Thoughts on the Grammy Awards

After the Golden Globes I quickly espoused a handful snap reactions to what I saw.  Here are my thoughts on last night’s award show.

• This is the second straight year a not-so-new artist has won the “Best New Artist” category and that pisses me off.  Last year, Bon Iver walked away the award.  I like Bon Iver.  A lot.  But they’ve been around since 2008.  I’m not saying that everyone knew about them in 2008, but they produced an album then.  Likewise, fun. released an album in 2009 but won the award this year.  What this says to me is that a band can test the waters by producing a not-so-popular album and then produce a slightly more commercially acceptable album two years later and win “Best New Artist.”  Let me be clear, I like both of these bands and I’m glad that good bands are winning awards on big stages; however, I think the Grammys should pay attention and not try to pull wool over the eyes (ears) of music listeners by molding older bands in new bands for the purposes of the show.  Lastly, I thought that the new award that celebrates indie music would mitigate this problem, but last night proved me wrong.
• I’m really sorry, but I don’t like Mumford & Sons.  Or The Avett Brothers.  As my friend James said last night, the music is filled with fake nostalgia.  
• I enjoyed almost all of the performances.  Kudos for the producers to realize that people like watching awards shows that have live music.
• Alicia Keys still bores the hell out of me.  I keep waiting for a year when she won’t perform.  And it just doesn’t happen.
• The Grammy Awards are almost by definition a celebration of popular music.  The fact that Carly Rae Jepsen did not win an award last night is a bit absurd.  She clearly had the most popular pop song of 2012.  
• Kelly Rowland = 10.
• Justin Timberlake seems like a wildly likable person.  I’d hang out with him.
• I get that LL Cool J was a respectable rapper, but I’ve got to think there was another person on Earth who could have hosted last night.  Two years in a row was a bit much.
• My intake of awards shows has gone up significantly since I got married, and I’m not upset about that.  I used to only watch one a year (BET Awards, duh).

Friday Playlist

Click here for the link to Spotify playlist

(1) Ducktails - Under Cover

(2) Tegan and Sara - How Come You Don’t Want Me

(3) Iggy Pop - Candy

(4) Van Morrison - Cyprus Avenue

(5) Pusha T ft. Rick Ross - Millions

(6) Kelly Rowland ft. Lil’ Wayne - Motivation

(7) Nik Kershaw - The Riddle

(8) Dwight Yoakam - Dim Lights, Thick Smoke

(9) Bon Iver - Holocene

(10) Icona Pop - I Love It

(11) Pearl Jam - Alive

(12) Lucy Rose - Middle of the Bed

(13) Amateur Best - Villas

(14) Dustin Lynch - She Cranks My Tractor

(15) My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

(16) Dawn Richard - Return of a Queen

(17) Richard Thompson - Salford Sunday

(18) The Smashing Pumpkins - 1979

(19) Matt & Kim - Daylight