Delayed a few days as I’ve been spending lunch analyzing MP3 players (!) I will be making a purchase soon- anyone have any thoughts on the 4th gen 40GB iPod+HP as opposed to the iRiver H340. E-mail me if you do…
Comfortably Numb- Scissor Sisters
Toxic- Britney Spears
I actually give the nod of approval to all of these. First, they manage to represent alternative and Top 40 dance styles in these pics. All of these songs are pretty catch, even the Britney one. But in the end, I hope Kylie wins. Not because I think she’ll give an interesting speech, as I have used as a tiebreaker in other categories, but I would like to see her accept a Grammy. She’s easy on the eyes, y’know…
Kish Kash- Basement Jaxx
Legion Of Boom- The Crystal Method
Creamfields- Paul Oakenfold
Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned- The Prodigy
Reflections- Paul Van Dyk
Well, I actually have no pick in this category. The only one I heard was the Basement Jaxx album, and a) it’s their weakest to date, b) I think it came out in 2003. The Prodigy album was panned in most reviews I saw, and I just really don’t get in to the style of the other three nominees. So nothing terribly wrong here, just nothing that stands out..
Uh Huh Her-PJ Harvey
Good News For People Who Love Bad News- Modest Mouse
A Ghost Is Born- Wilco
One measly category for alternative music, but at least they’ve got it right. I haven’t heard PJ Harvey’s or Modest Mouse’s albums in full, but I ‘ve heard enough to know they’re decent choices. Wilco and Björk took some real chances on their 2004 releases and are nicely rewarded for the risk, a trend I hope continues. Finally, Franz Ferdinand would get my overall nod here- a sparkling debut.
Overnight Celebrity- Twista: rode Kanye’s coattails, but still delivers the goods with his unique, lightning-fast style
Through The Wire- Kanye West: it’s Kanye’s year
Don’t Say Nuthin’- The Roots: haven’t heard it…
Drop It Like It’s Hot- Snoop Dogg & Pharrell: came out later, but good to see it here
Lean Back- Terror Squad: Fat Joe & crew came up with a dance even the tall & portly could do…
Dip It Low- Christina Milian Featuring Fabolous
Slow Jamz- Twista Featuring Kanye West & Jamie Foxx
Yeah!- Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris
All Falls Down- Kanye West & Syleena Johnson
Funny, I thought there were better rap/sung song than these- and maybe they were. With the exception of the Black Eyed Peas, I’m not thinking of any. Usher and friends will win.
Hey Mama- Will Adams & Anthony Henry, songwriters (The Black Eyed Peas)
Jesus Walks- C. Smith & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West)
Let’s Get It Started- Will Adams, Mike Fratantuno, Jaime Gomez, George Pajon, Jr., Allan Pineda & Terence Yoshiaki, songwriters (The Black Eyed Peas): How many people did it take to come up this song?!? Did one guy come up with "Let’s Get It Started", another with "in here". another with that "runnin’, runnin’" part?
99 Problems- Shawn Carter & Rick Rubin, songwriters (Jay-Z)
A little weak here- the Black Eyed Peas barely belong in the rap category, and they have 2 songs here…Kanye may win here as well, but I’ll take Snoop or Jay-Z any day…
The Black Album- Jay-Z
The Definition- LL Cool J
Suit-Nelly
The College Dropout- Kanye West
LL? Come on! I’d say his nomination was so last year, but I’d really need to be saying that in 1990! Again, I think the committee went with a lot of know entities..none of these choice really knock me out. I’ll go with Kanye to win, but I’d rather listen to the Beasties…
From hardware to software, I turn my attention now to the dance category of the Grammys. I don’t dance, but I’m not opposed to listening to dance music on the ol’ headphones from time to time. So I do have an opinion on this category…my thumbs-up indicated in green.
