And then there is Amy Winehouse. Yes, she has issues. A lot of issues. But she’s a great artist. I bought “Back to Black” strictly based on all of the buzz and I love it. She was nominated for six awards and won all, but the coveted Album of the Year award. Honestly, out of the five nominated, I would’ve voted for Winehouse (even though I love the Foo Fighters and Kanye is more than deserving). Her album does for soul what Norah Jones did for lite jazz and Lauryn Hill did for hip/hop. Now let’s hope she can keep her head on straight.

I got to thinking about Winehouse when she was performing and comparing her to Britney Spears. Both are troubled and in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Britney performed at the MTV VMA’s and was terrible. It started her downward spiral that has captivated the douche bags who actually give a crap. Winehouse performed on the Grammys and knocked it out of the park. She was dynamite. She looked healthy, on top of her game and like she was having fun. But the highlight was her reaction when she found out that she won Record of the Year for “Rehab.” She was flabbergasted. She looked like a deer in headlights. She didn’t know what to do with herself. It was the same reaction Christina Aguilera had when she won Best New Artist. But I’m happy for her. I hope that Winehouse uses this to boost her career and become a bonafide superstar. Don’t go the way of the Britneys.

As for Herbie Hancock, this seemed more like a lifetime achievement award (just like when Steely Dan won for “Two Against Nature” and Bob Dylan won for “Time Out of Mind”). He’s undoubtedly a jazz legend, but the other four albums were more deserving.

As for the other performances: What was the deal with will.i.am’s little mash-up? That was just strange and should have been scrapped. Fergie actually sounded really good with John Legend. I’m not a Fergie fan, but she nailed it. The string interlude during the Foo Fighters’ “The Pretender” took all the steam away from the song, but it still rocked. Aretha still has it. John Fogerty does not. At all. And there is no way that Little Richard is three years older than Jerry Lee Lewis. Lewis looked like my grandpa and Little Richard looked like he was teleported straight from the 60’s. Alecia Keys is extraordinarily talented, so why does she think that she needs to dress like a skank and strut around the stage. Yes, you’re beautiful, but keep to doing what you do best…singing and playing your heart out.

That’s all for my Grammy thoughts, please feel free to comment.

Jive Sucka

These funk soul brothers provide the most musical fun I’ve had in a long time.

http://www.missfairchild.com

Alien Snatch Records

This trio is like a demonic Ramones. Fast, three-chord punk rock with tracks like “Tentacles!” “InsomniACK” and “Arsenic Milkshake,” that just blend into one another. This, however, I don’t think was ever needed.

http://www.myspace.com/hexdispensers

Self-Released

These two brothers are like a poor man’s They Might Be Giants. Quirky, literate and just downright fun, Electric Needle Room is worth checking out.

http://www.electricneedleroom.com

Tango Palace Entertainment

The press release says it wants to introduce us to “Greg & Brian,” but the picture on the CD has three people on it. Who is the omnipresent third person? Is it the person that makes this album suck so hard?

http://www.tangopalace.com

Mute

Oh Alan, what happened? I used to love Recoil. I used to love the electronica, loved your collaborations but this time, Alan- I can’t. You’re on your own with this one.  The combination of old southern blues with electronica just doesn’t cut it.  Each is lovely on their own, combining them just clashes.

SideCho Records 

Some of the best atmospheric pop music to come out in years. It also helps that they were produced by Spoon lead singer Jim Eno and that they were called Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla’s favorite new band in the magazine Under the Radar. Via Audio is a band to actively look for. They are that good.

http://www.viaaudio.net

Orange Hand Records

This is fun indie-pop at it’s finest.

http://www.wheresmoo.com

Public Eyesore Records

This is for all of those avant-garde freaks that are too good for music, because there is none to be found in this 79 minute eternity…literally.

http://www.publiceyesore.com

Princess Records

If you like the oddities of The Flaming Lips and Super Furry Animals, then you’ll love The Umbrella Sequence.

http://www.theumbrellasequence.com