Its finally the time of the year when the most annoying music listeners crawl out from underneath their stan-Twitter shelters to debate and debase the opinions of out-of-touch white people in charge of The Recording Academy. I am one of those annoying music listeners.
The nominations for the upcoming 2023 Grammy Awards finally launched today, seeing the usual artists with the richest labels come away with leading tallies. Drake’s boycott, Adele vs. Beyoncé round two, and Taylor Swift’s existence all fuel the Grammy hype-train this year, with five new categories that nobody is that interested in expanding the dense schedule of the second biggest night in music (right behind the upcoming Gone Gazing Awards ~wow~).
As always, Grammy voters have gotten every category wrong, so here are some picks for major nomination snubs at this year’s awards.
Honorable Mention: Black Country, New Road
Before getting into the real list, a brief moment-of-silence for the UK’s best output since Ringo’s feet pics. Its very unlikely that Black Country, New Road would have earned many nominations stateside, irregardless of their lead singer Isaac Wood departing the band earlier this year.
The band could’ve dominated every alternative category in addition to Best New Artist for their quick-fire releases For the first time and Ants From Up There, both realistically being better than everything up for Album of the Year as well. Alas, The Recording Academy’s nationalist agenda and the band’s decision to forego promoting their work with Isaac have left them off the ballot this year.
Best Rap Album: Denzel Curry’s Melt My Eyez See Your Future
My personal favorite hip-hop entry this year, Denzel Curry earned zero nominations for his newest musical reinvention, a melodic and introspective work that easily eclipses some of the other nominees. DJ Khaled, a producer that doesn’t rap, and Jack Harlow, a white man, both earned nominations for the prestigious category alongside Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, and Future (also iffy on him).
Though disappointed in Denzel Curry’s missing nod, I can only pray that we don’t see a Macklemore pt. 2 with this year’s award going to another mediocre white guy.
Album of the Year: Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version)
To preface: I don’t really care for Taylor Swift, and I didn’t listen to this album, but the semantics are weird with this one. I’m not even sure if a re-release should qualify for any awards in the first place, but given that it does, it should probably have a few more nominations in important categories. Especially given Fearless (Taylor’s Version)‘s withholding last year, especially given the Grammy’s obsession with the artist, and especially given its Album of the Year nomination the first time it came out.
Taylor earned a handful of nominations that she’ll likely sweep, but it does feel odd to be left out amidst some of the other nominations that snuck through (looking at you, Coldplay).
Best Alternative Music Album: Arctic Monkeys’ The Car
The alt-heavy-hitters came back in 2022 with a sound so far gone from what they conquered the post-Strokes rock scene in the early 2000s with, and the result is just okay. Alex Turner and co. picked up a nomination in this year’s new Best Alternative Performance category, but that should’ve carried over into the Best Alternative Music Album category.
I don’t even like this album, but its definitely better than Arcade Fire’s or Wet Leg’s. Big Thief should win everything anyways, but the Academy should’ve been courteous to Arctic Monkey’s comeback.
Best New Artist: Snail Mail
Baltimore native Lindsey Jordan once again earns a snub at this year’s show following a late-2021 release of her sophomore album Valentine. The delayed promotion following her vocal surgery likely handicapped her critical success this year, but it’s certainly possible to earn a nod once a third album comes. Given Lush‘s widespread acclaim, her upcoming Baltimore Valentine Fest, and her acting debut in A24’s I Saw the TV Glow, those nominations should come rolling in soon.
A Few Quick Snubs Before the Big One
I’m trying to get this article out early to hit that surge in web traffic. Respect the hustle. Here a few that I won’t elaborate on:
- Best Rock Album: Beabadoobee’s Beatopia
- Best New Artist: Mitski
- Album of the Year: Big Thief’s Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
- Best Alternative Music Performance: Phoenix’s “Tonight (feat. Ezra Koenig)”
- Best Dance/Electronic Music Album: Panda Bear’s Reset
- Best Alternative Music Album: Beach House’s Once Twice Melody
- Best New Artist: black midi
- Record of the Year: ZOMBIES 3’s “Exceptional Zed”
- Best Rock Album: Turnstile’s GLOW ON
Literally Everything: The Smile’s A Light for Attracting Attention
The Radiohead-offshoot featuring Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and Tom Skinner (Sons of Kemet) received no nominations for their acclaimed debut album that will likely be the #1 pick for album of the year in alternative and rock spheres across the world.
A serial winner, Yorke holds the most wins in the Best Alternative Music Album category alongside Beck and The White Stripes, yet misses out with his most recent entry that reunites him with Radiohead guitarist Greenwood. Their reunion produces the closest thing to new Radiohead in six years, with A Light for Attracting Attention settling in amongst the best Yorke releases of all time, reminiscent of his In Rainbows era.
It is a mystery as to why the greatest mind in alternative rock earns no nominations this deep into his phenomenal career, especially given the group’s legacy status. The Smile’s debut easily trounces the releases in the rock and alternative category and could hold its own amidst the contenders for Album of The Year, a category Yorke and Greenwood have been nominated for three times.
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