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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If Alicia, India & Nelly are Grammy nominees, who wins?, February 5, 2002
This review is from: Grammy Nominees 2002 (Audio CD)
You do. It's a longshot, but ladies and gentlemen, we could be on the edge of a pop music renaissance. Three exceptionally talented newcomers (Keys, Furtado & Arie) are the big selling points of this year's Grammy Nominees package. Each has their own voice, each is a gifted singer and songwriter and none of them would be an embarassment to win as Best New Artist. Neither would David Gray, although he's been recording, albeit with no commercial success for over a decade. And, as I said reviewing Gray's White Ladder album, I think Babylon is the best song written in the past ten years. You may not think so on the first listen, but by the tenth, you will too. My runner-up as favorite song of 2001 would be Train's "Drops of Jupiter", a slow-builder that ended up top 5 of the year, although it only peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #5 in any given week. Haven't a clue what he's talking about, but I sing along with every note. This is the best nominees album in years, nearly free of the recent Grammy trend to look hip and down with the kids. Only a single Backstreet Boys track, and a questionable inclusion from the deposed King of Pop would knock half a point off. Licensing issues prevented the release of a separate Grammy Rap Nominees album, and while this may be good news to many, I'm not in that group. At least OutKast's "Ms Jackson" is included, a song which is the thematic opposite of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean", in that the singer asserts, rather than denies paternity. The best thing about Grammy albums is their eclectic nature. Soul fans are introduced to REM. Rock fans get to hear OutKast. And just about everyone is introduced to The Soggy Bottom Boys. That last track, from the staggeringly successful O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack is a simple up-tempo blues number that could have been recorded 70 years ago. (In the film, which is also highly recommended, it was.) Never a hit, even on country radio, it became an under-the-radar classic, propelling the album to the year end top ten with no hit singles and no big name stars. Just the sort of story that Grammy loves. So who wins with nominees like these? All of us.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
"Hear the majority of them if you switch on your radio", April 28, 2002
This review is from: Grammy Nominees 2002 (Audio CD)
Like the Oscars, many argue that the Grammy's are nothing more than a marketing tool to help out manufactured bands gain recognition in the field of music, with bands like The Spice Girls, N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys frequently receiving nods for fields like Best Artist of The Year, despite the fact that no-one can really tell the difference between any of their music. However, the past few years have seen unknown and superb talent receiving the props they deserve, with `70s giant Carlos Santana running away with the majority of the awards two years ago, and U2 grabbing Record and Song of the Year in 2001. This year sees an eclectic mix of hit-and-miss tunes from the Grammy judges (read: old farts), with U2 getting nominated again, and Bob Dylan, Elton John, R.E.M. Alicia Keys and fictional band Soggy Bottom Boys all receiving well-deserved nods. But as soon as we see Michael Jackson's inclusion on this compilation, we know there're going to be some horrible misjudgments - and there are: Craig David, Brian McKnight, Backstreet Boy, Five For Fighting and Nelly Furtado are all integrated into the awards. And, as always, will probably garner undeserved prizes for their useless music, yet again ditching the great bands like the Strokes - chosen as Best Album Of 2001 by Time, NME, Entertainment Weekly and yours truly at HK Magazine, but not even seeing one nomination. As for the tunes on the CD themselves, their pretty much even, a great tune like "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" is followed by MJ's "You Rock My World", with that format dominating the whole collection as the album goes on. Pick it up if you're a fan of excellent mainstream music, but you can probably hear the majority of them if you switch on your radio
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rewarding Unknown Talent, February 8, 2002
This review is from: Grammy Nominees 2002 (Audio CD)
After two years of caving in to current pop trends, especially teen pop, the Grammys go back to what they do best, rewarding quality music that isn't necessarily a commercial success. The only nominated teen pop was one each for BSB and 'NSYNC. 2001 was a better and more diverse year for music than in recent years and this CD is an excellent sampling. We get the usual veteran acts along with some brand new acts that weren't necessarily stars. Because of several repeat nominees, this disc has a record six categories represented. 1. VIDEO-India.Arie should use the Grammys as a springboard to stardom as she slipped under the ears of record buyers, yet grabbed seven nods. This is a deserving nod and a very good tune with a simple "Be Yourself" message. 2. FALLIN'-Overplayed but still wonderful love song from a commercially successful new talent. 3. MS. JACKSON-Rap fans will have to make do with this song as there won't be a seperate rap compilation CD this year. Unlike last year's hateful "Marshall Mathers LP", "Stankonia" is a very worthy nominee and Outkast has an original blend of hip-hop and funk. The song is sweet and confessional, unlike most rap tunes. 4. DROPS OF JUPITER-Another good choice. Catchy and uplifting. 5. WALK ON-Although I preferred "Stuck in a Moment...", I guess this song best captures the U.S.' post 9/11 mood. U2 led this years' crop with 8 deserving nods and gave a very riveting performance at the Super Bowl. 6. HONEST WITH ME-Bob Dylan is one of the all-time greatest songwriters, although I never liked his vocals. This song is very bluesey with great guitar riffs. From the critically lauded but commercially unsuccessful "Love and Theft". 7. I AM A MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW-Simple country blues, very well-done yet never recorded in recent years. That may change with the success of the "O Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack. 8. I'M LIKE A BIRD-Like Keys, another hot new artist and more deserving nods. Women are making a comeback after a couple of down years. 9. BABYLON-Absolutely wonderful song which didn't get much airplay. I got the studio version from the "MTV2 Handpicked" compilation and can't get enough of it. This CD has the live version which is just as good. Congrats to NARAS for recognizing David Gray. 10. FILL ME IN-This song was actually a UK hit two years ago, but wasn't a hit in the states until last summer. One of 2001's best r & b tunes. 11. YOU ROCK MY WORLD-This is the first selection I question. MJ has done much better before, especially with "Thriller". This tune isn't memorable and "Invincible" landed on a lot of critics' "worst" lists. 12. I WANT LOVE-Elton John is back with his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin to create this fine love song. 13. STILL-Okay but not grammy-worthy love song from a previously Grammy-represented r & b artist. 14. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight-I didn't even know James Taylor recorded any tunes last year but NARAS loves to reward aged veterans. A pretty good ballad. 15. Shape of My Heart-A decent but not Grammy-worthy BSB ballad. I'm surprized they got any nods, especially after the disappointing sales of "Black and Blue" and the troubles of two of its members in the past year. 16. SUPERMAN-Another teriffic song from new talent. 17. IMITATION OF LIFE-R.E.M. returns to their original form of art-rock with this fine tune. So this compilation is more eclectic than in recent years with the strong points being the r & b and the new talent discovery. The only thing missing is a selection from Linkin Park's "Hybrid Theory" album which would've well-represented the new rock era we had last year. But this CD is still a must-buy.
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