Bob Mould

As one-third of Hüsker Dü, Bob Mould would have been important solely for having been in one of the most influential bands of the 1980s — a band that arguably established "alternative" music as commercially viable in the world beyond the American underground. But after the group's breakup, Mould went on to record noteworthy albums on his own, as well as with Sugar, in which he continued to write compellingly catchy pop songs with lyrics of uncommon wit and insight. Briefly experimenting with electronic music and sampling as part of his repertoire for 2002's Modulate, Mould returned to the sort of guitar-centric songwriting for which he is best known on its followup, Body of Song. Touring in support of last year's Life and Times, Mould continues to prove that he's still a master of giving pretty songs plenty of grit.