews
o
Not unanimously praised
·
Verdict: He
won’t get nominated because his U.S. success couldn’t match his U.K. success
Slipknot
·
For:
o
One of the most known hard rock/metal bands
right now
o
They have made a name for themselves with their
live shows
o
Most of their albums have been well received
with some receiving heavy acclaim
·
Against:
o
No nu metal band has gotten in and the genre is
generally criticized
o
Metal bands typically don’t get nominated in
their first year of eligibility
o
Many metal fans are not supportive of the group
o
Some might consider them to be trying to make a
show more than making music
·
Verdict:
They’ll need Korn to get in before they can get a nomination, which won’t
happen soon
Spice Girls
·
For:
o
One of the most popular girl groups worldwide
(as well as pop groups of the era)
o
Massively commercial success in both Europe and
the U.S.
o
Several of their songs seemed to be remembered
fondly and are growing in reputation
o
Extremely influential in pop music and pop culture
o
The Hall seems to want to induct more female
artists
·
Against:
o
Several releases (songs and albums) received mixed
reviews
o
They have a large number of detractors due to
the style
o
The Hall is often not supportive of females
promoting feminism on their first time
o
Girl groups (or pop groups for that matter)
typically miss out in their first year
·
Verdict:
They won’t get a nod this year, but I think they will in the future
Staind
·
For:
o
They were one of the most popular rock bands in
the 2000’s
o
They released multiple songs that still get
substantial rock radio play
o
One of the more notable artists of their genre
o
Seem to have a big following in classic rock, which
could help
o
Lead vocalist Aaron Lewis has found solo success
(though in country music)
·
Against:
o
Their albums were generally poorly reviewed
o
They are one of the post-grunge bands with the
most detractors
o
Their styles of music (post-grunge and nu metal)
tend to be negatively reviewed
o
Didn’t really have a massive influence on the music
that came after them
·
Verdict:
They aren’t beloved enough to get a nomination
Unlikely
(18)
Andrew Bird
He found some critical acclaim, but his short commercial
prime and the fact that he’s an indie artist (a genre that doesn’t typically
receive nominations) virtually kill his chances.
Apocalyptica
The group found popularity, but few metal bands have been
nominated, and no symphonic metal or cello based groups have been. You can probably connect the dots there.
Aqua
They were a wildly successful dance-pop group during the
late-90’s throughout Europe, but the only thing they’re remembered for outside
Europe is “Barbie Girl”; that doesn’t help their cause.
Calexico
They certainly found critical success, but no alt-country or
Tex-Mex artists have ever been inducted, and very few have been nominated. I don’t think they are known enough to
receive a nod.
Damian
Marley
Since reggae nominations are sparse, what Marley has going
for him is commercial success, some critical success, and (most importantly)
his name. That said, there are other
artists they would choose first.
Death in
Vegas
While the electronic group has found success in the U.K. and
received some praise, they aren’t the big name needed to break the electronic
stigma in the Rock Hall.
Dru Hill
The R&B group had a string of hits in the 90’s but are
likely not known as the biggest group of the genre and era. I think there are many others to induct
before even wondering if they’re worthwhile.
Galactic
The jam band has a dedicated fan base and is praised for
their tours, but jam music doesn’t typically get nominated and there are more
notable names that need to proceed them.
Ghostface
Killah
While an influential and important rapper, I don’t see him
getting a nomination considering Wu-Tang Clan haven’t received one yet either.
Gillian
Welch
While she is a praised performer who found critical and
commercial success, she is likely better described as country or bluegrass,
likely limiting her chances of ever being nominated.
HIM
While the gothic rock group has been one of the more
commercially successful gothic rock groups and found success, the only gothic
rock group to get in is The Cure, and they had more crossover success.
Joan of Arc
While an important and influential band in Midwest emo, their
polarizing albums, lack of commercial success, and not being a household name
limits their chances.
Les Savy Fav
Their eclectic style, critical acclaim, and cult following
should warrant some consideration.
Ultimately, the best case for them might be Tim Harrington’s stage
presence, which will limit their chances.
