HONORABLE MENTION

At The Drive-In

Their reach wasn't felt until after 2000's Relationship Of Command and their subsequent break-up, but on a '00s list they would get top billing. Reunion, pretty please?

Pixies

More of an '80s phenomenon, they would be felt the most in Nirvana, and Radiohead, both of which would go on to be greatly earth-shattering '90s bands. Remember that their best stuff did come out in the late '80s, but you probably like Trompe Le Monde, so now we're the assholes.

Liz Phair

This riotously angry gal would pave the way for girls like Alanis Morrisette, Hayley Williams of Paramore, and Tracy Bonham of "Mother Mother" fame.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Formed in the early '80s, the case could very much be made that they made their most ground-breaking music before they even began working on 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik. The debt that every '90s and '00s rap-rock act owes to them spawns from their '80s output is immense. As for their own '90s work, think of it as a case of making music to survive.

Converge

Jane Doe wouldn't arrive until 2001, and as much as we wanted to put the band on this list, we just never see When Forever Comes Crashing tattoos.

Tool

One of the biggest metal bands in a decade which saw quite a lot of gimmicky acts, Tool was and is still fueled by pure artistic anger. They are a niche band, but what a niche to own.

Metallica

Another odd case, with a band releasing their best and most bone-shaking stuff in the '80s but not actually going above ground until reaping the benefits of fame until the '90s. We love 1991's Metallica, but they made more of an overall impact with Kill 'Em All, Ride The Lightning, Master of Puppets, ...And Justice for All, and constant touring and teen awe.