Post: What You Should Know About This Year's Grammy Winners
What You Should Know About This Year's Grammy Winners
Just in case you missed last night's Grammy celebration, here is a roundup of the night's biggest winners. Are any of the award-winning albums family friendly? Read on to find out what you need to know:
Album of the Year: Dixie Chick's Taking the Long Way.
Our rating: On for 12+, 5 stars
What we said: This new sense of maturity brought into play on beautifully crafted songs makes this one of the year's best new albums. More glossy and elegant than in the past, the performances still slyly address issues both personal and public, with excellent musicianship setting off gorgeous vocals. Family life and motherhood seem to have affected the Chicks' songwriting and performances as much as the world's reaction to their politics, imparting sentimental warmth and depth without getting cloying.
Parents need to know:: There is one instance of "ass-kissing" in the lyrics as well as one or two uses of "hell" and "damn." The Dixie Chicks are not afraid to discuss their politics; not all families will be comfortable with their liberal views. Non-Christian listeners may notice a subtle assumption of universal Christianity.
Best Rock Album:Red Hot Chili Peppers' Stadium Arcadium
Our rating: On for 14+, 4 stars
What we said: The songs are good, though most stop short of brilliant –- catchy and fun, or sweet and melodic, depending. The word "comfortable" comes to mind. The funk factor, though still present, isn't as front-and-center as on past releases. This all seems appropriate for a group that has been together this long, and been through a lot together.
Parent's need to know: The strongest language here is in the "damn" and "hell" category. There are one or two oblique references to drugs and alcohol. Basically, this CD is much tamer than past Red Hot Chili Peppers recordings.
Best R&B Album: Mary J. Blige's The Breakthrough
Our rating: Pause for 15+, 4 stars
What we said: Mary J. Blige turns in another absolutely stunning performance as Soul Queen of the new millennium. With her usual supportive-big-sister good sense, mixed with a heaping portion of give-it-all-up-for-your-love heartbreak, her message is real, solid, honest, and all-too-human.
Parent's need to know: There is some sexual innuendo and a few uses of the s-word, along with a lot of supportive and empowering messages for young women.
Best Rap Album: Ludacris' Release Therapy
Our rating: Pause for 17+, 4 stars
What we said: Ludacris knows how to build a song dramatically, with attention paid to instrumental dynamics and background vocals. But mostly, even at his most explicit and inappropriate, Ludacris delivers a potent mix of intelligence and humor
Parent's need to know: Ludacris is neither for wussies nor for dummies. (Or more nicely put, he's neither for the impressionable/sensitive nor for the unsophisticated listener.) His strongly worded messages are delivered with humor, intelligence, and a social conscience -- as well as full-tilt enthusiasm for "wild" women and the party life. Parents with strict limits about lyrics in popular music should avoid Ludacris, plain and simple. The edited versions of his songs sound ridiculous; the omitted words are plentiful and obvious, and the tracks end up sounding like nonsense. For those willing to evaluate albums on a case-by-case basis, however, there's a lot to be said for making an exception for Ludacris' newest offering, despite a liberal sprinkling of racist, sexist, and explicit language.
Best New Artist: Carrie Underwood (who released album Some Hearts in Nov 2005)
Our rating: On for 12+, 4 stars
What we said: Underwood gives every song her all, and if you were in the mood to nitpick, you might grow a little weary of that full-tilt, over-the-top delivery on song after song. But she has a great voice, a lot of presence, and gives it her all.
Parent's need to know: There is no objectionable content in these (mostly) love songs by a recent American Idol favorite. There is some assumed Christianity on "Jesus Take the Wheel."
For a complete list of winners, visit the official Grammy Web site. Tell us who deserved to win -- or didn't.