Does the R&R Hall of Fame Matter?

Compared to last year's class, the inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally make sense to me. I really don't think that you can disagree with the induction of bands like Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. So much of contemporary music, love it or hate it, owes a debt to them. Not to mention that they made interesting socially and politically relevant music without ending up playing some extreme version of the dozens that literally is about sexual prowess. Of course, to today's standard of bragging -- I have to wonder about that idea that one who brags so much is probably overcompensating.

Whether you like their music or not, R.E.M. spawned a host of imitators and excited young men and women all around the globe, especially in the American South where the idea of being in garage band and making music that mattered to you rather than the record company or the big-shot producer took serious hold. And still has a very strong effect on musicians there today. Add to that the fact that R.E.M. had a kind political consciousness that they did not shove down people's throats (are you listening Bruce Springsteen?) but was simply a part of who they were. And the fact that they continued to make music that moved the band members even if commercial sales may have peaked, you have to give them respect for sticking to their guns.

And Van Halen. Do any of us doubt how much a reunion tour could make? Whether you like the marriage of fast riffing and David Lee Roth's odd ball showmanship, that band also had a tremendous influence in both creating legions of imitators and in response against. So much of thrash metal and death metal are negative responses to bands like Van Halen (and, of course all the hair metal bands that followed but I have never been certain if we can lay that at the feet of VH or not).

The Ronettes deserve to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. Enough said. Given the more interesting vocal dexterity of Estelle Bennett, Ronnie Specter, and Nedra Talley compared to their contemporaries --- are you listening, Ms. Ross? The Ronettes get points for putting up with crazed producer Phil Specter (whom Ronnie married for a time) but also creating a compelling vocal landscape to match the wall of sound that the production established.

Finally, we come to Patti Smith. Boy, I know that Smith had great influence in the New York scene and as a much more intelligent counterpoint to numerous other bands (notably the reed thin music posturing and lyrical vapidity of oh so many). But have to wonder if Patti Smith should be in the Hall. I have wonder as others have, why so many working class and non-New York based musicians and bands have been left out. Consider for example, the fact that Alice Cooper has not been inducted. While I am not a huge Cooper fan, certainly his influence has been just as great (and I would argue greater) than Smith's has been on the more popular side of sales.

Now, I am faced with a dilemma, I argued a year ago on these pages that the Hall was corrupt, mismanaged, and myopic. But today, they have four out of five inductees that I completely agree with them on adding to the roster of the Hall of Fame. Does this make me contrary? Should I care?

Any comments?