Saturday, December 08, 2012

Blanco death: CCTV suggests he was dropped from the balcony

You remember how Pete Doherty told the NME that the police had CCTV evidence which showed Mark Blanco fell "unassisted" from the balcony the night he died?

Newsnight have had forensic experts review the CCTV footage, and their opinion is that someone dropped Mark Blanco over the balcony:

Grant Fredericks, a leading US video forensics analyst who trains FBI agents, says the images of Blanco coming off the balcony are "very consistent with a person being carried and literally dropped over the edge of the balcony".

John Kennedy, who has given video forensics testimony in scores of cases in the UK and overseas, says of Mr Blanco's fall: "There's no defensive movement whatsoever. It's literally a drop from outside the rail.

"The only explanation I can think of is that somebody might have dropped him off the balcony. He doesn't climb over the railing himself. He doesn't jump. He just suddenly appears outside the railing and falls."

The suggestion of no defensive injuries - consistent with unconsciousness - is in line with a bio-mechanics investigation and a neurobiologist's report, both commissioned by Sheila Blanco, Mark Blanco's mother.
We're no closer knowing what really happened, of course.

Pete Doherty's blog still has this claim on it:
WHEN HE [Blanco] LEFT THE FLAT HE Was alone and when he fell or jumped he was alone. THAT is what happened. he either fell or was making an extreme point about the nature of life imitating art.
It doesn't seem to be a story that will simply go away.


Gordon in the morning: Nipslip bullshit

Something especially awful this morning, as Gordon runs a picture of Rita Ora. Nothing strange in that, except... look how he describes it:

It's a "nip slip outfit". Important to note that there's no suggestion that Ora's areola made an appearance. No, Gordon's just excited that there's a vague possibility that it could pop out.

On this basis, then, surely all skirts would actually be "upskirt outfits"?


Shelagh McDonald: You can safely call this a comeback

The Herald has a a great story this morning about a singer who vanished from view so completely, people assumed she was dead:

Only in 2005, after a re-release of her work without her knowledge, did [Shelagh] McDonald make herself known to the world again — a "surreal" experience, after reading about herself as if she were dead.
It had been The Independent which killed her off, although she read of her demise when the Scottish edition of the Daily Mail repeated the story.

She wasn't dead; she'd had a bad trip which destroyed her voice and, after stopping singing, she met Gordon Farquhar. Their lives together took a route far away from music; it was only after Gordon's death that she tried to sing again.

It's working for her; she's doing a session on Tuesday for Alive Radio. Although people have preconceptions about her:
"I think people are expecting me to be a miserable old sod, a tragedy, and I'm supposed to be incredibly mysterious.

You cannot be mysterious if you've lived in a tent for six years, it just can't be done."
I think Jabal might argue with that.

It might look like this is a story which is calling for a a description of "a happy ending", but that would imply that 'not being in the public eye' is, of itself, an unhappy state of affairs. McDonald says she has no regrets about the way her life unfolded.


Friday, December 07, 2012

Less Campesinos

Ellen Waddell has left Los Campesinos!.


Bookmarks: Pete Doherty

Peter Bradshaw has gone to see Pete Doherty's Confession Of A Child Of The Century for The Guardian. You need to read the whole thing, but here's a taste:

It's not exactly like seeing a dog walk on its hind legs. It's more like seeing one of those dogs on the TV show That's Life! that could say "sausages". Only instead of saying "sausages", it's saying, "You understand, madam, that I am the greatest libertine in all Paris!" while wearing a top hat.


Grammys 2013: Outrage as Grammys impose vague quality threshold

You know what almost nobody thought as they scrolled through the Grammy nominations list? "That's odd, there's no Justin Bieber here."

Almost nobody thought that. A few people did, though, and they are not happy. Yahoo spotted this on Twitter:

"Grammy board u blew it on this one. the hardest thing to do is transition, keep the train moving. The kid delivered. Huge successful album, sold out tour, and won people over. ... This time he deserved to be recognized,"
I know what you're thinking - "bless that barely-literate fourteen year-old girl, impotently raging against the Grammy board." Let's hope someone brings her enthusiasm to the attention of Beiber's manager Scooter Braun, so that he can thank her personally. Yahoo, did you get the name of that Twitter user?
... Braun posted in a series of tweets.
Oh.

It's not just Bieber fans puzzled by the way the Grammys have a quality threshold that allows through indifferent Katy Perry songs but blocks no less indifferent Bieber tracks; a barrier which cannot be crossed by the pintsized Canadian but can be penetrated by Ed Sheeran. (Stop making up your own punchlines.)

One Direction fans are also fuming. I think they're realistic enough to know that One Direction were never going to win a Grammy, but they were definitely hoping Zayn would pick up some waiting work for the launch ceremony and that never came through.


Gordon in the morning: Brave words from Chris Maloney

Apparently they're doing The X Factor this year, and possible winner Chris Maloney is being defiant this morning:

Defiant Chris — dubbed “Chris Baloney” after he hid his cruise ship singer past — has been compared with X Factor’s first winner, Steve Brookstein, whose career nosedived after he fell out with Simon.

But Chris said: “You’re joking aren’t you? He’s got his own talent and does his own thing, but I’m completely different.”
Yes, Chris, you're no Steve Brookstein. You're much more of a Michelle McManus. Or maybe even a Mark Rhodes.


Thursday, December 06, 2012

Spotify wants to help you discover music, just like everyone else

Spotify has announced new features designed to help people "discover" music, because that's apparently something people have difficulty doing. MusicAlly explains how it works:

The new discovery features include a Follow tab to help users follow individual artists, celebrities, music experts and other users, and also a Discover tab designed to significantly improve Spotify’s recommendation features, suggesting new music based on users’ habits. Users will also be able to build their own “collections” on the service, adding albums to an online collection rather than having to save them to individual playlists.
So it's not really a tool to discover new music, just yet another way of shovelling more of the same at people.

"Hey, Coldplay fan - have you heard Keane? Hey, Oasis fan, have you heard Ocean Colour Shitting Scene?"

God help us all.

Meanwhile, the company claim they've not got five million people paying them for their service, and that they've written cheques for $500million - 70% of revenues - since they started. These are big numbers when viewed from this end of the street; it's only when that money gets split between hundred and thousands of rights holders that it sounds a bit less impressive.

And, in the latest round of digital refuseniks capitulating, they're bringing Metallica to Spotify. Yes, that's Lars Ulrich and Napster demon Sean Parker reconciled. It's not clear what good Metallica's ten year battle against modernity did them.


Jazzobit: Dave Brubeck

There were a lot of obituaries of Dave Brubeck yesterday, with people struggling to explain how he managed to make jazz a mass market entertainment. But all they really need to do is this:

Dave Brubeck was 91.


Grammys 2013: The blokiest Grammys in years

The presence of Mumford And Sons - six nominations - on the list was always going to add a beardy, blokey musk to the list of Grammy nominations, but with Dan Auberbach, Frank Ocean, Kanye West and Jay-Z also getting hexanominated, this really does feel a bit man-dominated.

The surprise is Sade getting a nomination after all these years - albeit for a video rather than a song; she's going up against Tegan & Sara.

The Muppets are on the list, too, for best song written for a visual medium and best soundtrack.

There's a lot of Muse on the shortlist, too. Here's the list in full - why not print it out and mark your favourites with highlighter pens?

Or just scribble all over the bit where Coldplay turn up.

1. Record Of The Year

Lonely Boy

The Black Keys
The Black Keys & Danger Mouse, producers; Tom Elmhirst & Kennie Takahashi, engineers/mixers; Brian Lucey, mastering engineer
Track from: El Camino
[Nonesuch]
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

Kelly Clarkson
Greg Kurstin, producer; Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Greg Kurstin & Jesse Shatkin, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
[RCA Records/19 Recordings Limited]
We Are Young

Fun. Featuring Janelle Monáe
Jeff Bhasker, producer; Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dawson & Stuart White, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
Track from: Some Nights
[Fueled By Ramen]
Somebody That I Used To Know

Gotye Featuring Kimbra
Wally De Backer, producer; Wally De Backer & Francois Tetaz, engineers/mixers; William Bowden, mastering engineer
Track from: Making Mirrors
[Universal Republic]
Thinkin Bout You

Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean, producer; Jeff Ellis, Pat Thrall & Marcos Tovar, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer
Track from: Channel Orange
[Def Jam]
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

Taylor Swift
Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift, producers; Serban Ghenea, engineer/mixer; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer
[Big Machine Records]

2. Album Of The Year

El Camino

The Black Keys
The Black Keys & Danger Mouse, producers; Tchad Blake, Tom Elmhirst & Kennie Takahashi, engineers/mixers; Brian Lucey, mastering engineer
[Nonesuch]
Some Nights

