[Author's Note:As we prepare to be insulted by Award Season 2004, I thought it would be kind of fun to look back at Award Season 2003. Actually, none of that is true. I was really proud of this piece when I wrote it, and I wanted to dust it off and get one more mile out of it. I hope you like it.]
You really have to hand it to them. The question is not whether or not this year’s GRAMMY nominees stink. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences might have assembled the worst group of nominees yet for the 46th Annual Grammy Awards. The topic to be considered is who to blame for this shockingly terrible group of nominees.
It is easy to blame NARAS because it is their show and because they have a long list of past transgressions. There is a widely held belief that IQ drops in proportion to the number of people making a decision. Does this apply to Grammy voters? Let’s see, these are the people who think Jethro Tull is a metal artist and thought Rob and Fab (Milli Vanilli) were any kind of artists. And those are just the low-hanging fruits on the Grammy tree of ineptitude.
But is it entirely NARAS’ fault? What can NARAS do if the record companies sign dismal artists who make bad albums? The committee cannot nominate “Exile on Main Street” for Album of the Year every time a particular year is lacking quality albums to honor, although the idea has merit. Someone designated 2003 to be “Year of the Blues” because we all know Martin Scorsese needed another big payday. Maybe we should choose a great album worth revisiting to honor when there are not enough quality nominees to complete the ballot. Can any idea that keeps Grammys out of the hands of Nickelback or Puddle of Mudd be bad?
When assigning blame, we are left with a chicken/egg type- conundrum: does the music really stink or is NARAS incapable of distinguishing the good from the bad? Nominees for Album of the Year (2004):
"Under Construction," Missy Elliott
"Fallen," Evanescence
"Speakerboxxx/The Love Below," Outkast
"Justified," Justin Timberlake
"Elephant," The White Stripes
How in the name of John Lennon’s ass could Justin Timberlake be nominated for Album of the Year? And then there is Evanescence’s album, featuring exactly one hit single. Can you find 10 other people who have heard any song except for “Bring Me to Life?” At least we know the singer and guitarist from Evanescence (Amy and Ben) are just friends. The White Stripes consist of a formerly- married couple who now insist they are brother and sister (and no, they are not from Mississippi). Do not even get me started on Outkast.
Album of the Year is the crown jewel of music’s biggest prize, and those albums are the best they could come up with in 2003. But maybe the other nominees are not all as bad as Album designees. Surely some of the other awards have more deserving artists. Nominees for Song of the Year (2004):
Article comments
1 - MT
I used to belong to NARAS and would vote
each year. I discontinued my membership because I felt they were not interested in real rock 'n roll. You see the major record companies are in control of the voting because they buy the most memberships in NARAS and then vote for their own artists. It's a form of nepotism and creates an uneven playing field. The motto at NARAS is don't try to recreate the wheel. It's a "plastic" organization that glorifies the lowest common denominator in music.
2 - The Proprietor
In 1964, the Grammy for Best Rock And Roll Recording went to Petula Clark's "Downtown". 'Nuff said....
(Well, not quite 'nuff said. That record is probably the poster child for worst use of a compressor on any popular music record)
3 - DJRadiohead
I don't think I claimed that the Grammys' screwups were recent. =)
But I didn't know that about Petula Clark. I still think Milli Vanilli is the ultimate sign of Grammy foolishness.
4 - Barrelhouse Bonni
Help an underdog bluesman win a Grammy! Any members of NARAS are welcome to listen to and buy Chicago bluesman Larry Taylor's CD on his website...he's the real deal, real musicians, real blues. No milli vanilli! He's NOT vanilla! Check out our press release below; I'm his friend and mgr and we did the album on his own indie label AV records...
LARRY TAYLOR DRUMS UP RHYTHM & SOUL
In “Best Traditional Blues Album” Grammy Category 65, Number 040
Larry Taylor has come roaring out of the West Side of Chicago to revive the 1950s electric blues and 60s-70s soul that energized America. His debut vocal album, They Were in This House, on his own AV label, is seeking a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album 2004-05.
The CD cover pictures Taylor in front of his childhood apartment home at 1131 S. Mozart St., Chicago, where he learned the blues trade from his parents (mother Vera, a singer, and stepfather Eddie Taylor Sr., the trademark guitar sound behind Jimmy Reed) and from distinguished guests like Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, and Wolf’s drummers such as Cassell Burrow, Chicken House Shorty, SP Leary, Winehead Willie Williams. He spent the next 30 years drumming and singing with the greats of blues and soul, from Albert Collins and Otis Clay to John Lee Hooker, punctuated with gigs with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, BB King, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Larry’s six-piece band, packed with Chicago veterans like guitarist Willie Davis and drummer West Side Wes, has drawn raves from crowds of all ages and ethnic groups at places like Chicago’s Navy Pier, House of Blues and Buddy Guy’s Legends.
“Young people dig my music because it’s real. What I sing comes out of my life, my heart, the voices of my musical forerunners. And our West Side rhythm kicks butt,” says Larry Taylor. “Voice and drums are the basic instruments everywhere in the world. Rhythms and singing were the roots of our music in Africa, before we added European instruments and harmonics to create the sound what we now call blues, which is the root of American popular music.”
Larry Taylor’s highly praised album, They Were in This House, was recorded live in Chicago’s Delmark studio, engineered by Steve Wagner, and co-produced by Larry and his manager, keyboardist and songwriter “Barrelhouse Bonni” McKeown.
Larry is a member of the Chicago Federation of Musicians, the Blues Foundation, and NARAS (the Recording Academy, sponsor of the Grammies). He sang in the 2005 Chicago Blues Festival, appearing in a Taylor family tribute with his brothers, guitarist Eddie Taylor Jr. and drummer Tim Taylor.
Hear Larry’s music on his website: www.larrytaylorbluesnsoul.com See why he’s nominated for BEST TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM.
Grammy ballot deadline is Nov. 9, 2005. Each category has space for 5 finalist nominees. Only members of NARAS may vote. Winners will then be voted on in a second round and announced in February.
TO BOOK LARRY’s BAND, CONTACT: Bonni McKeown, mgr: 773-287-9525
CRITICS LAUD Larry Taylor’s CD, They Were in This House:
“Taylor’s vocals are confident soulful and intense; he could front any band on his microphone presence alone…They Were in This House is Chicago’s real House of Blues.” -- Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue
“…One of the best-sounding blues albums of the year. “
--Jeff Johnson, Chicago Sun-Times
" Authentic early Chicago blues with a dash of soul and mighty Mississippi attitude. Just when you think the last of this breed may have left us or is nearing retirement, a fella like Larry comes along to give us all a priceless gift… really great songs, fine arrangements, some tasty horns, genuine West /Side Chicago electric guitar licks and perfect vocal execution. They Were in This House has a spirit and personality that are 100% for real." "George Seedorff, Big City Rhythm and Blues
“While many soul and blues singers today smooth the edges off their songs, Taylor revels in the aggression and unbridled sensuality that infuses classic R& B and soul.” " David Whiteis, Chicago Reader
5 - chris
yes the grammys are always a joke. nickelback might be the worst band to reach the popularity they have. its completely unfounded. yes ill make it a full statement nickelback is the worst band to ever make it this popular of all time. they have 0 talent
6 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
H*ly Sh!t!! Am I reading this correctly?? Someone else has a brain & can see that Nickelback sux major A$$?! Suddenly,I don't feel alone... I don't feel like I am trapped in a bad remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" anymore[Sorry, Ms. Kidman, what were you thinking?!]
-"Don't show emotion, then they can't tell who's who" *smirk*