Grammys & Oscars - Thoughts?

Now that we've had sufficient time to let it all sink in, what does everyone think about the results of the Grammys and the Oscars?

At first, I was pretty shocked with the choice of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss's Raising Sand as album of the year, especially since it was up against Radiohead's In Rainbows, a phenomenal album that made a significant splash in the mainstream community for its major departure from less accessible gloomy, electronic sounding tracks in favor of a more up-tempo, hard driving rock sound. Also it is of note that Radiohead massively impacted the future and current state of the record industry by offering free torrent downloads of In Rainbows on its website.

But after revisiting Raising Sand, I stand behind this selection from the Recording Academy (despite their obvious bias towards Krauss who now has 25.) The album is just so well done in so many ways - most notably in production, song order, and angelic harmonies between Krauss and Plant - the list really goes on and on. If you don't already have it, give it a listen, especially if you're a fan of work produced by T-bone Burnett.

Wolf Trap artists picked up some much deserved Grammys this year!

BeauSoliel avec Michael Doucet (Best Zydeco & Cajun Album;) - Appearing at The Barns at Wolf Trap on Thursday, March 5

Pacifica Quartet (Best Chamber Music Performance;) - Appearing at The Barns at Wolf Trap on Friday, April 3

Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Best Trad. World Music Album;) - Just here on January 26

and, our good friend Tom Paxton received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his enduring contributions to folk music, particularly surrounding the topics of anti-war, and civil rights.

Regarding the Oscar's, I'm embarrassed to admit that Slumdog Millionare is the only movie I saw that was nominated for Best Picture. It did win...so I guess I know how to pick 'em.

-G