Rooftop Playlist

It seems remixes are always a hit or miss. But Shabazz Palaces delivers a methodical remix on Battles’ “White Electric,” off of Gloss Drop. But that should be no surprise as their debut album Black Up was rightfully one of the best hip-hop albums of 2011. The remix version, along with other remixes are available today on vinyl.

Remixed Version:

Original Version:

The Grammy Awards are this weekend on CBS. I will be watching because it’s a Sunday.  People tend to bad mouth the Grammys (including Bon Iver) but who does not like recognition? But every year there are snubs and nominations I don’t understand. The following is a list of the nominees and who I think does and doesn’t deserve to win in each category.

Best New Artist:

The Band Perry, Bon Iver, J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, Skrillex.

I don’t understand how Bon Iver can be nominated as a best new artist since Bon Iver put out a fantastic album in 2008, For Emma, Forever Ago. I read somewhere that new artist is classified as an artist with 3 or less albums in their discography. That’s bullshit, but that’s the Grammys for you.

Who I want to win it: Bon Iver

Who is probably going to win it and does deserve it: Skrillex.  That guy brings dubstep to a whole new level.

Best Rock Album:

Jeff Beck - Rock ‘n’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul, Foo Fighters - Wasting Light, Kings of Leon- Come Around Sundown, Red Hot Chili Peppers - I’m With You, and Wilco - The Whole Love

Seriously? These are the nominations? This is absolutely appalling.  Where is Tom Waits? Or R.E.M.?

I mean, you know who is going to win this category, Foo Fighters.  They have won 3 times out 4 nominations.

Who should win:  Wilco - The Whole Love

Who will probably win and SHOULD NOT win: Foo Fighters - Wasting Lights.  The voters heard that album, right? Because I did. Wilco all the way!

Album of the Year:

Adele - 21, Foo Fighters - Wasting Light, Lady Gaga - Born This Way, Bruno Mars - Doo-Wops & Hooligans, Rihanna - Loud.

Who should win out of the aforementioned: Adele - 21

Who could pull the upset: I sure hope no one can.

I was speechless when I saw the nominations.  I can list about 15 albums that deserve to take over all but one, even two of the slots. Loud and Doo-Wops were both catchy but to say they were impressive would be an overstatement. LOUD showed little effort and Doo-Wops was just good vocals and some hits.

Who should OBVIOUSLY belong in this category: Taylor Swift. Trust me, I hate saying this but for her genre, Speak Now was a good album and of course, Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was one of the impressive and intelligent albums towards the end of 2010 (and still able to be nominated in the 2012 Grammys).

Which brings me to:

 Best Rap Album: Jay-Z and Kanye West - Watch the Throne, Lil Wayne - The Carter IV, Lupe Fiasco - Lasers, Nicki Minaj -Pink Friday, Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

I don’t have a problem with any of the nominees in this category other than Lupe Fiasco’s Lasers, which was very underwhelming in production and final product.  I guess like most categories, the Grammy Committee lost their minds. Though I would have liked to see the likes of Shabazz Palaces’s, Black Up but I’m not sure if their album made the deadline for the nomination list.

Who deserves to win: Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Who could pull the upset (if you can even call it that): Jay-Z and Kanye West - Watch the Throne

Grammy Awards are ridiculous.  But I’ll tune in to see how ridiculous it gets.