http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Fri, 5 Dec 2003 11:45:58 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31533 It might one of those years with a lot of good stuff but not much great. 31533@blogcritics.org Fri, 5 Dec 2003 11:45:58 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31532 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. 31532@blogcritics.org Fri, 5 Dec 2003 11:44:24 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31528 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. 31528@blogcritics.org Fri, 5 Dec 2003 11:38:57 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31525 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. 31525@blogcritics.org Fri, 5 Dec 2003 11:20:23 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31510 Overall, I'd say this year is the norm, last year was the exception. 31510@blogcritics.org Fri, 5 Dec 2003 10:15:21 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31506 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. 31506@blogcritics.org Fri, 5 Dec 2003 09:33:29 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31470 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. 31470@blogcritics.org Fri, 5 Dec 2003 00:11:11 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31459 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. 31459@blogcritics.org Thu, 4 Dec 2003 22:38:29 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31455 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) 31455@blogcritics.org Thu, 4 Dec 2003 22:18:19 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31436 Yes, Dan, you're right. I initially saw the list of "selected categories." Finally saw the complete nominees' list. 31436@blogcritics.org Thu, 4 Dec 2003 20:46:16 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31430 Her phrasing, the thick chunky sweetness of her timbre, her enveloping eclecticism that still ends up being "Norah songs." 31430@blogcritics.org Thu, 4 Dec 2003 20:23:58 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31426 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? 31426@blogcritics.org Thu, 4 Dec 2003 19:48:17 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31425 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. 31425@blogcritics.org Thu, 4 Dec 2003 19:48:10 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/04/185114.php#comment-31418 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. 31418@blogcritics.org Thu, 4 Dec 2003 19:04:27 EST