I know you've heard it before But then it wasn't enough

Grammy nominations were announced tonight. For some hipsters, the Grammies are too too passé, not cool, too corporate. While the Recording Academy has fallen flat on its face several times (Jethro Tull-Heavy Metal, Milli Vanilli), it still tries to be relevant.

As a voting member of the Academy, I consider the process to have some validity, and take my voting pretty seriously. And while I would never vote just because I know someone, there are several folks nominated that are clients & friends, and I wish them well. Especially 2 in particular:

Category 4

Best New Artist
(For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.)

• Zac Brown Band
  
  
  
• Keri Hilson
  
  
  
• MGMT
  
  
  
• Silversun Pickups
  
  
  
• The Ting Tings

While I really like The Ting Tings, Silversun Pickups are on Dangerbird Records, the label for which I'm currently finishing a recording studio installation. I had nothing to do with the album, but the label folks are friends The producer, Dave Cooley, is also a client & good friend, and it's a great album. If I didn't think so I wouldn't bother to blog about it.

Category 7

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
(For established duos or groups, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Never Say Never
  The Fray
  Track from: The Fray
  
  [Epic]

The Fray were produced by Mike Flynn, and engineered by my dear friend Warren Huart. Apart from that, it's a great album of quality pop music. The Fray were also nominated in this category:

Category 11

Best Pop Vocal Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• The Fray
  The Fray
  [Epic]

And in an unexpected category, keyboard player Skip Edwards, one of the best B3 players in L.A., is nominated:

Category 78

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)

• Jonathan Winters — A Very Special Time
  Jonathan Winters (Music By Verne Langdon & Skip Edwards)
  [Dejavu Record Company/The Orchard]

So, these are quality recordings by great people, worth checking out.

Here's SSP:



Here's The Fray: