On The Download: Album Of The Year, Grammy Picks

The Nominees:
Coldplay: Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
Ne-Yo: Year of the Gentleman
Alison Krauss and Robert Plant: Raising Sand
Lil Wayne: Tha Carter III
Radiohead: In Rainbows

Many people consider “Album of the Year” to be Grammy’s crème de la crème – the “Best Picture” award of the music world.

With sharp and clever lyrics that sometimes border on juvenile, Lil Wayne is the most nominated artist this year, but “Tha Carter III” might not appeal to everyone and could possibly be considered too explicit.

While Ne-Yo’s charming voice and smooth sounds are always enjoyable to listen to, they don’t quite hold up to the genius of the Plant/Krauss album. However, the soulful “Year of the Gentleman” is a stellar album and deserves the recognition in this category.

Radiohead, innovative as always, is definitely not averse to constantly creating new sounds in their music, but this time around they may have been trying too hard on this solid, yet overproduced album.

Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends” is unquestionably more of a departure from their older sound. All of their songs were starting to sound the same and the formula was getting old. As precarious as it was for them to change it up, the risk definitely paid off in this musically rich album. Fans and music critics alike loved the new sound.

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant are a duo that could be considered as different as night and day from each other. It was bound to be interesting when a legendary British rock icon collaborated with a well-established, honey-voiced American country artist. The result was “Raising Sand”; an astounding musical achievement. Part rock, part country, part soul and part blues, their voices blended together perfectly to create a masterpiece. Hopefully, the Recording Academy will agree.

Will Win:   Coldplay

Should Win:  Alison Krauss and Robert Plant