Grammy Nominees 2009

Performer: Various Artists
Artist: Kanye West; T-Pain
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: This 20-track compilation brings together many of 2009's highest profile artists in rock, R&B, and pop. Each of the artists featured was nominated for a Grammy in 2009, including Coldplay, Leona Lewis, OneRepublic, Pink, and Duffy. Whether one's tastes lean toward Britpop (Radiohead), radio-ready R&B (Ne-Yo), hip-hop (Lil Wayne and T-Pain), or music with more of an indie bent (M.I.A.), 2009 GRAMMY NOMINEES provides a well-selected, cross-genre overview of contemporary hitmakers. Grammy Nominees 2009 more or less resembles the state of American tastes in 2008, meaning its star-studded track list is better than the bulk of these Grammy-affiliated compilations. That's a very low bar to clear, however, and problems still surface with the album's song selection, which emphasizes pop music at the expense of modern rock, country, and jazz. Perhaps the biggest puzzler is the absence of Flo Rida's "Low," the highest-selling single of the year and the recipient of multiple Grammy nominations. In its place, though, is a surprisingly good representation of the year's pop and R&B scenes, from Katy Perry's mega-platinum "I Kissed a Girl" to the miniature British Invasion of Leona Lewis, Duffy, Adele, Estelle, and M.I.A.. Also included are all five nominated tracks for "Best Pop Group Performance," even though three of the category's nominations -- Gnarls Barkley's "Going On," Maroon 5's "Won't Go Home Without You," and (bizarrely) the Eagles' "Waiting in the Weeds" -- failed to chart well. Such choices are indicative of the Grammy's approach to picking nomination-worthy artists, a process that's been routinely criticized for catering to the Recording Academy's whims rather than the public's tastes. Grammy Nominees 2009 is not an exception to such criticism, but its selection of candy-coated pop songs -- particularly those by female singers -- makes it more enjoyable than recent editions. ~ Andrew Leahey

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