Savage
Garden
The pop group had several hits in a short run in the late
90’s-early 00’s. The reason I think they
have less of a shot than other pop groups is that they aren’t remembered in the
U.S. the same way others are.
Slightly
Stoopid
The eclectic psychedelic group has found commercial and
critical success, as well as a cult following from their live shows. That said, they are probably too weird to get
in at this time.
Skillet
While they found immense popularity and are one of the most
recognizable Christian rock groups, I don’t think they have the influence on
rock to get a nomination.
Trans-Siberian
Orchestra
They are the most commercially successful American symphonic
metal band by far, but the fact that they’re symphonic metal and almost more
known for Christmas music make them an unlikely choice.
Travis
They might be one of the most notable post-Britpop acts and released
a legendary album in The Man Who, but that album doesn’t make up for the
lack of U.S. success and positive reception otherwise.
No chance
(19)
Arab Strap
They had critical acclaim, but a lack of commercial success
and influence outside of slowcore will make it virtually impossible to be
nominated.
Az Yet
The R&B group was a two-hit wonder and one of them was a
cover song. Add to the fact that no 90’s
R&B group has ever gotten in and their odds don’t look good.
Bill Orcutt
While a talented musician, the eclectic guitarist didn’t
find anywhere near popularity to even have his name mentioned as a nominee.
Brendan
Benson
While a praised and respected musician, his shot of getting
inducted is based on if the Raconteurs get inducted; his solo career wasn’t
enough.
Cursive
Their album The Ugly Organ might have found critical
acclaim, but it wasn’t popular enough outside of indie and emo scenes for them
to warrant serious consideration.
Duncan Sheik
While his single “Barely Breathing” was a massive hit, he is
a one-hit wonder who wasn’t too influential, limiting his potential to be nominated.
Fastball
They found immense success with “The Way” and some with “Out
of My Head”, but weren’t popular or influential enough to receive series
consideration for a nomination.
Fun Lovin’
Criminals
The eclectic alternative/rap/several other styles group
gained a cult following and found much success in Europe, but likely didn’t
have the acclaim or U.S. success to warrant serious attention.
Jeremy Enigk
He is considered influential in emo music as the vocalist of
Sunny Day Real Estate, but his solo work didn’t make a mark and the group never
got a nomination. He can be ruled out.
Mazinga
Phaser
The group didn’t have commercial success, are still unknown,
weren’t particularly influential, had a short career, and were a weird
genre. That seems like the perfect
recipe for not getting in.
Mike Patton
The vocalist has received critical acclaim with multiple
projects, his most known is Faith No More.
The issue is that none of his groups have ever received a nomination, so
those would come first.
Lit
At this point, the pop punk group is only known for “My Own
Worst Enemy”, their only top 100 hit.
Their two successful albums were only big because of the song, so this
isn’t the place for them.
Nada Surf
The alternative group didn’t have enough of either commercial
success, critical acclaim, name recognition, or influence to get serious
consideration, despite a long career and dedicated following.
Primitive
Radio Gods
They had a big alternative radio hit in “Standing Outside a
Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand”, but didn’t have much more besides
that. The song likely didn’t do enough.
Rainer Maria
While they were an early emo group, they didn’t have the commercial
or critical success other groups who haven’t been nominated found. In other words, they can be ruled out.
The Rasmus
They might have found some success throughout Europe with a
few of their albums, but the lack of success in the U.S. will not garner them
any support.
Robert
Pollard
While it is worth noting he is the vocalist of the
critically acclaimed indie group Guided by Voices, it is also worth noting they
never received a nomination, so neither will he.
The
Soundtrack of Our Lives
The Swedish alternative group was successful in their home
country, but was largely unknown outside their home country. Not enough people know of them to grant a
nomination.
Will Haven
The noise-metal/post-hardcore have toured with some notable
artists (such as Deftones), but didn’t have the popularity needed for a group
with an eclectic musical style.
Who do you think will get nominated this year? Anyone you’d love to see get a nod? Let me know in the comments!
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