Grammys Nods Shine on Lady Antebellum, Jamey Johnson
The Grammy nominations are fun to browse because, even as someone who writes about music, there's always an album or artist that I've never even heard of. For example, Lady Antebellum is up for best new artist, along with Jazmine Sullivan - first time I've come across that name. (I would imagine that a few R&B fans are also asking, "Lady Antebellum? Who is she?") Adele and Duffy are in that category too. I love that Duffy album, I have to say. And if you haven't already, you should seek out Adele's "Chasing Pavements," about trying to pace yourself through a breakup -- literally. I have nothing to add about the Jonas Brothers.
Also, props to Jamey Johnson for three Grammy nominations. It seems like it has taken six months to get "In Color" up the charts. (Actually, it has taken about six months.) I was initially skeptical because he was one of the co-writers of "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," but the disc far exceeded my expectations, and it's definitely one of my favorite country albums of the year. He recorded it on his own and then licensed it to a label. If you like that gritty, Waylon Jennings sound, don't let this one pass you by. I'm grateful to see all that "Badonkadonk" money went to a worthy cause.
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Oblivious says:
(re posted from a Taylor swift blog)
I forgot to mention their latest irritating piece of crap fake country band.
Lady Antebellum!
Sorry they are cranking this stuff out so fast I can’t keep track of them all.
Thanks American Idol!!!!!!!!!!!! Did you hear them on the AMA’s? As dull as a piece of wet toast! and the dude was trying to move around like he was a rock star!!! Made me want to puke!!!!!!!
The dumbing down of Bluegrass has all ready begun in a really bad way. It might be to late!!!
I will write about Hippies strumming banjo’s later!!!! God!!
Oblivious says:
If you read their Myspace bio it says that they just posted some songs on Myspace and by Thors Hammer they were lifted to the heights of Fame.
I added some of that myself but check it out!!!
The latest trend in band promotions is to pretend a band of friends started a band and they record a couple of songs themselves and put it on myspace and the rest is history.
All hype and crap promotions because they really know how stupid and uneducated the public really is.
Quit lying to us!!!
They have relatives in the industry and were put together by producers.
It is ok to have relatives in the industry just quit lying to us and making up these fake stories.
You will notice they will always list Keith Urban as a influence. Keith Urban is a positive buzz word they like to drop because he is hot and hip.
If you will notice the people who are actually great and worth listening don’t have to fabricate a bio.
Lady Antebellum has been thrust upon us just like taylor swift and a list of others to long to mention.
If they have talent we will notice quit trying to create superstars with one bad song and a crap load of plays and guest appearances on shows.
People like Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, and Rascall Flats are all huge super stars because they put out hit after hit and great albums for years.
You are not a star just because of Marketing and one lack luster song!!!!!!!
RedMaZ says:
I like Hippies strumming banjo’s. I believe they’re called Hipbo’s. Besides that…if one was “strumming” a banjo, more than likely it would be a tenor banjo. How many Bluegrass bands have Tenor Banjo’s in them? Tenor eleven?
Oblivious says:
Nashville and Country Music should be known for Quality not Quantity. It once was!!!
I used to enjoy almost every artist on country music radio with the exception of one guy! But now it is a list so long I have almost quit listening.
joe says:
Jamey Johnson’s CD Should win all types of awards for his cd “Lonesome Song”. It’s one of the best d*** country cd’s in along time. Not one song is wasted on that cd…Although Im a huge Waylon Fan and love all his songs too. Im only 23, but Jamey hit a grandslam with the way he made that cd.
RedMaZ says:
If you don’t like Pop Country and Pop Country radio, don’t listen to it. You make it sound like that’s all there is. Pop Country represents only a small part of today’s Country Music. Quite complaining, and educate yourself.
Oblivious says:
Quit calling it pop country! Country music is country music.
If it is pop put it on another station!
RedMaZ says:
So you’re saying Pop Country and Roots Country is the same?
Holly says:
Six of my most favorites made it in there, James Otto (2), Trace Adkins (1), Alison Krauss (5), LeAnn Rimes (1), Brad Paisley (2), Kenny Chesney (1) that is and I am so happy for all of them, especially for James and Trace with this being the first time for both of them!!! (big smile)
God bless you and all six of them always!!!
Holly in East Tennessee
Oblivious says:
Pop country and Roots County are just Generas developed to give artist who suck a place in country Music.
The artist who are great don’t need an (alt) title or any title we know they are country. I would not call George Strait roots country that would be an insult. George Strait produces great songs and is a great country artist not a pop country artist not a roots country artist. All you are doing is dividing it up into categories be cause the people like Lady Antebellum and others who describe themselves with an Alt title can’t hang with the big boys.
If it is Pop it is Pop!!! Not Country!
