Alloy: Episode 72

"Alloy Goes to the Grammys" (playlist #72)

modular grammy

Alloy goes to the Grammys? What? No, not literally. I mentioned during last week's show that the Grammy's have a very marginal relevance to the music I listen to regularly. This year's awards—both the telecast and the nomination list—were no different. This year's Grammy show did not provide any substantive time to jazz (cue in the sound of crickets, "crickets, crickets...") or progressive music (cue the sound of crickets, again..."crickets, crickets..."). But, even though those genres (and much more!) were absent in the telecast and the nomination list, there were some artists and music recognized by the Grammys that were musically quite relevant to the greater Alloy music-sphere. So, this week's show, among other musical highlights, featured a set of music that cast a light on a number of "Grammy-worthy recordings." (Note: All Grammy tracks are highlighted in "Grammy Gold".)

CompositionAlbumArtist InfoListen Now!
"Remember" Eclectic Eric Johnson & Mike Stern
"Mad As a Hornet" Live At Perkins' Place Banyan
"Instrumental Health" Keys To The City Volumes 1 & 2 New York Electric Piano
Alabama Shakes won "Best Rock Performance", "Best Rock Song", "Best Alternative Music Album", "Best Engineered Album Non-Classical", and were nominated for "Album of the Year" and "Producer of the Year, Non Classical."
"Sound & Color" Sound & Color Alabama Shakes
Bjork's Vulnicura was nominated for "Best Alternative Music Album."
"Stonemilker" Vulnicura Bjork
Wilco's Star Wars was nominated for "Best Alternative Music Album."
"Cold Slope" Star Wars Wilco
"King Of You" Star Wars Wilco
"Bees" The Milk Of Human Kindness Caribou
Caribou's Our Love was nominated for "Best Dance/Electronic Album."
"Mars" Our Love Caribou
Snarky Puppy and Metropole Orkest's Sylva won "Best Contemporary Instrumental Album."
"Flight" Sylva Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest
John Scofield's Past Present won "Best Jazz Instrumental Album" and was nominated for "Best Improvised Jazz Solo."
"Past Present" Past Present John Scofield
Bill Frisell's Guitar in the Space Age was nominated for "Best Contemporary Instrumental Album."
"The Shortest Day" Guitar in the Space Age Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, Tony Scherr & Kenny Wollesen
"As a Judgement" When You Wish Upon a Star Bill Frisell
The Christian McBride Trio's Live at the Village Vanguard performance of "Cherokee" won "Best Improvised Solo."
"Cherokee" Live At The Village Vanguard Christian McBride Trio
Lady Gaga performed a tribute to the late David Bowie as part of this year's Grammy show. I have to wonder if the tribute was placed in the hands of the fantabulous Amanda Palmer might it have been more fitting? Listen to her cover of Bowie's "Blackstar" (links below) and you be the judge.
"Blackstar (feat. Anna Calvi)" Strung out in Heaven: A Bowie String Quartet Tribute - EP Jherek Bischoff & Amanda Palmer

Alloy Goes to the Grammys

modular grammy

Alloy goes to the Grammys? What? No, not literally. I mentioned during last week's show that the Grammy's have a very marginal relevance to the music I listen to regularly. This year's awards—both the telecast and the nomination list—were no different. This year's Grammy show did not provide any substantive time to jazz (cue in the sound of crickets, "crickets, crickets...") or progressive music (cue the sound of crickets, again..."crickets, crickets..."). But, even though those genres (and much more!) were absent in the telecast and the nomination list, there were some artists and music recognized by the Grammys that are musically quite relevant to the greater Alloy music-sphere. So, this week's show, among other musical highlights, will feature a set of music that casts a light on a number of those "Grammy-worthy recordings."

Lend an open ear and listen live on Tuesday at 9AM, if you can. Also, don't forget that you can listen to all of the music from last week's “More Than Meets The Ear” show right from the comfort of your browser (click here). Thanks for listening! (This week's show artwork, “modular grammy” is by yours truly.)

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