Winners at the Grammys soar

Dixie Chicks – Taking the Long Way
    After winning five Grammys in 2007, the country trio swept their nominations, winning album of the year, record of the year, song of the year,   best country collaboration with vocals and country album of the year on Sunday night.  This album is riddled with a more mature look from the Texas natives.  For the first time they helped write the songs to their album giving “Taking the Long Way” a more personalized message. 
    Their songs are still catchy, but now have substance.  With songs like “I’m Not Ready to Make Nice” and “Lullaby” you can have a romantic evening with the album or sing it loud in your car with the windows down.  There’s a reason the Dixie Chicks raked in the golden trophies.  Their fifth album is their best album.  This album’s a little bit country and a little bit rock n’ roll.

Mary J. Blige – The Breakthrough
    Blige’s seventh album stole the show with eight nominations.  She won the awards for best female R&B vocal performance, best R&B song, and best R&B album.  Blige puts the heart in heartache with songs like “No One Will Do,” “Enough Cryin,” and her hit single “Be Without You.”  The Breakthrough could be her best album yet because of her collaborations with the likes of Jay-Z and Bono. 
    This album’s title speaks for itself.  Blige broke through and became even more mature than her audience thought possible from her previous album “Reflections: a Retrospective.”    She’s even more soulful, powerful, and influential than before.

Red Hot Chili Peppers –
Stadium Arcadia
    Even after releasing their greatest hits album, the Chili Peppers come back in full force.  “Stadium Arcadium” is two hours worth of musical genius.  Anthony Kiedis said, “This is the best album we’ve ever done” and the Grammies felt the same way.  They were nominated for five, awards winning best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal, best rock album, best boxed or special limited edition package, and best rock song with “Danni California.” 
    “Stadium Arcadium” is their most diverse album yet, mixing jazz, R&B, ’80s rock and, of course, their unique alternative rock.  Every one of their 28 songs are either good or great.  If you had one album to listen to for the next couple of months “Stadium Arcadium” would fit the requirements: catchy, intriguing and diverse. 

Bob Dylan – Modern Times
    Bob Dylan is most certainly back.  “Modern Times” is the best album Dylan has released since “Blonde on Blonde.”  He’s bringing back the universal truths that his old work portrayed.  “Modern Times” is the icing on the cake, making Dylan one of the best song writers of all time. 
    The Grammy’s awarded him best contemporary folk/Americana album and best solo rock vocal performance.  Dylan is 65 years old and still winning awards.  Not many performers can say that they’ve been winning awards and putting out albums in five different decades, but Dylan has done just that.  Victoria Secret advertisements and all, Bob Dylan is still a media force to be reckoned with.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 16 2007. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry