Album Reviews

Various Artists - 2012 Grammy Nominees

Depending on whom you ask 2011 was a pretty good year in music. Not only was the year eventful but incredibly controversial.  Kreayshawn’s “Gucci Gucci” became a viral campaign driving listeners to quote her lyrics like scripture.  Rebecca Black unleashed the hellish pop song “Friday” bringing with it an explosively critical response.  Tyler, The Creator and the rest of the OFWGKTA crew shocked, excited and disgusted listeners with their graphically dark artistry, while Florence and The Machine generated crazy buzz for their uniquely soulful sound.  Childish Gambino shook the scene with his eclectic blend of rhymes while The Lonely Island dropped their album Turtleneck & Chain which included such musical gems as “I Just Had Sex,” “Threw It On The Ground” and “Motherlover.”  But with 2011 fast behind us comes the 2012 Grammy Nominees, which celebrates 22 of the biggest singles of 2011.

Rounding out the list at number one was Adele’s powerfully soulful chart-topping anthem “Rolling In The Deep.”  Not only did this song bring millions of listeners to their knees but it also solidified Adele’s musical staying power.  Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” also makes an appearance on this album.  Minaj and her music dominated the scene in 2011 and “Super Bass” was no exception. 

J Cole’s “Work Out” is a great addition as the bumping party track; while Foster The People’s catchy indie pop single “Pumped Up Kicks” surfaced as one of the year’s biggest breakout tracks.  Skrillex’s dubstep masterpiece “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” brought this electronic subgenre into the mainstream and made Skrillex a mainstay in the music scene.

The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young” and Lady Antebellum’s “Just A Kiss” are the beautiful country pop tracks, while country artist Blake Shelton adds some feisty country flair with “Honey Bee.”  The Foo Fighters’ “Walk” and Coldplay’s “Paradise” also appear on this compilation.

Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse’s striking performance of “Body And Soul” adds class and charm, while Mumford & Sons' “The Cave” dazzles and shines.

Unfortunately, the album excluded some pretty great tracks from the lineup in favor of some less than stellar ones.  Case in point, it was surprising to find that Kanye West’s “All Of The Lights,” Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Know,” Wiz Khalifa’s smash hit “Black And Yellow, “or Corinne Bailey Rae’s rendition of “Is This Love” didn’t make the cut, while others did.

Overall, the 2012 Grammy Nominees is an entertaining album that highlights some of the biggest artists that made their mark on the music scene in 2011.  Not every song deserves a spot on the album, but it does have something for everyone.  From country to dubstep, the 2012 Grammy Nominees album does a good job of showcasing the 2012 Grammy talent.



Photo Courtesy: guardian.co.uk

Photo Courtesy: visionaryartistrymag.com

Photo Courtesy: mtviggy.com

Main Photo Courtesy: amazon.com

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