The Dream Syndicate

One of the most celebrated bands to come out of the Los Angeles "Paisley Underground" scene of the '80s, the Dream Syndicate clearly adored the intricate wordplay and edgy energy of Highway 61 Revisited-era Bob Dylan, as well as the noisy guitars and bracing darkness of the Velvet Underground. Leader Steve Wynn's initial influences may have been clear, but he was a strong enough songwriter to give the group material that stood on its own, especially on their stark, nervy debut album, 1982's The Days of Wine and Roses. A hit on the college rock circuit, they never made it through to the mainstream and broke up in 1989, although Wynn reformed the band in 2012.