GRAMMY PICKS FROM ALT/ROCK INSIDERS
While the so-called experts weigh in with their predictions of who is going to win the BIG Grammy categories, I decided to focus the attention on the Rock/Alternative prizes, most of which will not be televised. I asked the best and brightest minds in the world of radio and promotion who they THINK will win the Grammys in the categories we care about. Below are the winners, ranked #1-#5, based on the total number of votes received:
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM:
1) St. Vincent, St. Vincent (Loma Vista/Concord) (winner)
2) Jack White, Lazaretto (Third Man/Columbia)
3) Alt- J, This is All Yours (Canvasback/ATL)
4) Arcade Fire, Reflektor (Merge)
5) Cage the Elephant, Melophobia (RCA)
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE:
1) Jack White, “Lazaretto” (Third Man/Columbia) (winner)
2) Arctic Monkeys, “Do I Wanna Know?” (Domino)
3) Black Keys, “Fever” (Nonesuch/Warner Bros.)
4) Ryan Adams, “Gimme Something Good” (Blue Note)
5) Beck, “Blue Moon” (Capitol) (0 votes)
BEST ROCK SONG:
1) Jack White, “Lazaretto” (Third Man/Columbia) (winner)
2) Black Keys, “Fever” (Nonesuch/Warner Bros.)
3) Beck, “Blue Moon” (Capitol)
4) Ryan Adams, “Give Me Something Good” (Blue Note)
5) Paramore, “Ain’t It Fun” (Fueled by Ramen) (0 votes)
BEST ROCK ALBUM:
1) Beck, Morning Phase (Capitol) (winner)
2) Black Keys, Turn Blue (Nonesuch/Warner Bros.)
3) U2, Songs of Innocence (Interscope)
4) Ryan Adams, Ryan Adams (Blue Note)
5) Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Hypnotic Eye (Reprise) (0 votes)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Bonus category):
1) Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour (Capitol) (winner by a landslide)
2) Beyonce, Beyonce (Columbia)
3) Beck, Morning Phase (Capitol)
4) Ed Sheeran, X (Atlantic)
5) Pharrell, Girl (Columbia) (0 votes)
I agree with WRFF PD John Allers that Arcade Fire’s Reflektor will win Best Alternative Music Album, as a way of acknowledging the band’s influence and prior turn as Album of the Year winners. Historically, The Black Keys and Jack White win the Rock/Alternative categories, but this year, they’re pitted against each other, possibly splitting the substantial Nashville voting block.
Beck’s Morning Phase has been heralded as his career masterpiece; that would have a fantastic chance of winning Album of the Year, had he not been up against labelmate Sam Smith, whose well-deserved win seems preordained. Nan Fisher is still betting on Beck for the big win, while nearly everybody polled thinks that Morning Phase is a lock for Best Rock Album, including Leslie Fram and me.
Jacent Jackson and Lesley James are among the many casting their unofficial vote for Rock Performance of the Year to Jack White’s “Lazaretto,” while the indie label crew, including Hannah Carlen, Brien Terranova and, well, me, think that Arctic Monkeys’ “Do I Wanna Know?” will win. When Jack White accepts his Grammy for Rock Song of the Year, he should be certain to thank Mike Tierney, Mike DePippa, Dustin Matthews, Katy Moore and me (again) for always knowing he’d win this category with “Lazaretto.” Let’s reconvene on Monday and see how well we did with our picks (guesses)!
