The Friday Morning Listen: Bob Aguilera - Back to Modern Times
Published December 08, 2006
Oh, you think I'm kidding? You think that maybe I'm trying to rile some people up? Nah. The recent Grammy nominations have done that for me. Like most years, deserving artists have been left out. Neither Modern Times nor Back To Basics were nominated in the best album category. Dylan's nomination is in the "Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album" category. Christina is in the "Best Pop Vocal Album" category.
Since when have we ever thought of the Grammys as having anything to do with the best of what the musical world has to offer? It's more of a yearly exercise in "Let's have fun grousing about the Grammies." Seriously. Christopher Cross? Remember him? Five awards (Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Vocal Arrangement) in one night. I remember sitting back in amazement at that one. Then there was the infamous Jethro Tull "metal" incident. A sort of inverse Spinal Tap moment.
I like to watch the Grammy awards for the spectacle, the silly costumes, the bored looks on audience members' faces stolen by lurking cameras, and the occasional genuinely great performance. As for who wins, I don't really care. I mean, it's not like I'm above it or anything, and I do have my favorites. In the end, the awards themselves are meaningless. It's possible that the media spotlight might focus some attention on a deserving artist, though when somebody pulls a big win and/or sweep, they're already fairly well-known. Norah Jones hit it big in 2003, but by then she was already a star. But do the awards change any minds? I sincerely love Norah's voice but those among us who think she's boring (and I try very hard not to think poorly of you) probably won't be swayed by the "official" adulation.
Modern Times has been in heavy rotation in my various music players since it was released. As with most Dylan records, it takes a little while to digest, to figure out the "what-ness" of it. Lots of writing about this one, that it's supposedly the third part of a Time Out Of Mind/Love and Theft/Modern Times trilogy. Could be. People like to think of things in tidy packages like that. There are some similarities between this most recent album and the others, though Modern Times seems to stick closer to a swing/blues groove thing than the others. It's a very cool record, maybe a good one to recommend to somebody who has never been able to deal with Dylan's voice. It's a little more smoothed out here. Just check out the gorgeous "When The Deal Goes Down." Dylan sounds more comfortable than he has in years.
Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. On his best day, he hopes to channel the ghosts of Lester Bangs and Jack Kerouac. He spends the hours of 9:32PM to 1:37AM carving out music reviews and essays for Jazz.com, Blogcritics.org and other publications.
- The Friday Morning Listen: Bob Aguilera - Back to Modern Times
- Published: December 08, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Part of a feature: Friday Morning Listen
- Writer: Mark Saleski
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The only Grammies show I regret missing is the one where Steely Dan won Album of the Year. I wish I could have seen the look on everyone's faces when the Boys from Bard walked off with the trophy that was pre-destined for some rapper.
Heh, even a blind squirrel will find a nut once in a while.
-P
I really am sure that Back to Basics and Ms. Aguilera deserved more noms and should tke home a lot this year. She has the greatest album of 2006
Totally agreed! I dont understand what the hell is goin on!...
Yeah Aguilera was definitely snubbed, such a disappointment. Finally someone does something different from the Beyonce's/Justin's/Nelly's/Fergie's with all their overproduced crap and it gets snubbed.
Not to say that the AOTY nominees didn't deserve it though, but "Back To Basics" should've been in there instead of Justin Timberfag.
I quite agree with that article. I really do think Back To Basics should be nominated in the AOTY, or at least in the general category. If the Grammy Comittee decided to select nominations depending on their sales and stuff, i think that would be ridiculous. Quality-wise and with its stand-out material, Back To Basics, in my opinion, is one of 2006's best albums.
I wonder if the nominations can be altered with a petition with a fair number of signatures. Make a petition, somebody!
Yeah, I totally agree! How did Timberlake get nominated over Dylan??? And how did Dylan get nominated in a folk catergory when he hasn't done folk in like, 40 years?!!?!?!!?!
well, to be fair, isn't the Dylan nomination "folk/americana"? Modern Times fits into that.
as far as who is nominated and who isn't, i guess we'll just never know the true inner workings of that madness.
Hi Mark:
Great piece, and good to see someone (or many, i'm sure) have such eclectic taste as I.
Here's a good quote by Dylan that maybe applies. I think in part, anyway, that it does. If not, it's a damn good quote anyway....
- "I define nothing. Not beauty, not patriotism. I take each thing as it is, without prior rules about what it should be."
- Bob Dylan
Be well, and keep up the great work ; )
thanks sadi! and that is one fine quote there!
yeah i was disapointed when ive learned that xtian receive only 2 nominations.. back to basics is the best album in 2006... but anyways i hope she'll win the 2 categories she's in! im a fan! but i guess shee does deserve more! go xtina! u rock! i hope that hurt will top the billboard any time soon.. and also her follow up heart and collaboration with diddy!
My opinion -the grammys seem to go for boring and mainstream. Christina got robbed- she has the most haunting voice - I can't believe that I like her considering her past music releases but she is so uncomparable. As for Bob Dylan I think Modern Times is spectacular. But he has always been a paradox. Since his album was a "best seller" it seems like grammys couldn't consider him. Dylan Rocks On!!!!!!!!!
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YOU ARE SO RIGHT! GRAMMYS DONT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING ANYMORE BY LEAVING TWO GREAT ALBUMS OUT!