'sigh'

I didn't watch the Grammy's last night and until I read the paper this morning, didn't even know who was nominated. However it appears that ('gasp') U2 won the Album of the Year award for How to Dismantle an Atmoic Bomb. Interesting. A bold choice indeed. I thought there were some really good albums that came out this year so I don't know how I overlooked that one. Maybe I'm not with it enough to understand what goes into the Grammy Process. Maybe we can work this through together. Here is a list of some of the past winners for Album of the Year:


Grammy Awards of 2006:
U2 for How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Grammy Awards of 2005:
Ray Charles & various artists for Genius Loves Company
Grammy Awards of 2004:
OutKast for Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Grammy Awards of 2003:
Norah Jones for Come Away With Me
Grammy Awards of 2002:
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Grammy Awards of 2001:
Steely Dan for Two Against Nature
Grammy Awards of 2000:
Santana for Supernatural
Grammy Awards of 1999:
Lauryn Hill for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Grammy Awards of 1998:
Bob Dylan for Time Out of Mind
Grammy Awards of 1997:
Céline Dion for Falling Into You
Grammy Awards of 1996:
Alanis Morissette for Jagged Little Pill
Grammy Awards of 1995:
Tony Bennett for Unplugged
Grammy Awards of 1994:
Whitney Houston for The Bodyguard (soundtrack)
Grammy Awards of 1993:
Eric Clapton for Unplugged
Grammy Awards of 1992:
Natalie Cole for Unforgettable
Grammy Awards of 1991:
Quincy Jones for Back on the Block
Grammy Awards of 1990:
Bonnie Raitt for Nick of Time
Grammy Awards of 1989:
George Michael for Faith
Grammy Awards of 1988:
U2 for The Joshua Tree
Grammy Awards of 1987:
Paul Simon for Graceland
Grammy Awards of 1986:
Phil Collins for No Jacket Required
Grammy Awards of 1985:
Lionel Richie for Can't Slow Down
Grammy Awards of 1984:
Michael Jackson for Thriller
Grammy Awards of 1983:
Toto for Toto IV
Grammy Awards of 1982:
John Lennon & Yoko Ono for Double Fantasy
Grammy Awards of 1981:
Christopher Cross for Christopher Cross
Grammy Awards of 1980:
Billy Joel for 52nd Street

The point I'm trying to make re: the relevance of The Grammy's is summed up quite nicely, I think, by the preceding list. But just to make sure we beat it to death sufficiently let's take a closer look. Now, I am a bit of music snob but I do listen to a LOT of music and a wide variety of it at that. While one may disagree with me on what I think a great album is I am fairly certain that I am not that far out of whack when it comes to opining on what is a marginal or even bad album. That being said, a few comments regarding the list of the past 25 or so Album of the Year winners.

• I'm not gonna mess with Thriller. Jacko may be a freak but that album is silly good.
• OutKast was indeed an "outside the boxxx" choice in 2004 (when compared to the voting patterns of years past) but the cynic in me suspects that "The Academy" members were more interested in appearing hip than actually contemplating the "best" album.
• There are three soundtracks on this list. Three. Three albums of music from or about a major motion picture. Three pieces of work that served as a secondary backdrop to another artistic medium (one of which is nothing more than a greatest hits collection).
• Seriously, how badly has that Alanis Morrisette album aged? "Did she go down on you in a the-a-ter?" Isn't it ironic that no one listens to that album anymore?
• Joshua Tree is an incredible album but U2 20(!) years later is not so money.
• See above statement in regards to Santana, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Steely Dan.
• Question: Who's more boring, Christopher Cross or Norah Jones? Answer: It doesn't matter.
• And lastly, no you are not seeing things. You did just read that Phil Collins, Yoko Ono, Lionel Richie, Natalie Cole (dueting with her dead father), and yes even Toto are also Album of the Year recipients.

Given the above facts all I'm syaing is that maaaaaaybe this award isn't quite the honor that some make it out to be. Celine Dion? Things that make you go, hmmm.