What is roots country? People playing country music that are not good at what they do. Just like indie rock! it is not a Genera, Indie Rock is people not good enough to be heard on the radio. No they do not deserve the same slot on the shelf or in country music radio because they have not earned it.
RedMaZ says:
Oblivious is the perfect screen name for you. How about this? You name me 10 Roots country artists who “suck”. If I haven’t heard of them, I’ll check them out. Then I’ll list 10 Roots artists for you to check out. Deal?
Leon says:
You are either Country or you are not.
Why would you have to call yourself roots country. We know what is real and what is not.
Sandy says:
Yeah I always thought we watch Country music awards not roots country Awards. Would you give Alan Jackson a roots county award for keepin it real. No of course not. He is country plain and simple.
All of the fake bands need to classify what they are all about. Its like being Gangsta rap we rap harder. LOL
Vicki says:
The Grammy awards really surprised me how they really chose really good country music. Trish’s song was excellent but not big sales, and she’s up for it. The same with LeAnn Rimes and LeeAnn Womack’s, “Last Call” is terrific. Then when I saw that Trace for “Your Gonna Miss me” got a nod and Jamey Johnson, I thought the Grammy’s get good country music. It’s not the sales that count..it’s the uniqueness, it’s the good country songwriting. I thought honestly that their nominations were better than the CMAs who go more for sales.
RedMaZ says:
You’re in over your head here. I listen to Roots Music, so please don’t tell me it doesn’t exist. For your information Alan Jackson just won “True Country Songwriter of the Year” at the Roots Music Association Awards on Nov. 16 in San Marcos, Texas. If you are interested in learning about Americana/Roots music, I’ll be glad to help, but like I said, don’t try and tell me it doesn’t exict.
Oblivious says:
Before it was roots country and now it is Roots Music. Which is it? What category is the best in country music.
Does Johnny Cash rock harder than Jerry Reid? What style is better Alan Jackson or Toby Keith? It’s all country music.
Let me guess how your list of artist goes:
Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Buck Owens, just to start the list.. Everyone has a Cash T-Shirt I know. All great but trendy does not make you better and putting them in a different class doesn’t help.
Country music isn’t just some category’s or niche artist a few college kids have deemed cool. So what if there is a Roots Music Association Award. Why is everyone trying to define what country music is and divide it up for everyone else.
All of the artist I mentioned are awesome! We should celebrate them all as country artist not some sub category!
They are all great because they write and record great songs and have awesome albums we all enjoy. So don’t put them in some category, that’s why many can’t get air play because of the asinine categories. They should be the ones on stage preforming at the Grammy awards not Lady Antebellum and Taylor Swift who’s careers are built on hype.
I am glad Alan Jackson accepted the award I think they pay well to have someone like him come and receive an award. It gives them a big name to sell tickets.
We can make up any category we want it just keeps killing the music we all love.
Alex says:
Taylor swift is the biggest fake of all. She is not even country— and she cannot sing her way out of a paper bag.
Last night she destroyed that Brenda Lee song– and it was embarassing to country music to send someone that Bad vocally, to represent us as a genre.
She should have invited Carrie or Trisha, etc. They would have nailed that song with their lovely voices.
Then taylor remixed the song with her stupid White Princess horse song.. which was also bad, and rude. She was supposed to do a tribute song- not promote her own song.
none of the other artists tried to promote their own songs– they did the tribute and that was it. Taylor had to make it ALL about her, as usual. She needs to learn that a tribute song, is to honor someone else- not her!
cag says:
A big congrats. to Jamey Johnson….his new cd is truly a ” country ” album…….GIVE “EM HELL JAMEY !!!!!!…a great, great, album..
Oblivious says:
Jamey Johnson is awesome congrats to him!
huneybea says:
I have to agree with the comment about Taylor and her performance last night. Last night my husband thought Martina should have sung Brenda’s song. There are so many talented artists with great voices who would have done a beautiful rendition of Brenda’s song.
I’ve heard Keith Urban say that he’s glad country music fans and the industry don’t try to force artists who record country music into one genre. He feels he’s a country artist even though his music isn’t traditional country music. Country music, like other genres, has many variations. My parents listened to Acuff, Snow, Waggoner, Price, etc. and that music was all basically the same. I am so glad country music changed to allow other styles into its genre. Those artists of yesteryear paved the way and without them we wouldn’t have country music. Still, music has to evolve and I’m so glad country music evolved into the many facets it is today.
RedMaZ says:
Oblivious, I asked you to list me 10 Roots Country artists who you consider “suck”. You haven’t listed me one yet. Could it be you don’t know of any? Seems to be the case. If you are interested in LEARNING about Americana/Roots Music, let me know. I’ll be glad to heip.
Kev says:
If you think Jamey Johnson’s CD is good, you should see him live….he’s even better!