Fun.
Janelle Monáe, featured artist; Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, Jake One & TommyD, producers; Jeff Bhasker, Pete Bischoff, Jeff Chestek, Andrew Dawson, Emile Haynie, Manny Marroquin, Sonny Pinnar & Stuart White, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
[Fueled By Ramen]
Babel

Mumford & Sons
Markus Dravs, producer; Robin Baynton & Ruadhri Cushnan, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer
[Glassnote]
Channel Orange

Frank Ocean
André 3000, John Mayer & Earl Sweatshirt, featured artists; Om'Mas Keith, Malay, Frank Ocean & Pharrell, producers; Calvin Bailif, Andrew Coleman, Jeff Ellis, Doug Fenske, Om'Mas Keith, Malay, Frank Ocean, Philip Scott, Mark "Spike" Stent, Pat Thrall, Marcos Tovar & Vic Wainstein, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer
[Def Jam]
Blunderbuss

Jack White
Jack White, producer; Vance Powell & Jack White, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer
[Third Man/Columbia Records]

3. Song Of The Year

The A Team

Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)
Track from: +
[Elektra; Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing]
Adorn

Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
[RCA/Bystorm Entertainment; Publisher: Art Dealer Chic]
Call Me Maybe

Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)
[604 Records/Schoolboy Records/Interscope; Publishers: Jepsen Music Publishing, Regular Monkey Productions, Crowe Music Publishing]
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly
Clarkson)
[RCA/19 Recordings; Publishers: Universal Music Publishing MGB Scandinavia, Perfect Storm Music Group/Sony ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia, BMG Gold Songs, Kurstin Music/EMI April Music]
We Are Young

Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Fun.
Featuring Janelle Monáe)
Track from: Some Nights
[Fueled By Ramen; Publishers: WB Music, FBR Music, Bearvon Music/Rough Art/Shira Lee Lawrence Rick Music/Way Above Music/Sony ATV Songs]

4. Best New Artist

Alabama Shakes

Fun.

Hunter Hayes

The Lumineers

Frank Ocean


5. Best Pop Solo Performance

Set Fire To The Rain [Live]

Adele
Track from: Live At The Royal Albert Hall
[XL/Columbia]
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

Kelly Clarkson
[RCA Records/19 Recordings Limited]
Call Me Maybe

Carly Rae Jepsen
[604 Records/Schoolboy Records/Interscope]
Wide Awake

Katy Perry
[Capitol]
Where Have You Been

Rihanna
Track from: Talk That Talk
[Def Jam]

6. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Shake It Out

Florence & The Machine
Track from: Ceremonials
[Universal Republic]
We Are Young

Fun. Featuring Janelle Monáe
Track from: Some Nights
[Fueled By Ramen]
Somebody That I Used To Know

Gotye Featuring Kimbra
Track from: Making Mirrors
[Universal Republic]
Sexy And I Know It

LMFAO
Track from: Sorry For Party Rocking
[will.i.am/Interscope/Cherrytree Records]
Payphone

Maroon 5 & Wiz Khalifa
Track from: Overexposed
[A & M/Octone]

7. Best Pop Instrumental Album

24/7

Gerald Albright & Norman Brown
[Concord Jazz]
Impressions

Chris Botti
[Columbia]
Four Hands & A Heart Volume One

Larry Carlton
[335 Records, Inc.]
Live At The Blue Note Tokyo

Dave Koz
[Just Koz Entertainment]
Rumbadoodle

Arun Shenoy
[Arun Shenoy Music Publishing]

8. Best Pop Vocal Album

Stronger

Kelly Clarkson
[RCA Records/19 Recordings LLC]
Ceremonials

Florence & The Machine
[Universal Republic]
Some Nights

Fun.
[Fueled By Ramen]
Overexposed

Maroon 5
[A&M/Octone]
The Truth About Love

Pink
[RCA Records]

9. Best Dance Recording

Levels

Avicii
Tim Bergling & Ash Pournouri, producers; Tim Bergling, mixer
[Levels/Atom Empire/Interscope]
Let's Go

Calvin Harris Featuring Ne-Yo
Calvin Harris, producer; Calvin Harris, mixer
[Ultra Music]
Bangarang

Skrillex Featuring Sirah
Skrillex, producer; Skrillex, mixer
Track from: Bangarang
[OWSLA/Big Beat/Atlantic]
Don't You Worry Child

Swedish House Mafia Featuring John Martin
Steve Angello, Axwell & Sebastian Ingrosso, producers; Steve Angello, Axwell & Sebastian Ingrosso, mixers
[Astralwerks]
I Can't Live Without You

Al Walser
Al Walser, producer; Al Walser, mixer
[Cut The Bull Entertainment]

10. Best Dance/Electronica Album

Wonderland

Steve Aoki
[Ultra Music/ Dim Mak]
Don't Think

The Chemical Brothers
[Astralwerks]
> Album Title Goes Here <

Deadmau5
[Mau5trap Recordings/Ultra Music]
Fire & Ice

Kaskade
[Ultra Music]
Bangarang

Skrillex
[OWSLA/Big Beat/Atlantic]

11. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Christmas

Michael Bublé
[143/Reprise]
A Holiday Carole

Carole King
[Hear Music]
Kisses On The Bottom

Paul McCartney
[Hear Music]

12. Best Rock Performance

Hold On

Alabama Shakes
Track from: Boys & Girls
[ATO Records]
Lonely Boy

The Black Keys
Track from: El Camino
[Nonesuch]
Charlie Brown

Coldplay
[Capitol]
I Will Wait

Mumford & Sons
Track from: Babel
[Glassnote]
We Take Care Of Our Own

Bruce Springsteen
Track from: Wrecking Ball
[Columbia Records]

13. Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance

I'm Alive

Anthrax
[Megaforce]
Love Bites (So Do I)

Halestorm
Track from: The Strange Case Of...
[Atlantic]
Blood Brothers

Iron Maiden
Track from: En Vivo!
[UMe]
Ghost Walking

Lamb Of God
Track from: Resolution
[Epic]
No Reflection

Marilyn Manson
Track from: Born Villain
[Cooking Vinyl]
Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)

Megadeth
Track from: Th1rt3en
[Roadrunner Records]

14. Best Rock Song

Freedom At 21

Jack White, songwriter (Jack White)
Track from: Blunderbuss
[Columbia Records/ Third Man Records; Publisher: Third String Tunes]
I Will Wait

Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall & Marcus Mumford, songwriters (Mumford &
Sons)
Track from: Babel
[Glassnote]
Lonely Boy

Dan Auerbach, Brian Burton & Patrick Carney, songwriters (The Black Keys)
Track from: El Camino
[Nonesuch; Publisher: McMoore McLesst Publishing]
Madness

Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)
[Warner Bros.; Publisher: Warner Chappell]
We Take Care Of Our Own

Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen)
Track from: Wrecking Ball
[Columbia Records; Publisher: Bruce Springsteen]

15. Best Rock Album

El Camino

The Black Keys
[Nonesuch]
Mylo Xyloto

Coldplay
[Capitol]
The 2nd Law

Muse
[WB]
Wrecking Ball

Bruce Springsteen
[Columbia Records]
Blunderbuss

Jack White
[Columbia Records/ Third Man Records]

16. Best Alternative Music Album

The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

Fiona Apple
[Epic/Clean Slate]
Biophilia

Björk
[One Little Indian / Nonesuch]
Making Mirrors

Gotye
[Universal Republic]
Hurry Up, We're Dreaming.

M83
[Mute]
Bad As Me

Tom Waits
[Anti Records]

17. Best R&B Performance

Thank You

Estelle
Track from: All Of Me
[Home School/Atlantic]
Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.)

