54-40

A seminal group in Canada's alt-rock history, Vancouver quartet 54-40 rose from 1980s college rock heroes to national acclaim and chart success with landmark albums like 1987's Show Me and 1994's Smilin' Buddha Cabaret, which produced hit singles like "Nice to Luv You" and "Ocean Pearl." While their early mix of jangling folk-rock and post-punk earned comparisons to R.E.M., later records featured a harder, electric-driven sound that resulted in a series of consecutive platinum releases. Led by singer, guitarist, and chief songwriter, Neil Osborne, 54-40's reputation for quality and consistency carried into the new millennium with albums like 2005's Yes to Everything and 2011's Lost in the City, while collections like 2016's all-acoustic La Difference: A History Unplugged saw them continuing to experiment with parts of their back catalog.