Pavement throws its biggest curveball, the Arctic Monkeys combine hip-hop tendencies with Black Sabbath distortions, R.E.M. explores the darkest depths of the South, and The Kinks build a bridge between American and British rock music.
The Decemberists mix introspective British folk with explosive arrangements, Supergrass shows a considerable growth without abandoning their youthful energy, the Arctic Monkeys veer towards pop soundscapes populated by ringing guitars, and Lynyrd Skynyrd keeps on writing the book on Southern rock.
