The moment that Lady Gaga, wearing a garbage can lid and shellacked like an escapee from a Día de los Muertos parade, kicked off "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!" this evening, November 30, on CBS, you had sensed that the parade of mainstream's usual suspects would prevail. Happily, despite expected nods for Top 40 queen bees Lady Gaga, Adele and Rihanna and the frustrating dependence on 2010 releases (Mumford & Sons again?), nominations for Bon Iver, Radiohead and My Morning Jacket quietly nudged their way into the madding crowd.
Bon Iver even managed to slip into the Best New Artist category, even though Justin Vernon's debut, For Emma, Forever Ago, was released way back in 2007.
A tribute to the late Nick Ashford and Jerry Leiber, who both died earlier this year, featured Leiber's songwriting Mike Stoller, Ashford's widow and creative partner, Valerie Simpson, and Usher, was poignant and restrained, with selections that included "You're All I Need To Get By," "Without You" and "Stand By Me."
Foster The People and The Black Keys will compete against Tony Bennett and the late Amy Winehouse, Coldplay and Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera for Best Pop/Duo Group Performance. Best Rock Performance pits Radiohead against Coldplay, The Decemberists, Foo Fighters and Mumford & Sons. For Best Alternative Album, nominees are Bon Iver, Radiohead, Foster The People, My Morning Jacket and Death Cab For Cutie.
For Best Rap Album, Jay-Z and Kanye West will attempt to conquer Kanye West (this should be interesting), Lil Wayne, Lupe Fiasco and Nicki Minaj.
Other nominees in assorted categories include TV on the Radio, Cut Copy, Fleet Foxes, Eddie Vedder, Gillan Welch, The Civil Wars, Tinariwen, Daft Punk and Zooey Deschanel.
The 54th annual Grammy Awards will be held on February 12 in Los Angeles. A full list of Grammy nominations can be found here.
Embarrassing moments:
Nicki Minaj confidentally, but incorrectly, misprouncing Bon Iver as "Bon Eye-ver."
Country crooners The Band Perry utterly missing the irony of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" in their earnest, flag-waving, cheese grits cover.
With the exception of Adele's 21, the yawn-worthy nominees for Album of the Year. Bruno Mars, really? Rihanna, really?
Album of the Year:
Adele, 21
Foo Fighters, Wasting Light
Lady Gaga, Born This Way
Bruno Mars, Doo-Wops & Hooligans
Rihanna, Loud
Record of the Year Nominations:
Adele, "Rolling In The Deep"
Bon Iver, "Holocene"
Bruno Mars, "Grenade"
Mumford & Sons, "The Cave"
Katy Perry, "Firework"
Song of the Year Nominations:
Kanye West, "All The Lights"
Mumford & Sons, "The Cave"
Bruno Mars, "Grenade"
Adele, "Rolling in the Deep"
Bon Iver, "Holocene"
Best New Artist:
Bon Iver
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex
The Band Perry
J. Cole
Best Rock Song:
Mumford & Sons, "The Cave"
The Decemberists, "Down By The Water"
Coldplay, "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall"
Radiohead, "Lotus Flower"
Foo Fighters, "Walk"
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
Wilco, The Whole Love
Best Alternative Album:
Bon Iver, Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Death Cab For Cutie, Codes and Keys
Foster The People, Torches
My Morning Jacket, Circuital
Radiohead, The King of Limbs
Best Rap Album:
Jay-Z and Kanye West, Watch The Throne
Lil Wayne, Tha Carter IV
Lupe Fiasco, Lasers
Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday
Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