Robert Glasper Experiment Featuring Ledisi
Track from: Black Radio
[Blue Note]
I Want You

Luke James
[Mercury]
Adorn

Miguel
[RCA Records / Bystorm Entertainment]
Climax

Usher
Track from: Looking 4 Myself
[RCA Records]

18. Best Traditional R&B Performance

Lately

Anita Baker
[Blue Note]
Love On Top

Beyoncé
Track from: 4
[Columbia Records]
Wrong Side Of A Love Song

Melanie Fiona
Track from: The MF Life
[SRC]
Real Good Hands

Gregory Porter
Track from: Be Good
[Motema Music]
If Only You Knew

SWV
Track from: I Missed Us
[Mass Appeal Entertainment/E1 Music]

19. Best R&B Song

Adorn

Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
[RCA/Bystorm Entertainment; Publisher: Art Dealer Chic]
Beautiful Surprise

Tamia Hill, Claude Kelly & Salaam Remi, songwriters (Tamia)
[Plus 1 Music Group; Publishers: Plus 1 Publishing, Studiobeast Music/Warner Tamerlane Music/Linden Springfield/EMI Blackwood Music]
Heart Attack

Benjamin Levin, Rico Love & Tremaine Neverson, songwriters (Trey Songz)
Track from: Chapter V
[Songbook/Atlantic; Publishers: Matza Ball Music/Where Da Kasz At, EMI Foray Music, April's Boy Muzik/Warner Chappell Music]
Pray For Me

Antonio Dixon, Kenny Edmonds, Anthony Hamilton & Patrick “jQue” Smith,
songwriters (Anthony Hamilton)
Track from: Back To Love
[RCA; Publishers: Tappy Whyte's Music/Songs of Universal, Faze 2 Music/Songs of Universal, Antonio Dixon's Muzik/EMI April Music, Christopher Matthew Music Publishing/Songs of Windswept Pacific]
Refill

Darhyl "DJ" Camper, Elle Varner & Andrew "Pop" Wansel, songwriters (Elle Varner)
Track from: Perfectly Imperfect
[RCA Records/MBK Entertainment; Publishers: Ellevision Music/Sony ATV Songs, Private Stock Entertainment/Songs of Universal, CampStar Music/EMI April]

20. Best Urban Contemporary Album

Fortune

Chris Brown
[RCA Records]
Kaleidoscope Dream

Miguel
[RCA Records / Bystorm Entertainment]
Channel Orange

Frank Ocean
[Def Jam]

21. Best R&B Album

Black Radio

Robert Glasper Experiment
[Blue Note]
Back To Love

Anthony Hamilton
[RCA Records]
Write Me Back

R. Kelly
[RCA Records]
Beautiful Surprise

Tamia
[Plus 1 Music Group]
Open Invitation

Tyrese
[Voltron Recordz]

22. Best Rap Performance

HYFR (Hell Ya F***ing Right)

Drake Featuring Lil' Wayne
Track from: Take Care
[Cash Money Records]
N****s In Paris

Jay-Z & Kanye West
Track from: Watch The Throne
[Roc-A-Fella Records, LLC]
Daughters

Nas
Track from: Life Is Good
[Def Jam]
Mercy

Kanye West Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz
[G.O.O.D. Music / Island Def Jam]
I Do

Young Jeezy Featuring Jay-Z & André 3000
Track from: TM: 103 Hustlerz Ambition
[Def Jam]

23. Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Wild Ones

Flo Rida Featuring Sia
Track from: Wild Ones
[Poe Boy/Atlantic]
No Church In The Wild

Jay-Z & Kanye West Featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream
Track from: Watch The Throne
[Roc-A-Fella Records, LLC]
Tonight (Best You Ever Had)

John Legend Featuring Ludacris
[Epic Records]
Cherry Wine

Nas Featuring Amy Winehouse
Track from: Life Is Good
[Def Jam]
Talk That Talk

Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z
Track from: Talk That Talk
[Def Jam]

24. Best Rap Song

Daughters

Nasir Jones & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Patrick Adams, Gary DeCarlo, Dale
Frashuer & Paul Leka, songwriters) (Nas)
Track from: Life Is Good
[Def Jam; Publishers: Rich Daily Since '71, Universal Music Publishing, Unichappell Music]
Lotus Flower Bomb

Olubowale Akintimehin, S. Joseph Dew, Jerrin Howard, Walker Johnson & Miguel
Jontel Pimentel, songwriters (Wale Featuring Miguel)
[MMG/Warner Bros.; Publishers: WB Music/Deadstock Music/Verrin Howard/Miguel Jontel Pimentel Publishing/Fusician Publishing]
Mercy

Sean Anderson, Tauheed Epps, Stephan Taft, James Thomas, Terrence Thornton &
Kanye West, songwriters (Denzie Beagle, Winston Riley & Reggie Williams, songwriters) (Kanye West Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz)
[G.O.O.D. Music; Publishers: Please Gimme My Publishing/EMI Blackwood/RLFG Music/FF to Def Pub./Neighborhood Pusha/Sony ATV Songs/Ty Epps Music/Copyright Control/Roynet Music/Dub Plate Music]
The Motto

Dwayne Carter, Aubrey Graham & Tyler Williams, songwriters (Drake Featuring Lil'
Wayne)
Track from: Take Care
[Cash Money Records]
N****s In Paris

Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Chauncey Hollis & Kanye West, songwriters (W.A.
Donaldson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
Track from: Watch The Throne
[Def Jam; Publishers: Hit-Boy Music/Very Good Beats, Hip Hop Since 1978, Dean's List Productions, Unichappell Music]
Young, Wild & Free

Calvin Broadus, Chris Brody Brown, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Peter Hernandez
& Cameron Thomaz, songwriters (T. Bluechel, M. Borrow, T. Griffin, K. Jackson, N. Lee & M. Newman, songwriters) (Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa Featuring Bruno Mars)
Track from: Mac And Devin Go To High School: Music From And Inspired By The Movie
[Atlantic; Publishers: My Own Chit Publishing/EMI Blackwood, PGH Sound, Mars Force Music/Roc Nation Music, Toy Plane Music-Universal Music, Westside Independent, WB Music, Late 80's Music, Beechwood Music, BMG Platinum, Rebellion Corps.]

25. Best Rap Album

Take Care

Drake
[Cash Money Records]
Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1

Lupe Fiasco
[Atlantic]
Life Is Good

Nas
[Def Jam]
Undun

The Roots
[Island Def Jam]
God Forgives, I Don't

Rick Ross
[Def Jam]
Based On A T.R.U. Story

2 Chainz
[Island Def Jam]

26. Best Country Solo Performance

Home

Dierks Bentley
[Capitol Records Nashville]
Springsteen

Eric Church
[EMI Records Nashville]
Cost Of Livin'

Ronnie Dunn
[Arista Nashville]
Wanted

Hunter Hayes
Track from: Hunter Hayes
[Atlantic]
Over

Blake Shelton
Track from: Red River Blue
[Warner Bros. Records]
Blown Away

Carrie Underwood
Track from: Blown Away
[19 Recordings Limited/Arista Nashville]

27. Best Country Duo/Group Performance

Even If It Breaks Your Heart

Eli Young Band
[Republic Nashville]
Pontoon

Little Big Town
[Capitol Records Nashville]
Safe & Sound

Taylor Swift & The Civil Wars
[Big Machine Records/Universal Republic]
On The Outskirts Of Town

The Time Jumpers
Track from: The Time Jumpers
[Rounder]
I Just Come Here For The Music

Don Williams Featuring Alison Krauss
[Sugar Hill Records]

28. Best Country Song

Blown Away

Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
Track from: Blown Away
[19 Recordings Limited/Arista Nashville; Publishers: Global Dog Music/Lunalight Music, Big Loud Songs/Angel River Songs]
Cost Of Livin'

Phillip Coleman & Ronnie Dunn, songwriters (Ronnie Dunn)
[Arista Nashville; Publishers: Tractor Radio Songs, Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Showbilly Music]
Even If It Breaks Your Heart

Will Hoge & Eric Paslay, songwriters (Eli Young Band)
[Republic Nashville]
So You Don't Have To Love Me Anymore

Jay Knowles & Adam Wright, songwriters (Alan Jackson)
[EMI Records Nashville/ACR Records; Publishers: Alrighty Den Music, Dean-Parnell Music, Acme Nashville]
Springsteen

Eric Church, Jeff Hyde & Ryan Tyndell, songwriters (Eric Church)
[EMI Records Nashville; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Sinnerlina Music/Purple Cape Music, Bug Music/Mamma's Cornbread Music]

29. Best Country Album

Uncaged

Zac Brown Band
[Southern Ground/Atlantic]
Hunter Hayes

Hunter Hayes
[Atlantic]
Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran

Jamey Johnson
[Mercury Records]
Four The Record

Miranda Lambert
[The RCA Records Label Nashville]
The Time Jumpers

The Time Jumpers
[Rounder]

30. Best New Age Album

Echoes Of Love

Omar Akram
[Real Music]
Live Ananda

Krishna Das
[Krishna Das Music]
Bindu

Michael Brant DeMaria
[Ontos Music]
Deep Alpha

Steven Halpern
[Steven Halpern's Inner Peace Music]
Light Body

Peter Kater
[Mysterium Music]
Troubadours On The Rhine

Loreena McKennitt
[Verve]

31. Best Improvised Jazz Solo

Cross Roads

Ravi Coltrane, soloist
Track from: Spirit Fiction
[Blue Note]
Hot House

Gary Burton & Chick Corea, soloists
Track from: Hot House
[Concord Jazz]
Alice In Wonderland

Chick Corea, soloist
Track from: Further Explorations (Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez & Paul Motian)
[Concord Jazz]
J. Mac

Kenny Garrett, soloist
Track from: Seeds From The Underground
[Mack Avenue Records]
Ode

Brad Mehldau, soloist
Track from: Ode (Brad Mehldau Trio)
[Nonesuch]

32. Best Jazz Vocal Album

Soul Shadows

Denise Donatelli
[Savant Records]
1619 Broadway: The Brill Building Project

Kurt Elling
[Concord Jazz]
Live

Al Jarreau (And The Metropole Orkest)
[Concord]
The Book Of Chet

Luciana Souza
[Sunnyside Records]
Radio Music Society

Esperanza Spalding
[Heads Up International]

33. Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Further Explorations

Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez & Paul Motian
[Concord Jazz]
Hot House

Chick Corea & Gary Burton
[Concord Jazz]
Seeds From The Underground

Kenny Garrett
[Mack Avenue Records]
Blue Moon

Ahmad Jamal
[Jazz Village]
Unity Band

Pat Metheny Unity Band
[Nonesuch]

34. Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Centennial: Newly Discovered Works Of Gil Evans

Gil Evans Project
[ArtistShare]
For The Moment

Bob Mintzer Big Band
[MCG Jazz]
Dear Diz (Every Day I Think Of You)

Arturo Sandoval
[Concord Jazz]

35. Best Latin Jazz Album

Flamenco Sketches

Chano Domínguez
[Blue Note]
¡Ritmo!

