Country rebel Steve Earle is once again nominated for a Grammy for best folk album.
The Grammy Award categorization gurus have struck again.
For years, the Grammy version of folk has amounted to a curious hodge-podge of music, ranging from acoustic rock to country to pop – leftovers and misfits from other genres.
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Maybe that’s why it’s consistently one of my favorite categories to peruse every year.
The 2012 nominees for the award – to be given out Sunday in a “pre-ceremony” prior to the televised 8 p.m. extravaganza on CBS — cover much of the same territory, with an alt-rock frontman, a critics’ darling vocal band, a country rebel, an alt-country torch-bearer and a Nashville singer-songwriter duo facing off.
So, on Day 2 of my Grammy Awards spotlight, I present nominees for best folk album:
— The Civil Wars, Barton Hollow – Beautiful and haunting harmonies dominate this spare-and-laid-back collection by Joy Williams and John Paul White, a duo I first heard about thanks to Ken Heffner at Calvin College, who booked them for last April’s Festival of Faith and Music.
— Steve Earle, I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive – Boasting the same title as Earle’s latest, odd-but-terrific novel, this country-drenched affair includes the songwriter’s poignant ode to New Orleans, “This City.” Here’s my video from his performance last year with Allison Moorer at The Intersection in Grand Rapids.
— Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues – As I pointed out in my “best albums of 2011” list, this vocally lush affair by a band that certainly was influenced by Simon & Garfunkel has so many layers that you’ll hear something new and compelling every time you listen to it.
— Eddie Vedder, Ukulele Songs – At first blush, this sounds pretty hip, but it’s hard for me to believe that many Recording Academy voters got past the the first three songs on this album. I did and I’ve now heard enough solo ukulele-and-vocals to last me for the next 10 years.
— Gillian Welch, The Harrow & The Harvest – Honestly, as strong as many of the entries might be, this might be the best of the bunch. Welch and partner/guitarist David Rawlings create real alt-country sparks on their well-crafted collection. This album may not win but it’s as deserving as any.
My pick: Fleet Foxes
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
Nice crop of folk nominees. Here’s a vote for Steve Earle, who continues to write passionate and memorable tunes about the work of love, whether in a relationship or a prison cell. A true American original, and a survivor for sure.
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