It's Grammy nominee time. Ahh, the buzz, the excitement, the clothes, the music! However, don't get your ball gowns and tuxedos out just yet. The red carpet won't be laid until February 13, 2005.
Neil Portnow, President of The Recording Academy said it best; 'This year's nominees truly reflect a trend of music makers participating in multiple aspects of the creative process, while also often collaborating with a diverse slate of other artists in various genres.' Translation: A whole lotta folks are makin' good music with each other in a lot of different genres.
The diversity shines in the nominees for record of the year. They are ( in my order of preference ) 'Let's Get It Started' by the Black Eyed Peas, 'Here We Go Again' by Ray Charles & Norah Jones, 'American Idiot' by Green Day, 'Heaven' by Los Lonely Boys, and 'Yeah!' by Usher.
Album of the year is a little heavier on the R&B: Genius Loves Company by Ray Charles & Various Artists, American Idiot by Green Day, The Diary Of Alicia Keys by Alicia Keys, Confessions by Usher, and The College Dropout by Kanye West.
They've added at least one new big-ticket award this year; Best Electronic/Dance Album, which many of us are happy to see on the list. The nominees are ( I feel like I should open an envelope every time I write that ) Kish Kash by the Basement Jaxx, Legion Of Boom by the Crystal Method, Creamfields by Paul Oakenfold, Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned by Prodigy, and Reflections by Paul Van Dyk. With the exception of the Basement Jaxx, they are all a bit more techno than my dance floor can handle, but still great discs all around.
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical is the only award I live for. They never show the winner on television. The influence this Grammy has on the Dance genre is staggering. Whoever is chosen will undoubtedly get the most contracts and do the most work in the years coming. It's a pity it never gets much press. Nominated this year are a pretty balanced House/Techno bunch: Full Intention for George Michael's 'Amazing', Jacques Lu Cont's remix of No Doubt's 'It's My Life', Felix Da Housecat's remix of Iggy Pop and Peaches take on 'Motor Inn', The Basement Jaxx remix of 'She Wants To Move' by The Basement Jaxx, and Sasha's remix of Felix Da Housecat's 'Watching Cars Go By'.
The Best Dance Recording list is as follows: ( gag! ) Britney Spears for 'Toxic', the Chemical Brothers for 'Get Yourself High', Kylie Minogue for 'Slow', Scissor Sisters for 'Comfortably Numb', and one of the better tracks this year, Basement Jaxx Featuring Lisa Kekaula for 'Good Luck'.
And for my final snippet of good stuff, Queen Latifah received a nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album for The Dana Owens Album. Watch for my review of it coming up soon.
peter@windycitymediagroup.com