The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band
[Clare Fischer Productions/Clavo Records]
Multiverse

Bobby Sanabria Big Band
[Jazzheads]
Duos III

Luciana Souza
[Sunnyside Records]
New Cuban Express

Manuel Valera New Cuban Express
[Mavo Records]

36. Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance

Jesus, Friend Of Sinners

Casting Crowns
Track from: Come To The Well
[Beach Street/Reunion Records]
Take Me To The King

Tamela Mann
[Tillymann Music Group]
Go Get It

Mary Mary
[Columbia Records]
10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

Matt Redman
Track from: 10,000 Reasons
[sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records]
My Testimony

Marvin Sapp
Track from: I Win
[Verity Gospel Music Group]

37. Best Gospel Song

Go Get It

Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Mary Mary)
[Columbia; Publishers: EMI April Music, It's Tea Tyme, That's Plum Song, Wet Ink Red Music]
Hold On

Cheryl Fortune, James Fortune & Terence Vaughn, songwriters (James Fortune &
FIYA, Monica & Fred Hammond)
Track from: Identity
[Light Records/eOne Music]
I Feel Good

Phillip Feaster, Fred Hammond, Jonathan Miller & Calvin Rodgers, songwriters
(Fred Hammond)
Track from: God, Love & Romance
[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publishers: fHammond Music/Bridge Bldg Music/CJMS Music/Music Feast Productions/Jonathan Miller Publishing]
My Testimony

Aaron Lindsey & Marvin Sapp, songwriters (Marvin Sapp)
Track from: I Win
[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publishers: Universal Music-Brentwood Benson Songs/Marvin L. Sapp Music/Ardent Media]
Released

Donald Lawrence, songwriter (Bill Winston & Living Word Featuring Donald
Lawrence)
[Source Media; Publisher: Quiet Water Ent.]

38. Best Contemporary Christian Music Song

Jesus, Friend Of Sinners

Mark Hall & Matthew West, songwriters (Casting Crowns)
Track from: Come To The Well
[Beach Street/Reunion Records]
10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman, songwriters (Matt Redman)
Track from: 10,000 Reasons
[sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records; Publishers: Thankyou Music/sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Said And Done Music/Shout! Publishing]
When Mercy Found Me

Jeff Pardo & Rhett Walker, songwriters (Rhett Walker Band)
Track from: Come To The River
[Essential Records; Publishers: Sony ATV Music, Ships In A Bottle/Simple Tense Songs]
White Flag

Jason Ingram, Matt Maher, Matt Redman & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Passion &
Chris Tomlin)
Track from: White Flag
[sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records; Publishers: sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Vamos Publishing/Said And Done Music/Valley of the Songs Music/Sony ATV Timber Publishing/West Main Music/Windsor Hill Music/Thankyou Music]
Your Presence Is Heaven

Israel Houghton & Micah Massey, songwriters (Israel & New Breed)
Track from: Jesus At The Center Live
[Integrity Music; Publishers: Integrity's Praise! Music/Sound of the New Breed, Regenerate Music]

39. Best Gospel Album

Identity

James Fortune & FIYA
[Light Records/eOne Music]
Jesus At The Center Live

Israel & New Breed
[Integrity Music]
Gravity

Lecrae
[Reach Records]
I Win

Marvin Sapp
[Verity Gospel Music Group]
Worship Soul

Anita Wilson
[EMI Gospel]

40. Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

Come To The Well

Casting Crowns
[Beach Street/Reunion Records]
Where I Find You

Kari Jobe
[Sparrow Records]
Gold

Britt Nicole
[Sparrow Records]
Eye On It

TobyMac
[ForeFront Records]
Into The Light

Matthew West
[Sparrow Records]

41. Best Latin Pop Album

Independiente

Ricardo Arjona
[Metamorfosis]
Ilusión

Fonseca
[Sony Music Latin]
Kany Garcia

Kany Garcia
[Sony Music]
¿Con Quién Se Queda El Perro?

Jesse Y Joy
[Warner Music Latina]
MTV Unplugged Deluxe Edition

Juanes
[Universal Music Latino]

42. Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album

Campo

Campo
[Bizarro Records]
Déjenme Llorar

Carla Morrison
[Cosmica Records]
Imaginaries

Quetzal
[Smithsonian Folkways Recordings]
Electro-Jarocho

Sistema Bomb
[Round Whirled Records]
La Bala

Ana Tijoux
[Nacional Records]

43. Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)

Pecados Y Milagros

Lila Downs
[Sony Music]
Sembrando Flores

Los Cojolites
[Round Whirled Records]
365 Días

Los Tucanes De Tijuana
[Fonovisa]
Oye

Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea
[Shea Records/East Side Records]
El Primer Ministro

Gerardo Ortiz
[Sony Music Latin]

44. Best Tropical Latin Album

Cubano Soy

Raúl Lara Y Sus Soneros
[Spanish Music Records]
Desde Nueva York A Puerto Rico

Eddie Montalvo
[Señor Marcha Records]
Retro

Marlow Rosado Y La Riqueña
[Pink Chaos Productions]
Formula Vol. 1

Romeo Santos
[Sony Music]

45. Best Americana Album

The Carpenter

The Avett Brothers
[Universal Republic]
From The Ground Up

John Fullbright
[Blue Dirt Records]
The Lumineers

The Lumineers
[Dualtone Music Group]
Babel

Mumford & Sons
[Glassnote]
Slipstream

Bonnie Raitt
[Redwing Records]

46. Best Bluegrass Album

The Gospel Side Of

Dailey & Vincent
[Rounder]
Life Finds A Way

The Grascals
[Mountain Home Music Company]
Beat The Devil And Carry A Rail

Noam Pikelny
[Compass Records]
Scratch Gravel Road

Special Consensus
[Compass Records]
Nobody Knows You

Steep Canyon Rangers
[Rounder]

47. Best Blues Album

33 1/3

Shemekia Copeland
[Telarc International]
Locked Down

Dr. John
[Nonesuch]
Let It Burn

Ruthie Foster
[Blue Corn Music]
And Still I Rise

Heritage Blues Orchestra
[Raisin' Music]
Bring It On Home

Joan Osborne
[Saguaro Road]

48. Best Folk Album

Leaving Eden

Carolina Chocolate Drops
[Nonesuch]
Election Special

Ry Cooder
[Perro Verde/Nonesuch]
Hambone's Meditations

Luther Dickinson
[Songs Of The South]
The Goat Rodeo Sessions

Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile
[Sony Classical]
This One's For Him: A Tribute To Guy Clark

(Various Artists)
Shawn Camp & Tamara Saviano, producers
[Icehouse Music]

49. Best Regional Roots Music Album

Malama Ko Aloha (Keep Your Love)

Keola Beamer
['Ohe Records]
Shi Kéyah – Songs For The People

Radmilla Cody
[Canyon Records]
Pilialoha

Weldon Kekauoha
['Ohelo Records]
Nothin' But The Best

Corey Ledet With Anthony Dopsie, Dwayne Dopsie And André Thierry
[Corey Ledet]
The Band Courtbouillon

Wayne Toups, Steve Riley & Wilson Savoy
[Valcour Records]

50. Best Reggae Album

Rebirth

Jimmy Cliff
[UMe/Sunpower]
Miracle

The Original Wailers
[MRG Recordings]
Tomahawk Technique

Sean Paul
[VP/Atlantic]
New Legend - Jamaica 50th Edition

Sly & Robbie & The Jam Masters
[Mondo Tunes]
Reggae Got Soul: Unplugged On Strawberry Hill

Toots And The Maytals
[Metropolis Recordings]

51. Best World Music Album

Folila

Amadou & Mariam
[Because Music / Nonesuch]
On A Gentle Island Breeze

Daniel Ho
[Wind Music Int'l Corp. & Daniel Ho Creations]
Jabulani

Hugh Masekela
[Razor & Tie]
Traveller

Anoushka Shankar
[Deutsche Grammophon/Universal]
The Living Room Sessions Part 1

Ravi Shankar
[East Meets West Music]

52. Best Children's Album

Can You Canoe?

