Before I went on the Great Electronic Music Bender (1996-2003 or thereabouts), and before the snake ate its own tail and tastes veered hopelessly into post-[whatever], my rock'n'roll hero was Matthew Sweet.  There's something about him that others haven't matched.  His stuff didn't try to be coy or arch like a lot of today's self-deprecating rockers are, and indeed, sometimes you could accuse of him of wielding lyrics like a clumsy bludgeon.  He had this carefully-orchestrated sloppiness about him that was a bit endearing, especially when the exquisitely-layered vocal harmonies kicked in, as if to say "Yeah, had you going with that almost-tuneless solo.  Now step aside and see how this shit's done."