.: Dude, I saw the first 4 episodes of the Sopranos.
Didn't get it. I mean, it's good, but not brilliant, not Homicide or early Moonlighting or Farscape, Angel, whatever. It has boobs, blood and they say fuck. It doesn't suck, but I fail to see where it's better-or even equal, really- than anything Martin Scorsese has done.
So save your $$; rent the gangland adventures first, see if you dig on it.
I think it's an East Coast thing. The West Coast drama wouldn't be so...typical.