Honestly, I don’t know why I even bother to get mad at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame anymore. The Cleveland institution has earned a reputation for making the most basic possible choices every year, and they absolutely came through with it this year. As Reuters reports, the Hall Of Fame announced this year’s class of inductees this morning, and it’s about as lame as can be expected.

The big news this year is that gangsta rap pioneers N.W.A are on their way into the Hall Of Fame. This is a completely justifiable inclusion, but N.W.A have been eligible for induction for a few years now. It’s pretty obvious that they’re only going in now because of the hit biopic about them that came out last summer. Nonetheless, it’s good to see them recognized.

The rest of this year’s induction class falls very much within the boomer-rock spectrum. Metal pioneers Deep Purple, who have been passed over many times over the years, are deserving inductees, and so are power-pop greats Cheap Trick. But as for fellow inductees Steve Miller and soft-rock titans Chicago, I’d call those inclusions a stretch, wouldn’t you?

The class of artists who were passed over this year is honestly a whole lot more interesting than the ones who made it in. Nine Inch Nails, the Smiths, Janet Jackson, Yes, the Cars, the J.B.’s, Chic, Los Lobos, Chaka Khan, and the Spinners were all nominated, and none of them will make it in. I’d argue that any random five of those would make a better induction class than this one. Better luck next year, guys.
Rolling Stone interviewed Ice Cube about N.W.A’s inclusion, and the best part was this exchange:

It’s going to be Cheap Trick, Deep Purple, Chicago, and Steve Miller.
Wow. That’s a nice lineup.

Are you fans of those groups?
Not really, but I know they’re big [laughs]. I’ve been hearing their names all my life, though.

Meanwhile, Chicago keyboardist and co-founder Peter Lamm seems to want a reunion with ex-frontman Peter Cetera for the ceremony.

Next year’s induction ceremony goes down 4/8 in New York.