The leading contenders – Kendrick Lamar, with 11 nominations, and Taylor Swift and The Weeknd, with seven each – have all enjoyed positive reviews and wide popularity. Rapper Drake and Midas touch hitmaker Max Martin each received six nominations.
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Alabama Shakes, the hippest nominee in this category, threw a curveball with “Sound & Color”, a rock exploration far removed from the band’s beloved retro-soul debut. In this category, he’ll face off against Taylor Swift (“Blank Space”), Little Big Town (“Girl Crush), Wiz Khalifa (“See You Again), and Ed Sheeran (“Thinking Out Loud”)””. In a flawless world, the Recording Academy’s newfound enthusiasm would result in Lamar getting the top prize of the night, the Album of the Year Grammy, but, as Lamar’s work so often reminds listeners, this is not a ideal world.
“Consider all this with the fact that Lamar already quietly won two Grammys earlier this year, both the best rap performance and best rap song for “, and you can start to see the power of the artistry.
Snubs? The biggest might be the case of Fetty Wap, the New Jersey newcomer who dominated the pop charts all year.
One of the most exciting categories is Best New Artist, which this year compares Melbourne newcomer Courtney Barnett, 2015 Brit “Critics” Choice award victor James Bay, Georgia-born country star Sam Hunt, YouTube hit Tori Kelly and “All About That Bass” hitmaker Meghan Trainor.
Swift and The Weeknd, the rising Canadian R&B star, followed Lamar with seven nominations each.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance “Ship To Wreck” – Florence + The Machine “Sugar” – Maroon 5 “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson feat. He’s nominated twice for both best rap song with “Alright” and for co-writing Kanye West’s “All Day“, as well as best music video. “Hamilton” did pick up a nomination for best musical theater album.
He was also named in the best pop solo performance category.
The Best Dance/Electronic Album is eminently strong, too, with only Disclosure’s disappointing Caracal polluting a pool including Caribou, the Chemical Brothers, Jamie xx, and Skrillex and Diplo’s Jack Ü album. Alabama Shakes, Björk, My Morning Jacket, Tame Impala, and Wilco make up the billing for Best Alternative Album. But the fifth song, “Really Love” by D’Angelo and the Vanguard, was a bit out of left field.
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Lamar and Sheeran earned praise for their latest efforts (To Pimp A Butterfly and x, respectively).
