'80s-Connected Rock Hall Nominees Once Again Quite Solid

Say what you will about the merits of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's nominees and selections over the years, but I contend that representatives of the Hall seem to understand fairly well how to hit most of the high points of the '80s. Following up appropriately on last year's nomination of Madonna, John Mellencamp and the Beastie Boys (and the induction of the first two of these artists), last week's announcement of the 2009 nominees again offers a pretty decent summation of the era. After all, Run-D.M.C. and Metallica, the two distinctly '80s artists on the ballot this year, represent two of the major genres that undeniably defined the decade's music: hip-hop and heavy metal. Specifically, Run-D.M.C. helped birth hip-hop and rap and led the way for the continuing growth and breadth of the form into the '90s. Metallica, on the other end of the spectrum, merged the speed and aggression of punk with the precision and complexity of the period's heavy metal to pioneer speed metal and thrash. So, while I appreciate the fact that the Rock Hall will never satisfy everyone, I have to admit that I don't see much to complain about lately when it comes to the '80s. That, of course, will in no way lessen the gripes already brewing somewhere out there. But that's fine; the whole point of the Hall is to promote and test music history scrutiny, and I'm certain the expanse that is rock and roll can handle the pressure.