The Okee Dokee Brothers
[Okee Dokee Music LLC]
High Dive And Other Things That Could Have Happened...

Bill Harley
[Round River Records]
JumpinJazz Kids - A Swinging Jungle Tale - Featuring Al Jarreau, Hubert Laws And Dee Dee Bridgewater

James Murray & Various Artists
[JumpinJazzKids]
Little Seed: Songs For Children By Woody Guthrie

Elizabeth Mitchell
[Smithsonian Folkways Recordings]
Radio Jungle

The Pop Ups
[The Pop Ups]

53. Best Spoken Word Album

American Grown (Michelle Obama)

(Various Artists)
Scott Creswell & Dan Zitt, producers
[Random House Audio/Books on Tape]
Back To Work: Why We Need Smart Government For A Strong Economy

Bill Clinton
[Random House Audio/Books on Tape]
Drift: The Unmooring Of American Military Power

Rachel Maddow
[Random House Audio/Books on Tape]
Seriously... I'm Kidding

Ellen DeGeneres
[Hachette Audio]
Society's Child: My Autobiography

Janis Ian
[Audible, Inc.]

54. Best Comedy Album

Blow Your Pants Off

Jimmy Fallon
[Warner Bros. Records/LoudMouth Entertainment]
Cho Dependent (Live In Concert)

Margaret Cho
[Clownery Productions, Rocket Science]
In God We Rust

Lewis Black
[Comedy Central Records]
Kathy Griffin: Seaman 1st Class

Kathy Griffin
[Donut Run, Inc.]
Mr. Universe

Jim Gaffigan
[Comedy Central Records]
Rize Of The Fenix

Tenacious D
[Columbia Records]

55. Best Musical Theater Album

Follies

Danny Burstein, Jan Maxwell, Elaine Paige, Bernadette Peters & Ron Raines,
principal soloists; Philip Chaffin & Tommy Krasker, producers (Stephen Sondheim, composer/lyricist) (New Broadway Cast With Danny Burstein, Jan Maxwell, Elaine Paige, Bernadette Peters, Ron Raines & Others)
[PS Classics]
The Gershwins' Porgy And Bess

David Alan Grier, Norm Lewis & Audra McDonald, principal soloists; Tommy
Krasker, producer (George Gershwin, composer; Ira Gershwin, Dorothy Heyward & DuBose Heyward, lyricists) (New Broadway Cast With Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis, David Alan Grier & Others)
[PS Classics]
Newsies

Jeremy Jordan & Kara Lindsay, principal soloists; Frank Filipetti, Michael
Kosarin, Alan Menken & Chris Montan, producers (Alan Menken, composer; Jack Feldman, lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast With Jeremy Jordan, Kara Lindsay & Others)
[Ghostlight Records/ Razor & Tie]
Nice Work If You Can Get It

Matthew Broderick & Kelli O'Hara, principal soloists; David Chase, Bill Elliott
& Robert Sher, producers (George Gershwin, composer; Ira Gershwin, lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast With Matthew Broderick, Kelli O'Hara & Others)
[Shout! Factory]
Once: A New Musical

Steve Kazee & Cristin Milioti, principal soloists; Steven Epstein & Martin Lowe,
producers (Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, composers/lyricists) (Original Broadway Cast With Steve Kazee, Cristin Milioti & Others)
[Masterworks]

56. Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media

The Descendants

(Various Artists)
[Sony Classical/Fox Music]
Marley

(Bob Marley & The Wailers)
[UMe/Island/Tuff Gong]
Midnight In Paris

(Various Artists)
[Madison Gate Records, Inc.]
The Muppets

(Various Artists)
[Walt Disney Records]
Rock Of Ages

(Various Artists)
[WaterTower Music]

57. Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media

The Adventures Of Tintin - The Secret Of The Unicorn

John Williams, composer
[Sony Classical]
The Artist

Ludovic Bource, composer
[Sony Classical]
The Dark Knight Rises

Hans Zimmer, composer
[WaterTower Music]
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, composers
[Null/Madison Gate]
Hugo

Howard Shore, composer
[Howe Records]
Journey

Austin Wintory, composer
[Sony Computer Entertainment America]

58. Best Song Written For Visual Media

Abraham's Daughter (From The Hunger Games)

T Bone Burnett, Win Butler & Régine Chassagne, songwriters (Arcade Fire)
[Universal Republic; Publishers: Régine Chassagne, Absurd Music, Win Butler, Henry Burnett Music, Baffle Music]
Learn Me Right (From Brave)

Mumford & Sons, songwriters (Birdy & Mumford & Sons)
[Walt Disney Records/Pixar; Publisher: Pixar Talking Pictures]
Let Me Be Your Star (From Smash)

Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, songwriters (Katharine McPhee & Megan Hilty)
[Columbia; Publishers: Winding Brook Way Music, Walli Woo Entertainment]
Man Or Muppet (From The Muppets)

Bret McKenzie, songwriter (Jason Segel & Walter)
[Walt Disney; Publisher: Fuzzy Muppet Songs]
Safe & Sound (From The Hunger Games)

T Bone Burnett, Taylor Swift, John Paul White & Joy Williams, songwriters
(Taylor Swift Featuring The Civil Wars)
[Big Machine Records/Universal Republic; Publishers: Sony ATV Tree Publishing, Taylor Swift Music, Sensibility Songs, Absurd Music, Shiny Happy Music, Baffle Music, Henry Burnett Music]

59. Best Instrumental Composition

December Dream

Chuck Loeb, composer (Fourplay)
Track from: Esprit De Four
[Heads Up International]
Mozart Goes Dancing

Chick Corea, composer (Chick Corea & Gary Burton)
Track from: Hot House
[Concord Jazz]
Music Of Ansel Adams: America

Chris Brubeck & Dave Brubeck, composers (Temple University Symphony Orchestra)
[BCM&D Records]
Overture, Waltz And Rondo

Bill Cunliffe, composer (Temple University Symphony Orchestra)
[BCM&D Records]
Without A Paddle

Bill Holman, composer (Tall & Small)
Track from: High On You
[Bosco Records]

60. Best Instrumental Arrangement

Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite For Ellington

Michael Philip Mossman, arranger (Bobby Sanabria Big Band)
Track from: Multiverse
[Jazzheads]
How About You

Gil Evans, arranger (Gil Evans Project)
Track from: Centennial - Newly Discovered Works Of Gil Evans
[ArtistShare]
Irrequieto

Bob Mintzer, arranger (Bob Mintzer Big Band)
Track from: For The Moment
[MCG Jazz]
A Night In Tunisia (Actually An Entire Weekend!)

Wally Minko, arranger (Arturo Sandoval)
Track from: Dear Diz (Every Day I Think Of You)
[Concord Jazz]
Salt Peanuts! (Mani Salado)

Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Arturo Sandoval)
Track from: Dear Diz (Every Day I Think Of You)
[Concord Jazz]

61. Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)

City Of Roses

Thara Memory & Esperanza Spalding, arrangers (Esperanza Spalding)
Track from: Radio Music Society
[Heads Up International]
Look To The Rainbow

Gil Evans, arranger (Gil Evans Project and Luciana Souza)
Track from: Centennial - Newly Discovered Works Of Gil Evans
[ArtistShare]
Out There

Shelly Berg, arranger (Lorraine Feather)
Track from: Tales Of The Unusual
[Jazzed Media]
Spain (I Can Recall)

Vince Mendoza, arranger (Al Jarreau And The Metropole Orkest)
Track from: Live
[Concord Records]
Wild Is The Wind

Nan Schwartz, arranger (Whitney Claire Kaufman And Andrew Playfoot)
Track from: The Greatest Film Scores Of Dimitri Tiomkin
[LSO Live]

62. Best Recording Package

Biophilia

Michael Amzalag & Mathias Augustyniak, art directors (Björk)
[One Little Indian / Nonesuch]
Boys & Girls

Brett Kilroe, art director (Alabama Shakes)
[ATO Records]
Charmer

Gail Marowitz, art director (Aimee Mann)
[SuperEgo Records]
Love This Giant

Noah Wall, art director (David Byrne & St. Vincent)
[4AD]
Swing Lo Magellan

David Longstreth, art director (Dirty Projectors)
[Domino Recording Company]

63. Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Soundtrack From The Motion Picture)

Rob Sheridan, art director (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross)
[Null/Madison Gate Records]
Go Fly A Kite

Liz Kweller, art director (Ben Kweller)
[The Noise Company]
Ram - Paul McCartney Archive Collection (Deluxe Edition)

Simon Earith & James Musgrave, art directors (Paul And Linda McCartney)
[Hear Music]
Some Girls: Super Deluxe Edition

Stephen Kennedy, art director (The Rolling Stones)
[UMe/Universal Republic]
Woody At 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection

Fritz Klaetke, art director (Woody Guthrie)
[Smithsonian Folkways Recordings]

64. Best Album Notes

Banjo Diary: Lessons From Tradition

Stephen Wade, album notes writer (Stephen Wade)
[Smithsonian Folkways]
First Recordings: 50th Anniversary Edition

Hans Olof Gottfridsson, album notes writer (The Beatles With Tony Sheridan)
[Time Life]
The Pearl Sessions

Holly George-Warren, album notes writer (Janis Joplin)
[Columbia/Legacy]
Piazzolla In Brooklyn

Fernando Gonzalez, album notes writer (Pablo Aslan Quintet)
[Soundbrush]
Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles

Billy Vera, album notes writer (Ray Charles)
[Concord]

65. Best Historical Album

He Is My Story: The Sanctified Soul Of Arizona Dranes

Josh Rosenthal, compilation producer; Bryan Hoffa & Christopher King, mastering
engineers (Arizona Dranes)
[Tompkins Square]
Old-Time Smoky Mountain Music: 34 Historic Songs, Ballads, And Instrumentals Recorded In The Great Smoky Mountains By "Song Catcher" Joseph S. Hall

Kent Cave, Michael Montgomery & Ted Olson, compilation producers; John Fleenor &
Steve Kemp, mastering engineers (Various Artists)
[Great Smoky Mountains Association]
Opika Pende: Africa At 78 RPM

Steven Lance Ledbetter & Jonathan Ward, compilation producers; Michael Graves,
mastering engineer (Various Artists)
[Dust-to-Digital]
Ram - Paul McCartney Archive Collection (Deluxe Edition)

Paul McCartney, compilation producer; Simon Gibson, Guy Massey & Steve Rooke,
mastering engineers (Paul And Linda McCartney)
[MPL/Hear Music/Concord]
The Smile Sessions (Deluxe Box Set)

Alan Boyd, Mark Linett, Brian Wilson & Dennis Wolfe, compilation producers; Mark
Linett, mastering engineer (The Beach Boys)
[Capitol Records]
Woody At 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection

Jeff Place & Robert Santelli, compilation producers; Pete Reiniger, mastering
engineer (Woody Guthrie)
[Smithsonian Folkways Recordings]

66. Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

The Absence

Moogie Canazio & Al Schmitt, engineers; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer
(Melody Gardot)
[Verve/Decca]
Ashes & Fire

Glyn Johns, engineer; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Ryan Adams)
[Capitol]
The Goat Rodeo Sessions

Richard King, engineer; Richard King, mastering engineer (Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart
Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile)
[Sony Classical]
Love Is A Four Letter Word

Joe Chiccarelli, Steve Churchyard, Lars Fox, Graham Hope, Tony Maserati & Morgan
Stratton, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Jason Mraz)
[Atlantic]
Slingshot

Helik Hadar, engineer; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer (Rebecca Pidgeon)
[Decca/Toy Canteen Records]

67. Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical

Dan Auerbach


El Camino (The Black Keys) (A)
Locked Down (Dr. John) (A)
Savage (Hacienda) (S)
Shakedown (Hacienda) (A)
Jeff Bhasker


Some Nights (Fun.) (A)
Diplo


Climax (Usher) (T)
Get Free (Major Lazer Featuring Amber Coffman) (S)
La La La (Snoop Lion) (S)
Lies (Marina And The Diamonds) (T)
Look At These Hoes (Santigold) (T)
Push And Shove (No Doubt Featuring Busy Signal & Major Lazer) (T)
Slight Work (Wale Featuring Big Sean) (T)
Thought Of You (Justin Bieber) (T)
Too Close (Alex Clare) (T)
Markus Dravs


Babel (Mumford & Sons) (A)
Mylo Xyloto (Coldplay) (A)
Salaam Remi


Back To Love (Anthony Hamilton) (T)
Between The Cheats (Amy Winehouse) (T)
Girl On Fire (Alicia Keys & Nicki Minaj) (S)
How Many Drinks? (Miguel) (T)
Life Is Good (Nas) (A)
Like Smoke (Amy Winehouse Featuring Nas) (T)
Running (Melanie Fiona Featuring Nas) (T)
Sins Of My Father (Usher) (T)
A Song For You (Amy Winehouse) (T)

68. Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

In My Mind (Axwell Remix)

Axel Hedfors, remixer (Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl Featuring Georgi Kay)
[Neon Records/Axtone/Big Beat Records]
Lie Down In Darkness (Photek Remix)

Photek, remixer (Moby)
Track from: Destroyed Remixed
[Little Idiot]
Midnight City (Eric Prydz Private Remix)

Eric Prydz, remixer (M83)
[Mute]
Promises (Skrillex & Nero Remix)

Skrillex, remixer (Nero)
[Interscope]
The Veldt (Tommy Trash Remix)

Thomas Olsen, remixer (Deadmau5 Featuring Chris James)
[Ultra Music]

69. Best Surround Sound Album

Chamberland

David Miles Huber, surround mix engineer; David Miles Huber, surround mastering
engineer; David Miles Huber, surround producer (David Miles Huber)
[51bpm.com llc]
Modern Cool

Jim Anderson, surround mix engineer; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer;
Michael Friedman, surround producer (Patricia Barber)
[Premonition Records]
Quiet Winter Night

Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering
engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Hoff Ensemble)
[2L (Lindberg Lyd)]
Rupa-Khandha

Daniel Shores, surround mix engineer; Daniel Shores, surround mastering
engineer; Marina Ledin & Victor Ledin, surround producers (Los Angeles Percussion Quartet)
[Sono Luminus]
Storm Corrosion

Steven Wilson, surround mix engineer; Steven Wilson, surround mastering
engineer; Steven Wilson, surround producer (Storm Corrosion)
[Roadrunner Records]

70. Best Engineered Album, Classical

Americana

Daniel Shores, engineer; Daniel Shores, mastering engineer (Modern Mandolin
Quartet)
[Sono Luminus]
Beethoven: The Late String Quartets, Op. 127 & 131

Bruce Egre, engineer (Brentano String Quartet)
[Aeon]
Life & Breath - Choral Works By René Clausen

Tom Caulfield & John Newton, engineers; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer
(Charles Bruffy & Kansas City Chorale)
[Chandos]
Music For A Time Of War

Jesse Lewis & John Newton, engineers; Jesse Brayman, mastering engineer (Carlos
Kalmar & The Oregon Symphony)
[PentaTone Classics]
Souvenir

Morten Lindberg, engineer; Morten Lindberg, mastering engineer
(TrondheimSolistene)
[2L (Lindberg Lyd)]

71. Producer Of The Year, Classical

Blanton Alspaugh


Chamber Symphonies (Gregory Wolynec & Gateway Chamber Orchestra)
Davis: Río De Sangre (Joseph Rescigno, Vale Rideout, Ava Pine, John Duykers, Kerry Walsh, Guido LeBron, The Florentine Opera Company & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra)
Gjeilo: Northern Lights (Charles Bruffy & Phoenix Chorale)
In Paradisum (Brian A. Schmidt & South Dakota Chorale)
Life & Breath - Choral Works By René Clausen (Charles Bruffy & Kansas City Chorale)
Music For A Time Of War (Carlos Kalmar & The Oregon Symphony)
Musto: The Inspector (Glen Cortese & Wolf Trap Opera Company)
Tim Handley


Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique (Leonard Slatkin & Orchestre National De Lyon)
Debussy: Orchestral Works, Vol. 7 (Jun Märkl & Orchestre National De Lyon)
Debussy: 24 Préludes (Jun Märkl & Royal Scottish National Orchestra)
Fuchs, K.: Atlantic Riband; American Rhapsody; Divinium Mysterium (JoAnn Falletta, Paul Silverthorne, Michael Ludwig & London Symphony Orchestra)
Gershwin: Piano Concerto In F; Rhapsody No. 2; I Got Rhythm Variations (Orion Weiss, JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)
Hailstork: An American Port Of Call (JoAnn Falletta, Virginia Symphony Chorus & Virginia Symphony Orchestra)
Holst: Cotswolds Symphony; Walt Whitman Overture (JoAnn Falletta & Ulster Orchestra)
Mahler: Symphony No. 1 (Marin Alsop & Baltimore Symphony Orchestra)
Roussel: Le Festin De L'Araignée (Stéphane Denève & Royal Scottish National Orchestra)
Still: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 (John Jeter & Fort Smith Symphony)
Marina Ledin, Victor Ledin


