There are as many gripes against the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as there are notes in the solos to "Freebird" and I agree with many of them, but I have to say that they did a great job with their list of inductees for 2007. Announced yesterday, the five honorees range from arena rock (Van Halen) to indie (R.E.M.) to rap (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five) to doo-wop (The Ronettes) to pre-emo emo/punk (Patti Smith, and yes, I just coined that genre, send the royalty checks ASAP). What we call rock music is constantly changing and splintering off into growing subsets, but this might be the first year the Hall has put forth a class that leaves the majority of fans satisfied.

It could also create quite a problem in the coming years, however, as the artists eligible for induction (an artist or group has to have put their first album out no less than 25 years before they can be considered) will become more and more diverse. Take Grandmaster Flash, for instance, the first rap group to ever be inducted; within the next ten years influential rap acts such as Run DMC, N.W.A. and Dr. Dre will all be eligible, but will they get in? What about the hair bands that ruled the 80s? Do Motley Crue, Poison or even Bon Jovi deserve enshrinement among the likes of the Beatles, Elvis and the Rolling Stones? Will either the rappers or the headbangers have to create splinter Halls of Fame to be recognized, if they even want to be? Here's the problem, if you take out the hair bands and the rappers that were just getting their start 25 years ago, there's really little else to induct unless you're willing to explore the electronic genre the likes of Depeche Mode and Brian Eno lived in. The definition of "rock and roll" was twisted greatly during the 80s and early 90s, and though we know Nirvana and Pearl Jam are shoo-ins for 2017, the period between now and then will be up for serious debate. This particular site explores the rap question and many more about the future Hall of Fame nominees (next year: Madonna, Metallica and the Beastie Boys!) in much more depth.

As for the 2007 group of inductees, however, I must say that I'm thrilled to see R.E.M. get the recognition in their first year eligible despite the serious commercial rut they've found themselves in recently. There used to be a day when I could aggressively argue the finer points of R.E.M. is better than U2 because of... but now, not so much. As matter of fact, I don't, because U2 has taken that step into rock immortality that R.E.M. only flirted with, but never sealed the deal. It's also touching that R.E.M. front-man Michael Stipe will be inducted alongside his hero, Patti Smith, without whom there would likely be no R.E.M., and without R.E.M. there would likely be no Nirvana, and so on. Van Halen is an obvious choice both artistically and commercially, as everyone will be talking about whether or not Hagar or Roth (or both?) will be fronting the band at the induction ceremony, as substantiated rumors have been going around that Roth is set to reunite with the boys for a tour (whatever gets him away from those bluegrass covers of "Jump"). I'm sure those at the Hall are anxious to see the tickets to the ceremony get snapped up by those aching to see a Roth v. Hagar slug-fest.

For those who haven't listened to some or any of these bands but would like to get closer to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of '07, here's some suggestions:

Van Halen: The obvious choice is 1984, but the very first album, Van Halen, is a serious contender. If you want Hagar action, go with For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, though you should be prepared to hear songs you haven't heard 3,412 times already on WZZO.

R.E.M.: Automatic for the People for those who have never listened to an R.E.M. album, Fables of the Reconstruction for those who only own the popular stuff.

Patti Smith: Horses. Michael Stipe claims this album convinced him to be a musician.

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five: The Message is the album everyone points to as helping to kick-start hip-hop, but also download the song White Lines if you want to hear one of the most socially responsible songs of the early 80s.

The Ronettes: "Be My Baby" was their biggest hit (a song you know even if you think you don't), but that's about as far as my knowledge of the band goes. Those who might be sore over the Ronettes getting in over Iggy Pop (rejected for the fifth year in a row, a new record), should spin The Idiot or any of his Stooges albums over and over again in defiance. Don't be surprised if he finally gets his due next year.

-Ryan