REBELS WITH A CAUSE

Occasionally, an artist or group will come along that’s more interested in getting a message across than attaining a great level of fame and success. Whether this message is delivered in a unique musical statement—as in the folksy rock of R.E.M. or the thoughtful pop of INXS—or in a lyrical statement—as in the political and spiritual leanings of U2 or the slice-of-life narratives favored by Bruce Springsteen and John Cougar Mellencamp—the priority of these artists is music first, money later.