Grammys midway Part 2: Duffy, Zooey, Santogold and more

The year may be at its midpoint, but when it comes to the Grammys, that mark has long since passed. With the eligibility period for next year’s awards ending on Sept. 30, there’s little more than three months left in the world of Grammy.

One of Grammy's most confounding -- and most debated -- categories is the best new artist field. So with Grammy season only weeks away, this week Extended Play is taking a look at some of 2008's notable new artists, and how they may fare come Grammy time.

Next week, the same treatment will be given to the top albums at midyear. Click here to read the first installment.

Santogold: Real name Santi White, the producer/artist released a genre-hopping self-titled debut this spring, mixing reggae, new wave and hip-hop into a dance-friendly mix.

Grammy potential: There's been no shortage of attention on Santogold, and she's been a licensing fiend. That's Santogold you heard selling some bad beer, and she's also recorded a song for a shoe company, facts of which have inspired a bit of an online debate. But all this means she'll be heard by the voting contingent, and she's also a respected writer/producer, which should help her (she's written for Ashlee Simpson, and produced the debut from under-appreciated R&B singer Res). Critically, Santogold's been well received, and her debut won comparisons to globe-trotting electronic artist M.I.A. While not a completely accurate reference -- Santogold is far more rock 'n' roll -- it hints at Santogold's ambitions. Ultimately, Santogold may prove to be a bit too ambitious for a best new artist nod. Working in her favor, however, will be some high-profile gigs opening for Coldplay.

Grammy deserving: For all the hype surrounding Santogold's debut, the artist's recycling of dub and '80s sounds has resulted in a debut that's starting to sound dated only a few weeks after its release. But it's an inventive enough debut that it'd be worthy of more recognition.

Duffy, She & Him and more after the jump.

She & Him: Primarily known as the musical project of actress Zooey Deschanel, She & Him offered a relaxed updating of pop standards and vintage sounds. She & Him paired Deschanel with multi-instrumentalist M. Ward, and covers such as "You Really Got a Hold On Me" stood side by side with new songs that arrived like long-lost AM radio staples.

Grammy potential: Hard to get a read. As noted yesterday, Grammy voters don't go crazy for independent music, but She & Him should be high-profile enough to garner some votes, thanks largely due to Deschanel. Those who actually listened and didn't write the band off as a vanity project for an actor will likely find the kind of song-oriented project the Grammy crowd falls for, as the album could fit nicely with any CD collection that contains both Amy Winehouse and Herbie Hancock.

Grammy deserving: Yes. There's a warmly inviting simplicity to She & Him, and the act jubilantly dives into a '50s-influenced sound, evidenced by Disneyana in songs like "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"

MGMT: Hip Brooklyn rockers with a fuzzed-up guitar sound, courtesy of Flaming Lips studio wiz Dave Fridmann.

Grammy potential: Recording Academy voters like to make sure all major genres are represented in the best new artist field, and MGMT would be a relatively safe pick to speak for rock 'n' roll. The band's debut, "Oracular Spectacular," is melodic enough to sound safe on the radio, but dirties up its sound with enough studio haze to make voters think they're nominating a left-of-center act. Sony has also done a solid job getting the band heard on mainstream outlets without over-shilling them. MGMT has been able to license music to "Gossip Girl," "21" and the upcoming "American Teen."

Grammy deserving: A band worth keeping an eye on. Lead single "Time to Pretend," which MGMT re-recorded for the album, is full of Fridmann's hallmarks. There's a stomping rhythm, a swirl of studio effects, a flash of an orchestra, studio-enhanced guitars, off-kilter keyboards and a smashing melody. But that might ultimately be the problem, as MGMT feels a bit too much like a producer's project at this point.

Lil Mama: The young New York rapper had one of last year's big hits in "Lip Gloss," a silly but irresistible single with its minimalist clacking rhythm.

Grammy potential: In one sense, Lil Mama should have been nominated for "Lip Gloss" last year. But her debut album, "VYP: Voice of the Young People," wasn't released till this spring. That puts her in the new-artist running this year, even if it's a little behind her momentum. Still, the newcomer scored a hit earlier this year with "Shawty Get Loose," and the album has a fiesty sort of naivete -- in a good way. Signed to Jive, Lil Mama should get a big Grammy push, and "VYP" comes packed with production from industry heavyweights such as Dr. Luke and Scott Storch. All that being said, Lil Mama did just lose at the BET Awards, and was not all that happy about it.

Grammy deserving: As noted above, "Lip Gloss" was an infectious little number, and should have been a contender. Lil Mama is certainly deserving in the rap categories, but when it comes to snaring a best new artist nomination, her main competition may arrive in the coming weeks, in the form of a debut album from Chicago's Kid Sister.

Duffy: Young British soul singer with a '60s bent. This year's Amy Winehouse?

Grammy potential: Duffy's vintage soul should be Grammy gold, if voters don't shy away from lauding a U.K. soul star two years running. On her debut, "Rockferry," Duffy is a bit more traditional than Winehouse, but there's a warming lushness to her retro songs, as her cool, low-key vocal approach is framed with buoyant and amiable arrangements. At times, Duffy sounds as if she could be fronting the Shangri-Las, but she's after more of an acoustic smokiness. Ultimately, she's the kind of artist Starbucks would be all over, if the coffee chain was seemingly as excited about stocking CDs as it once was. Also working in Duffy's favor is her early success. Nearly two months after the album was released, it's still in the top 20, which is an impressive feat for a newcomer.

Grammy deserving: She's a perfectly inoffensive choice. Like Winehouse, Duffy's retro-themed tunes recall an era more than stand on their own. There's a bit more of a vagueness to an act like She & Him, a sense of familiarity that one can't quite place, but Duffy's appealingly sweet sense of song-craft works to her advantage.

Photos: She & Him; credit: Merge; Santogold; credit: Los Angeles Times; Duffy; credit: Associated Press

Extended Play by Todd Martens

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