The nominations for the 58th annual Grammy awards have been announced, with rapper Kendrick Lamar earning spots in 11 categories. (Read Larry Mizell Jr.‘s wise words about Lamar’s instant classic To Pimp a Butterfly here.)
The Grammys traditionally reward commercial might over artistic merit, although sometimes there’s an intersection of the two. However, it’s cool that Flying Lotus is up for Best Dance Recording with “Never Catch Me” (featuring Lamar, aptly enough) and that Caribou is in contention for Best Dance/Electronic Album with Our Love. Of local interest, Death Cab for Cutie‘s Kintsugi nabbed a nomination for Best Rock Album—where the competition is weak enough that they might actually stand a chance of winning: Muse, Slipknot, James Bay, Highly Suspect—and Bill Frisell is competing for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album with Guitar In The Space Age!
Somehow, Stranger Music Geniuses Industrial Revelation and their massive, ambitious album Liberation & the Kingdom of Nri didn’t get any love in any of the jazz categories. Anyway, check out the complete list of categories and artists up for Grammy awards here and read about more local action in the nominations after the jump.
Best Historical Album
Native North America (Vol. 1): Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966–1985
Kevin Howes, compilation producer; Greg Mindorff, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
Label: Light In The Attic Records
Best Orchestral Performance
Dutilleux: Métaboles; L’Arbre Des Songes; Symphony No. 2, ‘Le Double’
Ludovic Morlot, conductor (Seattle Symphony)
Label: Seattle Symphony Media
Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Dutilleux: Violin Concerto, L’Arbre Des Songes
Augustin Hadelich; Ludovic Morlot, conductor (Seattle Symphony)
Track from: Dutilleux: Métaboles; L’Arbre Des Songes; Symphony No. 2, ‘Le Double’
Label: Seattle Symphony Media
Best Recording Project
I Love You, Honeybear (Limited Edition Deluxe Vinyl)
Sasha Barr & Josh Tillman, art directors (Father John Misty)
Label: Sub Pop
