Yeah, with Justin Timberlake up for album of the year, it is clearly time to just give up. Oh well, three noms each for the late Warren Zevon and the departed George Harrison. And OutKast is up for, I think, five awards (OutKast RULES!). The news isn't all bad.

Actually, Warren Zevon got FIVE nominations, which is certainly more than I thought he'd get.

But how did "The Wind" wind up being nominated for best contemporary FOLK album? There's nothing folk about it.

Can we talk about Norah Jones for a second? Is she really that spectacular? She has an intersting voice, but the style (wasn't it mostly covers?) does nothing new. Really, what is so special about Norah Jones? I know everyone loves her, but I can't figure out why. She broke no new ground, she has an interesting voice but doesn't do anything to blow me away in the range category. What exactly is it?

Her phrasing, the thick chunky sweetness of her timbre, her enveloping eclecticism that still ends up being "Norah songs."

Yes, Dan, you're right. I initially saw the list of "selected categories." Finally saw the complete nominees' list.

mmmmm...that voice...so warm and smokey and sultry and...mmmmm.

it's all about the feel. range is not important here.

i wish i could find the quote i heard about her...something like "...if her voice doesn't melt your heart maybe you're a little bit dead inside".

(gees, that seems kinda harsh now that i read it)

The choices are, in general, very underwhelming, but I will be very, very disappointed if Outkast doesn't rake it in for "Hey Ya!," the one song that I can think of in the last year that really just expresses the giddy enthusiasm music should elicit from its performers.

There's a real vulnerability in Norah's voice. Rather than belting everything out at top volume, as is the current trend, she instead seduces you with the subtle, sultry nuances of her breathy delivery. Where most singers struggle to maintain a sense of power in their vocals, she sounds twice as powerful because it comes so effortlessly to her. I'm not really a fan of her music, but I think she is hands-down one of the greatest vocal talents we have in current music.

She may fade into relative obscurity, but it won't be because her music isn't good - it'll be due her genuine discomfort at being so prevalent. She actually asked Blue Note execs to pull her album when it sold over a million copies. She didn't want it to be everywhere, she didn't want to wear out her welcome. I have a great deal of respect for an artist who respects the integrity of her work so much she's willing to sacrifice the fame and money she could so easily achieve with it. She's also well-aware that she'll never top or equal the impact that this first album had, and so should probably never get caught in that unfortunate spiral so many get caught in of trying to replicate something so fleeting. Since the word is that her next album will be more folksy than jazzy, it seems she's taken pre-emptive measures to ensure she remains in touch with what her muse tells her to do. I think that's very impressive.

Dan,
don't take offense at Warren Zevon being put in the "contemporary folk" category. It has become the catch-all for quality music that is otherwise unclassifiable-- Tom Waits won in the category a couple years back. Just be glad that the grammy people have left a door open for people like WZ and TW to win at all.

Overall, I'd say this year is the norm, last year was the exception.

I don't know, Eric. I'm having a very hard time coming with any standouts for my year-end best-of list. I was underwhelmed by a lot of music this year, which is unusual for me. As soon as I read the list yesterday it mirrored my feelings about the music of the last 12 months - it was a lackluster year. Nothing really stood out, unfortunately. But maybe it's just me.

I was thinking specifically about the Grammys and the nomination/voting process, which tends to reflect a LCD and industry-insider perspective. I think we're seeing more of that thsi year than last, and this is more the Grammy norm.

Re the music overall, it might be a bit of a down year, I am still contemplating the overall.

I agree, Eric, but the whole thing drew a comparison to the music of the last year, in general. Or maybe I've just been in a crappy mood all year.

It might one of those years with a lot of good stuff but not much great.