Out of all the acts that are on the Previously Considered list, this is probably the most puzzling. This is an act that when I go to the local music shop, I see plenty of discs/albums from them. But they never piqued my interest until they made the Previously Considered list. And while my research on them has been anything but definitive, from what I've listened to so far... I still don't get it. There's really nothing about them that screams "INDUCT THEM!" in their music. If I ran my 4 I's analysis on the entire Prev. Cons. list, they come up somewhere near the bottom, maybe the very bottom. So, if someone who's more versed on the alternative scene of the '80s and '90s would care to provide some insight... what am I missing? Are they just a feelgood band from that scene that few might object to? Or is there something groundbreaking about them that I've missed so far? Or is this a pet act for someone on the NomComm?

Posted by Philip on Friday, 02/17/2017 @ 02:27am

Out of all the acts that are on the Previously Considered list, this is probably the most puzzling. This is an act that when I go to the local music shop, I see plenty of discs/albums from them. But they never piqued my interest until they made the Previously Considered list. And while my research on them has been anything but definitive, from what I've listened to so far... I still don't get it. There's really nothing about them that screams "INDUCT THEM!" in their music. If I ran my 4 I's analysis on the entire Prev. Cons. list, they come up somewhere near the bottom, maybe the very bottom. So, if someone who's more versed on the alternative scene of the '80s and '90s would care to provide some insight... what am I missing? Are they just a feelgood band from that scene that few might object to? Or is there something groundbreaking about them that I've missed so far? Or is this a pet act for someone on the NomComm?

Posted by Philip on Friday, 02/17/2017 @ 02:27am

Sorry about the double post, btw.

Posted by Philip on Friday, 02/17/2017 @ 02:28am

You're really puzzled that the NomCom considered a super safe, bland, country rock band?

Posted by DarinRG on Friday, 02/17/2017 @ 02:55am

Well, considering they have pretty much no crossover mainstream success, and their members aren't tied to other famous efforts (like some of the members of Poco), that does make it a little bit puzzling that they managed to catch the attention of someone on the Committee.

Posted by Philip on Friday, 02/17/2017 @ 12:01pm

Well, the Rock Hall likes Tom Petty and people say he borrowed the guitar riff for "Mary Jane's Last Dance" from the Jayhawks' "Waiting for the Sun", after they toured with him, similar to how they say he borrowed the Replacements' "rebel without a clue" from "I'll Be You" for "Into the Great Wide Open", immediately after THEY toured with him. I don't know how much of an insider Petty is. He's not on the NomCom, but that could be why. It certainly isn't enough.

Granted, they could do better for '80s/'90s roots rock, even in the mainstream (Black Crowes), and much better in the alternative (Camper van Beethoven, and even they're probably more mainstream than the Jayhawks, especially if you count David Lowery's later work with Cracker.)

RateYourMusic voters really like Jayhawks, with three of their albums in bold print, but they don't seem to be that monstrous critical favorites otherwise.

Posted by Sean on Friday, 02/17/2017 @ 19:13pm

So hearsay that Petty might have borrowed a riff is the foundation for their consideration? Not really going for that, but that's the theory to beat, I guess.

Posted by Philip on Friday, 02/17/2017 @ 20:55pm

They have a cool name ;-)

I like one or two of their songs, but I could never see them in The Hall (unless they come out with 4 more awesome albums). It's a mystery...

Posted by Paul in KY on Saturday, 02/18/2017 @ 07:36am

There are a lot of bands who should get in before them but Hollywood Town Hall is great.

Posted by David on Sunday, 07/14/2019 @ 12:13pm

There are a lot of bands who should get in before them but Hollywood Town Hall is great.

Posted by David on Sunday, 07/14/2019 @ 12:13pm

Great band has put out one great record after another for the past 22 years. Great harmonies and song arrangements!! Definitely deserve consideration!!

Posted by Andrew p on Wednesday, 06/15/2022 @ 17:28pm

They're superb band, flawless performers with fabulous songs.

On the merits of their musicianship, hell yes they belong.

But realistically they have no mainstream commercial appeal and that has to be part of it if you want a complete assessment.

Posted by JOSEPH on Sunday, 02/12/2023 @ 12:53pm