2009 Grammy Winners… An Industry Joke Continues

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If you watched the Grammys last night, you know the good news is that T-Bone Burnett can finally complete that outhouse he’s been building out of Grammy statues, and the bad news is that the awards show continued its time honored tradition of eternal lameness. Sure Raising Sand is not a bad album, and in fact, the Grammy win will bring some not undeserved attention to this somewhat overlooked 2007 release, but like Herbie Hancock‘s River: The Joni Letters was it really the best of the bunch? Surely it was the “safest” choice from among all of the nominees for Album of the Year, and that is why the Grammys are, and continue to be, a tired, old industry joke. Here are the winners in the “major award” categories.

Record Of The Year
“Please Read The Letter”
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer
Track from: Raising Sand
[Rounder]

Album Of The Year
Raising Sand
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer
[Rounder]

Song Of The Year
“Viva La Vida”
Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay)
Track from: Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
[Capitol Records; Publishers: Universal Music-MGB Songs]

Best New Artist
Adele

PS The highlight of the show for me was Radiohead‘s “15 Step” with the USC Marching Band.

See the full list of winners over here.