It is common knowledge that the annual Grammy Awards Show and the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS) are absolute trash, especially when it comes to legitimate rock music. Let’s take a quick look at this year’s nominations that contain a semblance of meaning, namely the rock categories, followed by likely winners, as well as those that really deserve to win.
Best Metal Performance: Metallica has the unalienable right to this award, but Slipknot makes me a bit nervous in this category. If the NARAS does not give it to Metallica then they should have the dignity to award “Best Metal” to Judas Priest. DragonForce would be a gross upset while Ministry has us all wondering how they got this nomination. Finally, the lack of Motörhead’s Motörizer in this category has us thinking, “Are You F*cking Kidding Me?”
- Heroes Of Our Time
DragonForce
[Roadrunner Records] - Nostradamus
Judas Priest
Track from: Nostradamus
[Epic] - My Apocalypse
Metallica
Track from: Death Magnetic
[Warner Bros.] - Under My Thumb
Ministry
Track from: Cover Up
[Megaforce Records] - Psychosocial
Slipknot
[Roadrunner Records]
Best Hard Rock Performance: I would love to see Judas Priest take this one, but the NARAS will most likely throw it to Disturbed’s “Inside the Fire.” “Saints of Los Angeles” would be my second choice to Priest. I also loved the Rob Zombie Live album, but they picked arguably the worst track. By the way, where the hell is Alice Cooper?
- Inside The Fire
Disturbed
Track from: Indestructible
[Reprise] - Visions
Judas Priest
Track from: Nostradamus
[Epic] - Wax Simulacra
The Mars Volta
[Universal Motown] - Saints Of Los Angeles
Mötley Crüe
Track from: Saints Of Los Angeles
[Motley Records/Eleven Seven Music] - Lords Of Salem
Rob Zombie
Track from: Zombie Live
[Geffen/UMe]
Best Rock Album: Coldplay will win, Death Magnetic should win, and AC/DC’s Black Ice better take this category next year since it was released after the deadline of Sept. 30, 2008. Black Ice may even be up against Chinese Democracy in the 2010 Grammy’s.
- Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Coldplay
[Capitol Records] - Rock N Roll Jesus
Kid Rock
[Atlantic] - Only By The Night
Kings Of Leon
[RCA Records] - Death Magnetic
Metallica
[Warner Bros.] - Consolers Of The Lonely
The Raconteurs
[Third Man/Warner Bros.]
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: AC/DC will definitely take this category with “Rock n Roll Train” if their is any honor on award’s night. Why Coldplay and Radiohead are in a category with rock and roll legends are beyond me. The Kings of Leon…c’mon…seriously? AC/DC’s chance of winning: -10%
- Rock N Roll Train
AC/DC
[Columbia] - Violet Hill
Coldplay
Track from: Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
[Capitol Records] - Long Road Out Of Eden
Eagles
Track from: Long Road Out Of Eden
[Eagles Recording Company II] - Sex On Fire
Kings Of Leon
[RCA Records] - House Of Cards
Radiohead
Track from: In Rainbows
[TBD Records]
Best Rock Instrumental: The David Gilmour tune is a great track, but I am pulling for “Suicide & Redemption,” even though it may be the least impressive instrumental that Metallica has ever released.
- Castellorizon
David Gilmour
Track from: Live In Gdansk
[Columbia] - Suicide & Redemption
Metallica
Track from: Death Magnetic
[Warner Bros.] - 34 Ghosts I-IV
Nine Inch Nails
Track from: Ghosts I-IV
[The Null Corporation] - Hope (Live For The Art Of Peace)
Rush
Track from: Songs For Tibet: The Art Of Peace
[Art of Peace Foundation] - Peaches En Regalia
Zappa Plays Zappa
[Strobosonic/Razor & Tie Entertainment]
Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: Award will most likely go to Springsteen like it always does. In my opinion, Sir Paul McCartney shouldn’t get an award for covering his own tune. Eddie Vedder is the coolest rock star in this category, but his solo material is only cool in very small increments.
- Gravity
John Mayer
Track from: Where The Light Is — Live In Los Angeles
[Columbia] - I Saw Her Standing There
Paul McCartney
Track from: Amoeba’s Secret
[Hear Music/MPL Communications Ltd.] - Girls In Their Summer Clothes
Bruce Springsteen
Track from: Magic
[Columbia] - Rise
Eddie Vedder
[J Records] - No Hidden Path
Neil Young
Track from: Chrome Dreams II
[Reprise]
Unfortunately, the NARAS has given us little reason to watch the actual Grammy event on Feb. 8, 2009 because most of the categories above (the rock specific ones) are hardly televised. This was an amazing year for hard rock/heavy metal but it seems to be poorly reflected by some of the nominations. While I enjoy Metallica winning awards that they truly deserve [“St. Anger” did not deserve the award in 2004], I would still like to see legends such as Alice Cooper and Motörhead get some respect from the academy.