The Grammy Award nominations are out now. While looking over the massive list (31 fields; 110 categories), I wasn't too surprised to see Kanye West grab the lion's share of noms for his “Graduation” CD, considering it was so well received. Same goes for Amy Winehouse's “Back to Black” album.
Big questions: will Winehouse be let back into America after her drug problems in the U.K.? Will West throw a fit if he doesn't win everything?
Album of the Year is a mixed bag, with West and Winehouse the most deserving; Vince Gill and Herbie Hancock a little safe and Foo Fighters squeaking by with “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace – hardly a career best effort. Bruce Springsteen's excellent “Magic” should have been in there; instead, he's relegated to the Rock Album category again. Arcade Fire would've added some cred (the Canadians get a lone Alternative Rock Album nod). What happened to the so-called blue ribbon panel?
With the exception of Amy Winehouse's “Rehab,” the Record of the Year crop - Beyonce's “Irreplaceable,” Foo Fighter's “The Pretender,” Rihanna feat. Jay-Z's “Umbrella” and Justin Timberlake's “What Goes Around, Comes Around” - doesn't represent the best the year (eligibility period is 10/1/06-9/30/07) had to offer.
Song of the Year, given to the songwriter, is a bit better. “Before He Cheats” (Carrie Underwood), “Hey There Delilah” (Plain White T's), “Rehab” (Winehouse), “Like a Star” (Corinne Bailey Rae) and “Umbrella” (Rihanna feat. Jay-Z). I'll hazard an early guess that Underwood nails this one.
The Best New Artist group is dominated by females for a change. Winehouse and Feist were expected; the inclusion of pop/punk band and Warped Tour fave Paramore (led by Hayley Williams) is impressive, young country sensation Taylor Swift makes sense, while I had to say, 'who?' after seeing Nigerian jazz/soul singer Ledisi on the list.
Paul McCartney's “Memory Almost Full” is one of the former Beatle's best CDs in years. I was pleased to see him snag noms for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance.
Yes, Springsteen is part of the old guard too, but he deserved his Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance and Rock Song (“Radio Nowhere”), Best Rock Instrumental (“Once Upon a Time in the West,” from 'We All Love Ennio Morricone') nominations.
All of the Best Alternative Music Album nominees – Lily Allen, Arcade Fire, Bjork, The Shins, White Stripes - are strong. Arcade Fire deserves it though.
Best Hard Rock Performance got it right with Foo Fighters, Ozzy Osbourne, Tool, Queens of the Stone Age and Evanescence.
Best Country Album - Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, George Strait (yawn) - too predictable and male-centric. What? No female country artists released a great CD?
Anomalies in the country categories: The Eagles' “How Long” is in for Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals. No Sugarland whatsoever? Shameful.
Perennial nominee U2 got in Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group for its John Lennon cover “Instant Karma.” Ditto Green Day on “Working Class Hero.” I hope Nickelback doesn't win it. Daughtry just might. White Stripes are doubtful.
Another strong group is in the Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album category with Tom Waits, Patty Griffin, Steve Earle, Ry Cooder and Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Intriguingly, The Beatles' catalog goes head to head in Best Compilation Soundtrack for “Love” and “Across the Universe.”
Producer of the year, non-classical, includes the worthy Timbaland, Mark Ronson (Winehouse, Allen), Mike Elizondo (Maroon 5, Rilo Kiley), along with Howard Benson (Daughtry) and Joe Chiccarelli (Shins).
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards are televised at 8 p.m. Feb. 10 on CBS.
