best artists in the last 15 years

Red Hot Chili Peppers

(I'm going to get it for this comment, but I like their new stuff better.. Californication & Stadium Arcadium)

Beck

Beck kicks ass, definitely innovative. Especially Odelay and Sea Changes:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=S8ZvmwQ3Gd0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l3_gwIOTGI

Amy Winehouse

Cat Power

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVGgGW1ZalY

cat power, cross bones style

Galactic

Greyboy Allstars

Radiohead

Nirvana

Firehose

RL Burnside

Guru Jazzmatazz

Beastie Boys

and of course... METALLICA..

I'll have to check out Wilco and Ryan Adams.

I'll take exception to your slam on Diana Krall. I loved the music first. In fact, I take some pride that while I was searching for my first pair of high-end speakers in LA back in 1997 or so, more often than not when I'd play the Diana Krall the staff would ask me who she was, and upon further visits I often found that they had bought the same CD that I had brought in...

So, at least in my case, I think I helped Diana Krall become an audiophile favorite BECAUSE I LIKED THE MUSIC, not the other way around.

Besides, someone had to replace Jazz at the Pawnshop and that first Fourplay CD that everyone was demoing....

Brandi Carlyle- check out her CD "The Story"

Ryan Adams.Inconsistent but Brilliant.

Jeff Buckley. Sadly missed.