Casual Listening Extra -- 7 Grammys

Casual Listening

Extra!

February 13, 2009

Casual Listening Wins 7 Grammys

Last year, I started using the Grammys as a benchmark for how well I’m exposing you to the best of new music. Last year, five Grammy winning albums were reviewed in Casual Listening with a star or better. This year it’s six albums in seven categories. This doesn’t include Grammy winning songs, many of which are also in albums you saw reviewed here.

A point of pride for me is the diversity of the albums reviewed. I challenge you to find any other critic that reviewed both Radiohead and Joan Sebastián last year. Here are the winning albums:

· Album of the Year: Raising Sand, Robert Plant and Allison Krauss

· Best Pop Instrumental Album: Jingle All the Way, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones

· Best Alternative Music Album: In Rainbows, Radiohead

· Best Norteño Album: Raíces, Los Tigres del Norte

· Best Banda Album: No es de Madera, Joan Sebastián

· Best Contemporary Blues Album: City That Care Forgot, Dr. John and the Lower 911

· Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album: Raising Sand, Robert Plant and Allison Krauss

And for those of you who are interested, Banda and Norteño are both types of Mexican music you’re likely to find on your local Spanish-language station. Banda has a horn section, while Norteño is mostly accordion.

Lily Allen

Snappy pop candy with attitude. Not exactly my cup of tea, but I can see how she’s drawn a tremendous following and critical acclaim for her work.

Listen to Lily Allen, “22”