Americana (Modern Mandolin Quartet)
Brubeck & American Poets (Lynne Morrow & Pacific Mozart Ensemble)
Delibes: Sylvia; Coppélia (Martin West & San Francisco Ballet Orchestra)
Mind Meld (ZOFO Duet)
Rupa-Khandha (Los Angeles Percussion Quartet)
Weigl: Isle Of The Dead; Six Fantasies; Pictures & Tales; Night Fantasies (Joseph Banowetz)
James Mallinson


Britten: War Requiem (Gianandrea Noseda, Joseph Cullen, Alastair Tighe, Choir Of Eltham College, London Symphony Chorus & Orchestra)
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 (Bernard Haitink & London Symphony Orchestra)
The Greatest Film Scores Of Dimitri Tiomkin (Richard Kaufman, Whitney Claire Kaufman, Andrew Playfoot, London Voices & London Symphony Orchestra)
Massenet: Don Quichotte (Valery Gergiev, Andrei Serov, Anna Kiknadze, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Soloists' Ensemble Of The Mariinsky Academy Of Young Singers & Mariinsky Orchestra)
Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances (Valery Gergiev & London Symphony Orchestra)
Dan Merceruio


Arensky: Quartets Nos. 1 & 2; Piano Quintet, Op. 51 (Ying Quartet)
Brasileiro - Works Of Francisco Mignone (Cuarteto Latinoamericano)
Change Of Worlds (Ensemble Galilei)
The Complete Harpsichord Works Of Rameau (Jory Vinikour)
Critical Models - Chamber Works Of Mohammed Fairouz (Various Artists)
The Kernis Project: Schubert (Jasper String Quartet)
Le Bestiaire (Celine Ricci)
Scarlatti: La Dirindina & Pur Nel Sonno (Matthew Dirst & Ars Lyrica Houston)
Two Lutes - Lute Duets From England's Golden Age (Ronn McFarlane & William Simms)
Weill-Ibert-Berg (Timothy Muffitt & Baton Rouge Symphony Chamber Players)

72. Best Orchestral Performance

Adams: Harmonielehre & Short Ride In A Fast Machine

Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)
[SFS Media]
Mahler: Symphony No. 1

Iván Fischer, conductor (Budapest Festival Orchestra)
[Channel Classics]
Music For A Time Of War

Carlos Kalmar, conductor (Oregon Symphony)
[PentaTone Classics]
Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances

Valery Gergiev, conductor (London Symphony Orchestra)
[LSO Live]
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5

Osmo Vänskä, conductor (Minnesota Orchestra)
[BIS]

73. Best Opera Recording

Berg: Lulu

Michael Boder, conductor; Paul Groves, Ashley Holland, Julia Juon & Patricia
Petibon; Johannes Müller, producer (Symphony Orchestra Of The Gran Teatre Del Liceu)
[Deutsche Grammophon]
Handel: Agrippina

René Jacobs, conductor; Marcos Fink, Sunhae Im, Bejun Mehta, Alexandrina
Pendatchanska & Jennifer Rivera (Akademie Für Alte Musik Berlin)
[Harmonia Mundi]
Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress

Vladimir Jurowski, conductor; Topi Lehtipuu, Miah Persson & Matthew Rose;
Johannes Müller, producer (London Philharmonic Orchestra; Glyndebourne Chorus)
[Opus Arte]
Vivaldi: Teuzzone

Jordi Savall, conductor; Delphine Galou, Paolo Lopez, Roberta Mameli, Raffaella
Milanesi & Furio Zanasi (Le Concert Des Nations)
[Naïve Classique]
Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen

James Levine & Fabio Luisi, conductors; Hans-Peter König, Jay Hunter Morris,
Bryn Terfel & Deborah Voigt; Jay David Saks, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
[Deutsche Grammophon]

74. Best Choral Performance

Handel: Israel In Egypt

Julian Wachner, conductor (Trinity Baroque Orchestra; Trinity Choir Wall Street)
[Musica Omnia]
Life & Breath - Choral Works By René Clausen

Charles Bruffy, conductor (Matthew Gladden, Lindsey Lang, Rebecca Lloyd, Sarah
Tannehill & Pamela Williamson; Kansas City Chorale)
[Chandos]
Ligeti: Requiem; Apparitions; San Francisco Polyphony

Peter Eötvös, conductor (Barbara Hannigan & Susan Parry; WDR Sinfonieorchester
Köln; SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart & WDR Rundfunkchor Köln)
[BMC]
The Nightingale

Stephen Layton, conductor (Michala Petri; Danish National Vocal Ensemble)
[OUR Recordings]
Striggio: Mass For 40 & 60 Voices

Hervé Niquet, conductor (Le Concert Spirituel)
[Glossa]

75. Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

Americana

Modern Mandolin Quartet
[Sono Luminus]
Meanwhile

Eighth Blackbird
[Cedille Records]
Mind Meld

ZOFO Duet
[Sono Luminus]
Profanes Et Sacrées

Boston Symphony Chamber Players
[BSO Classics]
Rupa-Khandha

Los Angeles Percussion Quartet
[Sono Luminus]

76. Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Clavier

András Schiff
[ECM New Series]
The Complete Harpsichord Works Of Rameau

Jory Vinikour
[Sono Luminus]
Gál & Elgar: Cello Concertos

Claudio Cruz, conductor; Antonio Meneses (Northern Sinfonia)
[AVIE Records]
Holst: The Planets

Hansjörg Albrecht
[Oehms Classics]
Kurtág & Ligeti: Music For Viola

Kim Kashkashian
[ECM New Series]

77. Best Classical Vocal Solo

Debussy: Clair De Lune

Natalie Dessay (Henri Chalet; Philippe Cassard, Karine Deshayes & Catherine
Michel; Le Jeune Coeur De Paris)
[Virgin Classics]
Homecoming - Kansas City Symphony Presents Joyce DiDonato

Joyce DiDonato (Michael Stern; Kansas City Symphony)
[Kansas City Symphony]
Paris Days, Berlin Nights

Ute Lemper (Stefan Malzew & Vogler Quartet)
[Steinway & Sons]
Poèmes

Renée Fleming (Alan Gilbert & Seiji Ozawa; Orchestre National De France &
Orchestre Philharmonique De Radio France)
[Decca Records]
Sogno Barocco

Anne Sofie Von Otter (Leonardo García Alarcón; Sandrine Piau & Susanna Sundberg;
Ensemble Cappella Mediterranea)
[Naïve Classique]

78. Best Classical Compendium

Partch: Bitter Music

Partch, ensemble; John Schneider, producer
[Bridge Records, Inc.]
Penderecki: Fonogrammi; Horn Concerto; Partita; The Awakening Of Jacob; Anaklasis

Antoni Wit, conductor; Aleksandra Nagórko & Andrzej Sasin, producers
[Naxos]
Une Fête Baroque

Emmanuelle Haïm, conductor; Daniel Zalay, producer
[Virgin Classics]

79. Best Contemporary Classical Composition

Hartke, Stephen: Meanwhile - Incidental Music To Imaginary Puppet Plays

Stephen Hartke, composer (Eighth Blackbird)
Track from: Meanwhile
[Cedille Records]
León, Tania: Inura For Voices, Strings & Percussion

Tania León, composer (Tania León, Son Sonora Voices, DanceBrazil Percussion &
Son Sonora Ensemble)
Track from: In Motion
[Albany Records]
Praulins, Ugis: The Nightingale

Ugis Praulins, composer (Stephen Layton, Michala Petri & Danish National Vocal
Ensemble)
Track from: The Nightingale
[OUR Recordings]
Rautavaara, Einojuhani: Cello Concerto No. 2 'Towards The Horizon'

Einojuhani Rautavaara, composer (Truls Mørk, John Storgårds & Helsinki
Philharmonic Orchestra)
Track from: Rautavaara: Modificata; Percussion Concerto 'Incantations'; Cello Concerto No. 2 'Towards The Horizon'
[Ondine]
Stucky, Steven: August 4, 1964

Steven Stucky, composer; Gene Scheer, librettist (Jaap Van Zweden, Dallas
Symphony Chorus & Orchestra)
[DSO Live]

80. Best Short Form Music Video

Houdini

Foster The People
Daniels, video directors; Gaetano Crupi, video producer
[Columbia]
No Church In The Wild

Jay-Z & Kanye West Featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream
Romain Gervais, video director; Mourad Belkeddan, video producer
[Def Jam]
Bad Girls

