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I can't disagree with that. I'm just pathetically grateful when a melody is involved these days in a piece of music.
And if a group can play instruments and sing, I'm almost beside myself.
The Bell-Rays
The Detroit Cobras
The Dirtbombs
The Ponys
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Let me add the Sadies to that list of current bands.
I'm sure that more will come to me over time. Since they are not the subject of cover features or constant radio airplay, this may take a little longer.
I realize that not everything I listen to is worth a strong recommendation (Jon Spencer's side project Heavy Trash, while a step up from his last album, pales in comparison to the REAL alt-roots tracks (some of which he appears on) on the Root Damage album from Sympathy For The Record Industry.
It's like looking at a movie like Miss Congeniality 2 or Road Trip and insisting that there are NO good movies made today anywhere in the world. Depends on where you look, who you listen to for guidance, and what you are looking for.