Grammys 2011: Arcade Fire, Katy Perry and the album of the year field

Quick reactions to some of the major Grammy categories. Pop & Hiss continues to provide analysis throughout the night, as well as in the days and weeks leading up to the Feb. 13 ceremony at the Staples Center.

The nominees:

"The Suburbs," Arcade Fire
"Recovery," Eminem
"Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
"The Fame Monster," Lady Gaga
"Teenage Dream," Katy Perry

The highlight: The Arcade Fire's nomination is a major win for independent labels and Merge Records in particular. Grammys do not typically dip their toes into independent waters, and the Arcade Fire, though having a No. 1 album, are still an adventurous pick. Remember, this is the same award show that has recently favored the likes of Dave Matthews and the Foo Fighters when it comes to rock 'n' roll. A complex concept album about the effects of being raised in an urban sprawl, "The Suburbs" is an album that takes its time, letting its grand orchestrations unfold with patience. 

The bad: Lady Antebellum's perfectly coiffed adult contemporary takes little risks, Eminem's "Recovery," though one of the artist's more analytical works, is not on par with hip-hop albums from the likes of Big Boi, the Roots or Jay-Z, and Lady Gaga's "The Fame Monster," though an improvement on her album "The Fame," was billed as an EP and a new album is around the corner. Outside of the Arcade Fire, however, Lady Gaga is the field's most risk-taking artist.

The downright horrible: Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" has no business here, as it's a pandering concoction of ditsy lyrics, childish sexual innuendos and overly-glossy production that reeks of session musician hackery. Though she's cute-as-a-button in a banana costume, Perry is more Hugh Hefner fantasy than artist. 

Robbed? There are 108 Grammy categories, and one can make a list of twice as many albums more deserving of this honor than at least three of these candidates. The field completely overlooked anything in R&B, missing an opportunity to recognize Sade's "Soldier of Love." Also, if voters wanted a pop artist, they should have gone with Rihanna's "Rated R."

-- Todd Martens

MORE:

- Grammy nominations: Eminem leads with 10, Bruno Mars has 7, and Cee-Lo? Forget it

- Photos: Top 2010 Grammy nominees

- Grammy nominations: The surprises and races to watch

- 53rd Annual Grammy Awards nominees list

- Grammys 2011: B.o.B., Eminem, Cee Lo and the record of the year crop

- Grammys 2011: Arcade Fire, Katy Perry and the album of the year field

- Grammys 2011: Justin Bieber, Florence + the Machine and the best new artist crop

- 53rd annual Grammy nominations special: Katy Perry opens the show, and Cee Lo, Ray LaMontagne are among song of the year nominees

 

Photo: Arcade Fire's Win Butler. Credit: Robert Gauthier

Comments

[Dutch]

I seriously cannot believe katy perry got nominated here! Sade was robbed big time!!!! The other nominees are good but lady gaga and katy perry should not be here there are several other pop artists that could have been nominated with much better music than that!

[DWtruth]

Katy Perry sings songs people like. Pop music isn't rocket science; it's about entertainment. Get over it. If you want art go to a museum.

[Jim]

Katy Perry's nomination quite possibly might be the worst album of the year nomination in Grammy history. I can't believe her bad music is actually getting nominated for something as album of the year. I mean wow, I'm shocked by it.

[Markus]

Teenage Dream is a good pop album, a highlight of 2010 whether you like her or not, I think the nomination is well deserved

[Pat]

oh come on Todd Marten. R u crazy ????? Teenage Dream is one of the best songs this year ! This is what Grammy is all about, about the people who buy the album and listen to the songs. I hope Katy will win this year. Get over it all of you Katy haters.

[ian]

Amazed to see Arcade Fire here...hope they take it!

[Jay]

I agree that Katy Perry's inclusion in AOTY is embarrassing. Rihanna, Janelle Monae, Sade and Miranda Lambert all would have been more deserving. I mean, I don't like Taylor Swift, but even I can't really argue with her nomination and win in this category last year. Sure, Fearless was juvenile, but it was a smash hit, and most people agreed it was a well put-together album. Perry's CD got bad reviews and didn't even sell that well. She's really more a singles artist. I could maybe see SOTY or ROTY for California Gurls or something, but she does not belong in this category.

It's also funny to think that Gaga's EP is probably the second most critically-acclaimed nomination, next to Arcade Fire. I think Eminem will probably win, which sucks.

[VL]

Yeah, I thought Katy Perry's nomination was shocking in a bad way. Not even talking about her live singing ability, the album is fun and enjoyable for easy listening, but it doesn't seem like it's "album of the year" quality. I definitely there were other artists more deserving that also had a great impact this year.

[Martin]

Speaking of "urban sprawl," music fans interested in discovering the roots of Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs" should check out the band Urban Sprawl's gem "...In The Ozone." Way back in 1995, Urban Sprawl was ahead of the curve in tackling a concept album armed with good songs and a look at the world where we live.
Congrats to Arcade Fire for their nomination too!

[Tom]

I hope arcade fire win this! It's the only decent artist out there. God, they nominated teenage dream and fame monster??? Embarassing!

[dhillan]

@ DWtruth...you my friend, deserve to go to heaven just for that one comment!...
Thank you! i've had it with these "analysts" and their search for mind-bending experiments all the damn time! Get over yourselves ass-wipes, and stop taking the world so seriously. Pop is about fun, and katy perry is fun as they come. End of story.

[Fatt Tony]

I think Katy Perry is the furthest thing from 'fun' I can imagine - GO GAGA!