M.I.A
Romain Gavras, video director; Romain Gavras, video producer
[N.E.E.T./Interscope]
We Found Love

Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris
Melina Matsoukas, video director; Juliette Larthe & Ben Sullivan, video producers
[Def Jam]
Run Boy Run

Woodkid
Yoann Lemoine, video director; Roman Pichon, video producer
[Green United Music]

81. Best Long Form Music Video

Big Easy Express

Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros & Old Crow Medicine Show
Emmett Malloy, video director; Bryan Ling, Mike Luba & Tim Lynch, video producers
[S2BN Films]
Bring Me Home - Live 2011

Sade
Sophie Muller, video director; Roger Davies, Grant Jue & Sophie Muller, video producers
[Epic]
Radio Music Society

Esperanza Spalding
Pilar Sanz, video director; Esperanza Spalding, video producer
[Heads Up International]
Get Along

Tegan & Sara
Salazar, video director; Nick Blasko, Piers Henwood, Sara Quin & Tegan Quin, video producers
[Warner Bros.]
From The Sky Down

U2
Davis Guggenheim, video director; Belisa Balaban, Brian Celler, Davis Guggenheim & Ted Skillman, video producers
[UMe/Interscope/UMG/Mercury]


Gordon in the morning: One's kid by our kid

Could there be an "angle" on the pregnancy of Mrs Cambridge that has been left untouched in the slew of non-stories over the last couple of days?

Oh, yes. Here's one: parenting advice from Noel Gallagher:

Noel, who ditched his hardcore party days years ago, said: “They’re not the first people in the country to have a child, are they?

“I’ve got three, you know. Do I have any advice for them? People write books about that s***. Very expensive books — my wife’s got ’em all.

“Tell William he’d be better thinking about rejoining the Army — he’d have a quieter life.”
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Interestingly, there is an increasing trend showing in Noel's "wit" that's started to appear since the Oasis gravy train smashed into the station wall. A lot of his jokes revolve around how much stuff is worth and how much money he could get for doing things - there was the guff about how Beady Eye playing Oasis catalogue earned him cash; now we've got a reluctance to give advice because you could sell that stuff. Maybe Noel's feeling the pinch.


Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Michael Buble: Me And My Spoon

Really? Does the world really need a Michael Buble/Reese Witherspoon duet?

"By all accounts it would be true," he said of working with Witherspoon. "I just really am a big fan, and so myself and my camp, we wanted to do this with her, and we were thrilled that she was excited about it too."
Buble's camp made him want to work with Reese?

Let's leave that open goal there, shall we?


Everything she does is written in her diary

Now that Elizabeth Price has won the Turner Prize, Talulah Gosh are all over the place this morning.

There's an unintentionally hilarious piece on Contact Music, which talks about the C86 scene as if it was on the edges of living memory:

The band are said to have formed after Price met Amelia Fletcher in a club in Oxford, bonding over the fact that they were both wearing Pastels badges.
"Some old timers claim they had devices called geetars, which they would somehow use to make twanging noises. Other tales tell of unusual hair shapes, sometimes coming down to the eyes..."

You've got to love the person who scraped this together, thinking that people might struggle with the idea of Talulah Gosh but would automatically understand a reference to "Pastels badges".
Before long, they found themselves spearheading the twee-pop sound of the 1980s.
That might come as something of a surprise to Orange Juice.
Of course, no indie band of that time was worth their salt unless they’d recorded a session for the BBC’s John Peel show and sure enough, that was broadcast in 1988.
Someone wrote that sentence.

I know what you're thinking: perhaps this piece was written by someone who was stronger on art than music, and so understandably struggled trying to make sense of a band much of whose history is locked in poorly-photocopied fanzines. Is that the case? Does the article get better when it gets on to the Turner Prize?
Price, the former member of Talulah Gosh, now joins the ranks of Gilbert & George and Damien Hirst – both former winners of the prize and major players in the British art world.
No.


Gordon in the morning: Tulisa flops

For the second day running, Gordon is enjoying the slow sales generated by the Tulisa album:

LANDING a guest performer spot on The X Factor is usually a sure-fire way to a chart hit.

But singing on last Sunday’s results show and sitting on the judging panel clearly hasn’t helped TULISA.

Early chart figures yesterday showed the former N-DUBZ singer’s debut solo album, The Female Boss, limping along at an embarrassing No17.
(Actually, as No Doubt discovered awkwardly, performing on the X Factor isn't a guarantee of success at all.)

Still, cheer up, Tulisa: at least in the digital era, there are far fewer massive boxes of unsold CDs that somebody is going to have to deal with.


Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Venuewatch: Hare And Hounds

Worrying news from Birmingham, where a flat has been proposed for a building adjacent to the Hare and Hounds.

As we've seen before, there's a tendency for people to build residences right next to venues which have been operating for donkeys', only for the residents to move in and object to that venue "making noise".

Naturally, the Hare And Hounds is worried - they're getting a petition together.


Gordon in the morning: Lady Boss demoted

Gordon is trying to not look too thrilled at early indications that Tulisa's album isn't selling well:

THE early signs aren’t good for TULISA’s debut solo album.

Despite a primetime promotional slot on The X Factor on Sunday, The Female Boss started yesterday at No27 on the iTunes chart.

It later crept up to No22 – behind KELLY CLARKSON, KE$HA and even JOOLS HOLLAND.
At the moment, it's 122nd in the Amazon chart (and 130th in the MP3 chart.)

Given that No Doubt's single crashed and burned after they appeared on X Factor, it's like this series is exhibiting an anti-Midas touch...


Monday, December 03, 2012

Chart music might be dead

Olly Murs currently has the number one album and the number one single in the UK charts.

Think about that for a second.


UK ISPs blocking licenced material

Have you come across The Promo Bay yet? It's a spin-off from The Pirate Bay activities, where artists across a range of endeavours submit their content, willingly and happily, in the hope of being picked up for wider exposure.

Except they're not getting the exposure, in the UK at least, because UK ISPs are blocking them. TorrentFreak reports:

Promo Bay’s Will Dayble believes his site has ended up on some of the ISPs’ blocklists “by accident”.

“These providers are pretty monolithic and old school, I’d imagine it’s just a broad-scale block against a bunch of Pirate Bay properties and we fell under the net. I doubt it’s a pointed move against the Promo Bay in particular,” Dayble tells TorrentFreak.
But that would imply that blocking - far from being the scalpel-like weapon it's claimed to be - is like a blunderbuss strapped to a hammer.

The Pirate Bay blocking is at the behest of the BPI, who claim to be doing it in the interests of copyright holders. But their block is interfering with other copyright holders' rights to distribute their material as they choose.


Sunday, December 02, 2012

All the glitters is not platinum

This happened a week or so ago, but I think it bears retelling.

Chris Gentry, who was once in Menswear, bought a platinum disc online, and posted a picture holding it, with a humorous note saying Nuisance had finally gone platinum after all these years.

Digital Spy picked up the story, and ran it as FACT.

Now, Digital Spy you could perhaps forgive for not spotting it as being a bit unlikely. Johnny Dean, however, you would have thought would have spotted it was all a bit of a giggle.

After all, he'd have been told how many copies the record would have sold, right?

Um... unfortunately, Holy Moly reports that although he had that information, he decided to believe the Digital Spy story rather than the more likely-sounding facts:

But lead singer Johnny Dean was less sceptical. A “source close to the band” tells us he immediately began to enquire as to the whereabouts of his missing money, making accusations of mismanagement, believing himself to be the victim of a great rock ‘n’ roll swindle.
Now, to be fair, it's not implausible that that could have happened - labels and management and accountants have done worse in the past.

But surely more implausible is the idea that there were over quarter of a million copies of any Menswear album in existence?


This week just gone

To "celebrate" the arrival of version 11, the most-read stories about iTunes in No Rock history:

1. AC/DC remain off iTunes
2. Guy Garvey loves filler tracks; hates iTunes
3. Heather Mills takes the credit for bringing Beatles to iTunes
4. iTunes is overpriced
5. Beatles sell tolerably well on iTunes
6. Apple ship an iTunes so buggy, you'd swear it was Microsoft
7. iTunes sales plummet. Really?
8. iTunes launches variable pricing
9. Remember the iTunes LP format? No, nobody else does
10. EMI predict variable pricing, just four years before it happens

These releases were interesting:


The Lovely Eggs - Wildlife


Download Wildlife



Cerys Matthews - Baby, It's Cold Outside




Marc & The Mambas - Three Nights Of Little Black Bites


Download Three Nights...



House Of Love - House Of Love 3CD version


Download House Of Love



Saint Etienne - Casino Classics


Download Casino Classics



Sonic Youth - Smart Bar Chicago 1985


Download Smart Bar