Definitely going to second Faceking on Dinosaur jr., X, and Sonic Youth.
As for fIREHOSE.....all I heard was Brave Captain....good shit. Mike Watt's solo stuff is cool. Big Train, Big Train, do you want to ride the big train? LOL
As for Pavement......stick to Pavement, not Malkmus solo stuff or with the Jicks, that's shit, IMO. Malkmus' great voice is wasted with some terrible music. I'm in the minority but I think "Terror Twilight" was Pavement's masterpiece (I haven't heard Slanted and Enchanted, but I have heard the other 4 albums)