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When the Grammy Award nominations are rolled out at the end of every year, with them comes a boatload of controversy, prompting questions like “How did so-and-so not get nominated?”
This year’s hubbub is primarily centered on the king of controversy, Kanye West. While he got seven nominations, a high for this year, he was snubbed from perhaps the most important category, one he certainly could have been in the running for — Album of the Year.
Most of you are thinking, “‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ was released in 2010, so either this guy is huffing paint or knows something we don’t.” Well, it’s the latter — the eligibility period for this year’s Grammys was from Sept. 1, 2010 to Sept. 30, 2011. Anyway, that album was critically acclaimed and sold like whatever a newer version of hotcakes would be. Los Angeles Times reviewer Ann Powers went as far as calling it “Picasso-like.”
I guess his seven other nominations can console Kanye, but one group who frequently gets left in the dust is indie music fans. The Pitchfork disciples’ tastes haven’t always been well-represented, although that has changed in recent years. Arcade Fire won the Grammy for Record of the Year last year and this year, Bon Iver received four nominations.
What if the 150 or so industry experts who judge submitted material and hand out nominations started wearing skinny jeans and “ironic” glasses? I’m not suggesting the few recent indie inclusions suggest this change will take place, but it’s fun to think about, so I did.
I picked indie nominees for a few of the most prominent award categories and handed out a few fictitious “Indie Grammys” of my own. Just remember that indie music is often an “Oh, you’ve probably never heard of them” contest, so most of you won’t agree with my picks. But hey, it is what it is, so here they are:
Best Alternative Music Album nominees
Bobby – “Bobby”
Smith Westerns – “Dye It Blonde”
This Will Destroy You – “Tunnel Blanket”
Wild Beasts – “Smother”
The winner is: “Tunnel Blanket”
The Texan instrumentalists strayed slightly from the post-rock formula that brought them success in that circle and released a moody record of successful ambition. “Tunnel Blanket” sounds like the soundtrack of the apocalypse, but careful listening reveals delicate intricacies that add layers of sonic depth and beauty.
Best Rock Album nominees
The Antlers – “Burst Apart”
Black Mountain – “Wilderness Heart”
Blitzen Trapper – “American Goldwing”
Yuck – “Yuck”
And the winner is: “American Goldwing”
“Wilderness Heart” was in hot contention for this one, but Blitzen Trapper’s smooth blending of indie and classic Americana made for a memorable, nostalgic listen. This is harmonica-tinged Southern rock at its finest, which is refreshingly odd for a 2011 release.
Best New Artist nominees
Bobby
James Blake
The Weeknd
Yuck
And the winner is: Bobby
With a backstory about a namesake-bandmember-turned-ghost and music that is just as eccentric, Bobby created a tiny explosion in indie music, but those who felt the shock waves were greatly impacted. Maneuvering their style from strange folk to reverb-soaked alternative weirdness, their self-titled debut is a robust and adventurous record.
Song of the Year nominees
Bon Iver – “Holocene”
Deerhunter – “Desire Lines”
Elbow – “Lippy Kids”
Moon Duo – “When You Cut”
And the winner is: “Holocene”
This song was actually nominated for this award in real life, so kudos to you, voting industry experts. Bon Iver’s melancholic answer to John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High” is about as simple as can be and one of the most lovely songs of the past few years.
Album of the Year nominees
Deerhunter – “Halcyon Digest”
Girls – “Father, Son, Holy Ghost”
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – “Hysterical”
Fleet Foxes – “Helplessness Blues”
And the winner is: “Halcyon Digest”
This album is barely eligible for nomination, with its Sept. 28, 2010 release date, but my goodness, it is a dandy. “Desire Lines” is one of the most enduring and magical songs of the past 10 years, and the other tracks are magnificent chunks of upbeat, alternative gold.
