Tom Talks #7: The Grammys 2021 (Part 2)

Welcome back to part two of our discussion of the Grammys on Tom Talks! (If you missed part 1, here's the link: https://tomtalks2020.blogspot.com/2021/03/tom-talks-6-grammys-2021-part-1.html) But with Beyonce making history on the night, by taking her Grammy total to 28 awards, (the most for a Female artist,) there was plenty other awards available and we will discuss the Rock/R'n'B categories and the best of the rest, one of which were won by Mrs. Jay-Z.

Rock Awards

Despite being omitted from the main awards, following her critical success in 2020, Fiona Apple won big on the night taking home 'Best Rock Performance' for 'Shameika and 'Best Alternative Music Album' for 'Fetch the Bolt Cutters.' It was a close call for the former award as Apple did show great passion in her tale of being ignored by society, but the title character seeing potential in her, yet the fun indie-rock vibes of 'Kyoto' by Phoebe Bridgers and the powerful ballad 'Daylight' by Grace Potter, were both great tracks on this list. The track from Miss. Bridgers was the most memorable and enjoyable of the lot, but all three were great tracks and made for a tight contest, while the other nominees from HAIM, Big Thief and Brittany Howard were decent, but not quite on the same level.

In her other win, Fiona was the more definitive winner. This fantastic LP discussed issues such as bullying, acceptance and the abuse of women, which while I did not love this project like most, I cannot deny the quality of the music and the storytelling on display. The other projects up for the prize were overall decent, with 'Punisher' by Phoebe Bridgers being a sold indie-rock sophomore release and the new Tame Impala album having some wavy and intriguing songs. (thank the heavens that awful new Beck collection didn't win though.)

The other big Rock awards went to Brittany Howard for 'Best Rock Song' and the new Strokes album 'The New Abnormal' attained 'Best Rock Album.' 'Stay High' did have some great vocals, but its mediocre production means it lacked the ability to keep my attention (although the Fred again... and Joy Anonymous remix makes up for this in bucket loads.) The previously nominated tracks from Apple and Bridgers are much better Rock tracks and more deserving of this award.

The final of the notable prizes in this category of course went to the new Strokes album, which had some cool cuts on it, but I was not as impressed by it as the critics, although I'm not mad at it's victory. I was really rooting for the Mercury Prize winning 'KIWANUKA,' the amazing third LP by Michael Kiwanuka, which had some typical soulful tracks over more rockier beats than he is used to, so I am a little disappointed he did not pick up a well deserved Grammy. But, as it stopped that piss-poor, bore fest of a punk project by Fontaines D.C., it could have gone to something less well deserving.

R'n'B Awards

Having already won an award, after featuring on the remix of 'Savage' by Megan Thee Stallion, the Queen Bee won 'Best R&B Performance' for her BLM anthem, 'Black Parade.' Now I cannot deny that she gave a great and powerful performance on this track, but with her rapped delivery is this really belonging to the R'n'B categories? I absolutely love 'All I Need' by Jacob Collier, Mahalia and Ty Dolla $ign, (one of my fave tracks of 2020) so was quite disappointed not to see this one take home the gold. While I am not a big Jhene Aiko fan, Brittany Howard's 'Goat Head' was much more fitting of this category with it's melodic piano beat mixed in with the hi-hats, as she tells a tale of her identity and her family being attacked for who they are. All in all, a bit of a weird win for Beyonce, but big records broken by one of the biggest artists in the world.

The real losers in this section of the show was the talented duo Chloe X Halle, with these sisters losing out in three categories. 'Best Traditional R&B Performance' went to Ledisi for her quite dull and predictable 'Anything For You,' when the sisters were much more deserving for the amazing 'Wonder What She Thinks of Me,' which goes down an interesting route, by exploring what it's like to be a side chick and what the main partner thinks of their competition.

I have mixed feelings about the victor in the 'Best R&B Song' category, as I did love H.E.R.'s verse on 'Better Than I Imagined,' yet Meshell Ndegeocello's talky like delivery, didn't fit well in contrast. She also featured alongside Skip Marley on 'Slow Down,' which had more rocky-Reggae vibes and like 'Black Parade,' didn't really fit in this category. Chloe X Halle were once again mugged in a category they deserved to win, as 'Do It' with it's bouncy trap production, was not only a more fun track than the winner, but crucially also took the R'n'B sound in a more interesting direction. I am also yet to subscribe to the Tiana Major9 hype and she really wasted EARTHGANG on 'Collide.'

And the award for the most pointless award name change went to the Grammys for the new category 'Best Progressive R&B Album,' (previously called 'Best Urban Contemporary Album,') which did not please it's critics with the name change, but was awarded to Thundercat. I was not a massive fan of 'It Is What It Is,' finding it very inconsistent, but it did have some great tracks on there, yet the new Chloe X Halle LP was much more consistent. Also missing out alongside 'Ungodly Hour,' was the forgettable new one from whisper enthusiast Jhene Aiko and the self-titled Free Nationals album, that had some decent singles. 

Chole X Halle should have got at least one honour, as they were doing something a little bit different at least in terms of R'n'B, but again the Grammys have missed the mark. Also shoutout to John Legend for winning 'Best R&B Album,' with his fairly vanilla take on the genre, with decent stuff from Giveon and Gregory Porter also nominated, in a category Chole X Halle were not put in contention for, because reasons?

Best of the Rest

I am not as big a Music aficionado as I'd like, but there is some other categories I will briefly discuss. Kanye managed to shoehorn a Grammy for his latest work of art, 'Jesus Is King.' It won 'Best Contemporary Christian Music Album,' as I guess it wasn't good enough to be nominated in the Rap categories, even though controversially I thought it was decent. (808s was his worst album, fight me!)

Tragically, Laura Marling lost out in 'Best Folk Album' for her stunning and truly amazing record, 'Song for Our Daughter,' one of 2020's finest. The late, great Leonard Cohen also lost out, with his posthumous release 'Thanks for the Dance' and why was the new Taylor Swift not nominated here? Congratulations to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, although I am not aware of how deserving they are of the win.

Burna Boy bagged himself a Grammy for 'Best Global Album' (the we don't know how to categorise Afrobeats and other music outside of Western society award) and 'Jojo Rabbit' and 'Joker,' who both had amazing scores won in 'Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media' and 'Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media' respectfully. Billie Eilish also bagged another one, with 'No Time to Die' once again proving the judges love a Bond track in the 'Best Song Written for Visual Media' category and avoiding the Taylor Swift track from 'Cats.' (thank god Frozen didn't win it either, I can't stand the music from that.)

Finally, Jacob Collier did win one of his nominations for 'Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals,' (a wordy title to say the least) for his amazing and underrated track by myself, 'He Won't Hold You' featuring a great verse from Rapsody. The awful Beck project also was considered 'Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical,' (well produced it was not) while the 'Producer of the Year, Non-Classical,' went to Andrew Watt, who produced great tracks such as Miley Cyrus' 'Midnight Sky' and Post Malone's 'Take What You Want.' He no doubt produced some of Pop's best tracks this year, but producer of the new Chicks and Taylor Swift projects, Jack Antonoff and the amazingly talented Flying Lotus, who worked on the award winning 'It Is What It Is,' made much more interesting music that captured my imagination last year.

And that was the Grammys for 2021, I was left a little bit disappointed and confused by the placement of certain artists in their chosen categories, but hey that's the Grammys for you. Thanks for reading this latest Tom Talks and join us again; don't forget to comment your thoughts on the Grammys and who you think should have won.