Best Dance Record (Single or Album Track)
Good Luck- Basement Jaxx Featuring Lisa Kekaula
Get Yourself High- The Chemical Brothers
Comfortably Numb- Scissor Sisters
Toxic- Britney Spears
I actually give the nod of approval to all of these. First, they manage to represent alternative and Top 40 dance styles in these pics. All of these songs are pretty catch, even the Britney one. But in the end, I hope Kylie wins. Not because I think she’ll give an interesting speech, as I have used as a tiebreaker in other categories, but I would like to see her accept a Grammy. She’s easy on the eyes, y’know…
Best Electronic/Dance Album
Kish Kash- Basement Jaxx
Legion Of Boom- The Crystal Method
Creamfields- Paul Oakenfold
Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned- The Prodigy
Reflections- Paul Van Dyk
Well, I actually have no pick in this category. The only one I heard was the Basement Jaxx album, and a) it’s their weakest to date, b) I think it came out in 2003. The Prodigy album was panned in most reviews I saw, and I just really don’t get in to the style of the other three nominees. So nothing terribly wrong here, just nothing that stands out..
Best Alternative Music Album
Medulla- Björk
Uh Huh Her-PJ Harvey
Good News For People Who Love Bad News- Modest Mouse
A Ghost Is Born- Wilco
One measly category for alternative music, but at least they’ve got it right. I haven’t heard PJ Harvey’s or Modest Mouse’s albums in full, but I ‘ve heard enough to know they’re decent choices. Wilco and Björk took some real chances on their 2004 releases and are nicely rewarded for the risk, a trend I hope continues. Finally, Franz Ferdinand would get my overall nod here- a sparkling debut.
Best Rap Solo Performance
On Fire- Lloyd Banks: who? maybe I don’t know rap as well as I thought…
Just Lose It- Eminem: I wasn’t too nuts about this song last year when it was out under the title "Without Me"
Overnight Celebrity- Twista: rode Kanye’s coattails, but still delivers the goods with his unique, lightning-fast style
Through The Wire- Kanye West: it’s Kanye’s year
Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
Ch-Check It Out- Beastie Boys: they’re back..
Don’t Say Nuthin’- The Roots: haven’t heard it…
Drop It Like It’s Hot- Snoop Dogg & Pharrell: came out later, but good to see it here
Lean Back- Terror Squad: Fat Joe & crew came up with a dance even the tall & portly could do…
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Why- Jadakiss Featuring Anthony Hamilton:Dip It Low- Christina Milian Featuring Fabolous
Slow Jamz- Twista Featuring Kanye West & Jamie Foxx
Yeah!- Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris
All Falls Down- Kanye West & Syleena Johnson
Funny, I thought there were better rap/sung song than these- and maybe they were. With the exception of the Black Eyed Peas, I’m not thinking of any. Usher and friends will win.
Best Rap Song (a songwriting award)
Drop It Like It’s Hot- Calvin Broadus, Chad Hugo, S. Thomas & Pharrell Williams, songwriters (Snoop Dogg & Pharrell)Hey Mama- Will Adams & Anthony Henry, songwriters (The Black Eyed Peas)
Jesus Walks- C. Smith & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West)
Let’s Get It Started- Will Adams, Mike Fratantuno, Jaime Gomez, George Pajon, Jr., Allan Pineda & Terence Yoshiaki, songwriters (The Black Eyed Peas): How many people did it take to come up this song?!? Did one guy come up with "Let’s Get It Started", another with "in here". another with that "runnin’, runnin’" part?
99 Problems- Shawn Carter & Rick Rubin, songwriters (Jay-Z)
A little weak here- the Black Eyed Peas barely belong in the rap category, and they have 2 songs here…Kanye may win here as well, but I’ll take Snoop or Jay-Z any day…
Best Rap Album
To The 5 Boroughs- Beastie BoysThe Black Album- Jay-Z
The Definition- LL Cool J
Suit-Nelly
The College Dropout- Kanye West
LL? Come on! I’d say his nomination was so last year, but I’d really need to be saying that in 1990! Again, I think the committee went with a lot of know entities..none of these choice really knock me out. I’ll go with Kanye to win, but I’d rather listen to the Beasties…
I’m not sure if I’ll do any more categories. Jackass soda reviews are piling up in my head…