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49th annual Grammy Awards
 We all know the record industry is way out of touch with alternative and underground music. So, for music's biggest night, it's no surprise that alternative artists were few and far between, and those who did manage to get on the list of nominees were largely passed over.
Regardless, the night brought a few memorable moments and quality performances. The Police reunited in top notch, full form at the top of the show, and Gnarls Barkley offered an outstanding performance, among others.
I was glad we didn't have to sit through a long, drawn-out lecture about illegal downloads this year, as we have at every other Grammy Awards since 2000 or so. The record industry guy instead gave us a lecture about supporting music in schools, which is actually something I could agree with. What a concept.
As far as the winners, let's take a look at some of the categories of interest and see what happened. In both the Record of the Year and Album of the Year categories, Dixie Chicks edged out Gnarls Barkley. I appreciate the Dixie Chicks' music and attitude, so it wasn't much of a loss for me, although Gnarls Barkley easily deserved to win Record of the Year for "Crazy."
For the Best New Artist category, I had no effin' clue how Imogen Heap got in there — what decade is this? I was pulling for her to take the win anyway, even though it's not 1999. As it turns out, country singer and American Idol winner Carrie Underwood ended up taking that category.
No surprise here, but Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor ended up taking the win for Electronic or Dance Album, although I suppose there was a bit of hope for nominees Goldfrapp or Zero 7.
Moving into the rock stuff, Beck's infectious "Nausea" was nominated for Solo Rock Vocal Performance, but at the end of the day, Bob Dylan took home the award for "Someday Baby." In the Rock Performance by a Duo or Group category, Red Hot Chili Peppers' radio sensation "Dani California" won out over my personal choice, "Steady As She Goes" by The Raconteurs. The same thing happened in the Best Rock Album category, with the Chili Peppers winning for Stadium Arcadium.
The guys in OK Go won the Short Form Music Video category for their excellent "Here It Goes Again." Gotta love the treadmills.
You couldn't really go wrong with Alternative Music Album — it's the one category in which I loved all 5 nominees. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Thom Yorke, The Flaming Lips, and Arctic Monkeys were all nominated, but Gnarls Barkley took the win for St. Elsewhere. Was this award even presented during the show? I'm pretty sure it was passed over.
There you have it, pretty much — another year in which the record industry is obviously more interested in the past and present top 40 artists than the future of music. What else can we expect, though? Gotta take what we can get. Nice to see a few well-deserved wins.
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Nope, sadly the award for Alternative Music Album was not presented.
I was surprised to see Imogen Heap even nominated. Sure, it is a little late but the fact that she was recognized was interesting.
The only thing I really hated was seeing James Blunt. His "You're Beautiful" annoys me to no end. I do not see his potential from that one song at all, yet it was the song that he performed and was numerously nominated for. What the hell?
The corny wholesomeness of Carrie Underwood...any artist who records a single entitled "Jesus Take the Wheel" appeals to the audience living somewhere between the Gospel and the rodeo. How easily the public is entertained (and fooled).
The Dixie Chicks are alright. That short one is a firecracker.
I was just reading an article about previous ridiculous Grammy Awards wins and nominations. They really lost me last year when U2 beat out Kanye West for Album of the Year.
I missed the show due to a Grizzly Bear concert, which was amazing. It doesn't sound too great though, some decent winners and some not so much.
Jesus Take the Wheel... ah, welcome to middle America.