Reeling from the shock of D'Arcy being the first one to post...

Heartless Bastards – A band I should like more than I do. The good songs are really good, like “Simple Feeling” and “Got to Have Rock and Roll”.  The longer, more bloated tracks seem to go on for an eternity, notably “Low Low Low”.   Listened to this a lot thinking it would click, but about half of it never quite did. 3 stars

Hives – When you’re a one trick pony, you have to rely on execution and the songs, and the Hives nail both here. Catchy garage rock with tons of energy, an ideal summer disc.  What’s most impressive is the subtle touches they throw in to keep it interesting, a little sax here, some organ there.  Lots of fun, and I can’t help but love a band that so blatantly rips off both ELO and Joan Jett within the first 10 minutes of the disc.  4 stars

PiL – Forgot what a great song “Rise” is, by far the highlight.  The rest of it lacks the power and the anger that made the Pistols so great.  Not that this is a bad album, but I can’t help but compare it to the Pistols, and it falls way short.  Parts of it sound like Lydon watered down the intensity in an attempt to reach a wider audience.  Not bad, but not great either.  2.5 stars

Supertramp – Not even going fake objectivity.  I absolutely hate this band and always have.  Their precocious little ditties annoy me, especially the ones with the testicles-in-a-vice vocals.  I have an urge to punch someone in the kidneys every time I hear the opening keyboard riff of “Dreamer”.  On a positive note, thank God it wasn’t “Breakfast in America”. 1 star

Uncle Tupelo –UT gave birth to alt-country.  No other band so successfully married punk with traditional country music.  They were authentic players in both forms, evidenced here by covers of both The Soft Boys and the Carter Family.  Their output was limited, but their influence has been huge, and they left three great bands in their wake (Wilco, SonVolt, Bottle Rockets).  After Chuck Berry, St. Louis’ greatest contribution to music, and they absolutely belong in the DYN HOF.

Best American Bands

The Ramones
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
REM
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Best Working American Bands

My Morning Jacket
Wilco
Gaslight Anthem
Drive By Truckers
Fountains of Wayne