Sunday, November 1, 2015

2000-2011 SoundSpec Awards: The Big Four Categories

M.I.A. gets some major noms, but does she win anything?

I've wanted to post more SoundSpec ballots for some time, but I'm way behind in music that precedes this decade. Until I can post more complete ballots, check out my current lineups, which are a work in progress, in the big four categories: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. Note: I tried to go by U.S. release dates. (* = win)

2000:

Album of the Year:


De Stijl - The White Stripes
Kid A - Radiohead
Lovers Rock - Sade
The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem
Stankonia - OutKast*

Record of the Year:


“Beautiful Day” - U2
“Lovely Head” - Goldfrapp
“Ms. Jackson” - OutKast*
“Oops!… I Did It Again” - Britney Spears
“The Real Slim Shady” - Eminem

Song of the Year:


“Beautiful Day” - U2
“Flow” - Sade
“How to Disappear Completely” - Radiohead*
“I’m Like a Bird” - Nelly Furtado
“Superman (It’s Not Easy)” - Five for Fighting

Best New Artist:


Coldplay
Goldfrapp
Linkin Park
Phoenix
P!nk*

2001:

Album of the Year:


Discovery - Daft Punk*
Is This It - The Strokes
M!ssundaztood - P!nk
Vespertine - Björk
White Blood Cells - The White Stripes

Record of the Year:


“Fallin’” - Alicia Keys*
“Get the Party Started” - P!nk
“Get Ur Freak On” - Missy Elliott
“Survivor” - Destiny’s Child
“Underneath It All” - No Doubt ft. Lady Saw

Song of the Year:


“All You Wanted” - Michelle Branch
“Drops of Jupiter” - Train
“Fallin’” - Alicia Keys*
“Wherever You Will Go” - The Calling
“Your Body is a Wonderland” - John Mayer

Best New Artist:


Alicia Keys*
Gorillaz
John Mayer
M83
The Strokes

2002:

Album of the Year:


Alice - Tom Waits
Blood Money - Tom Waits
Come Away with Me - Norah Jones
Original Pirate Material - The Streets*
Skylarkin' - Mic Christopher

Record of the Year:


“Complicated” - Avril Lavigne
“Ready Steady Go” - Paul Oakenfold
“Turn the Page” - The Streets*
“Without Me" - Eminem
“Work It” - Missy Elliott

Song of the Year:


“All the World is Green” - Tom Waits
“Don’t Know Why” - Norah Jones
“Heyday" - Mic Christopher*
“I’m with You” - Avril Lavigne
“A Thousand Miles” - Vanessa Carlton

Best New Artist:


Mic Christopher
Norah Jones
Avril Lavigne
Jason Mraz
The Streets*

2003:

Album of the Year:


Boy in Da Corner - Dizzee Rascal
Elephant - The White Stripes*
Frank - Amy Winehouse
Set List - The Frames
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below - OutKast

Record of the Year:


“Crazy in Love” - Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z*
“My Immortal” - Evanescence
"Seven Nation Army" - The White Stripes
“The Way You Move” - OutKast ft. Sleepy Brown
“Where is the Love?” - The Black Eyes Peas ft. Justin Timberlake

Song of the Year:


“The Blower’s Daughter” - Damien Rice
“Everytime” - Britney Spears*
“If I Ain’t Got You” - Alicia Keys
"Keep Me in Your Heart" - Warren Zevon
“Stronger Than Me” - Amy Winehouse

Best New Artist:



Michael Bublé
Jamie Cullum
Dizzee Rascal*
Damien Rice
Amy Winehouse

2004:

Album of the Year:


The College Dropout - Kanye West
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
A Grand Don't Come for Free - The Streets*
Showtime - Dizzee Rascal
Twentysomething - Jamie Cullum

Record of the Year:


“Ch-Check It Out” - Beastie Boys
"Dry Your Eyes" - The Streets*
"Jesus Walks" - Kanye West
"Take Me Out" - Franz Ferdinand
“Wake Up” - Arcade Fire

Song of the Year:


"Dry Your Eyes" - The Streets
"Make It Rain" - Tom Waits
"Twentysomething" - Jamie Cullum
“Us” - Regina Spektor
“Wake Up” - Arcade Fire*

Best New Artist:


Arcade Fire
Franz Ferdinand
The Futureheads
Kanye West*
The Killers

2005:

Album of the Year:


Arular - M.I.A.
Catching Tales - Jamie Cullum
Late Registration - Kanye West
The Valley of the Shadow of Death - The Tossers
You Could Have It So Much Better - Franz Ferdinand*

Record of the Year:


"Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)" - Kanye West ft. Jay-Z
"The Fallen" - Franz Ferdinand
"Get Your Way" - Jamie Cullum
“I'm Shipping Up to Boston” - The Dropkick Murphys
“Ooh La La” - Goldfrapp*

Song of the Year:


“Breathe (2 AM)” - Anna Nalick
“Cry Wolf” - Melody Gardot
“Get Your Way” - Jamie Cullum*
“Mushaboom” - Feist
“We Belong Together” - Mariah Carey

Best New Artist:


James Blunt
Melody Gardot
M.I.A.*
John James Newman
Rihanna

2006:

Album of the Year:


Corinne Bailey Rae - Corinne Bailey Rae
The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living - The Streets*
Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards - Tom Waits
The Swell Season - The Swell Season
Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not - Arctic Monkeys

Record of the Year:


“Ain’t No Other Man” - Christina Aguilera
“Crazy” - Gnarls Barkley*
“Put Your Records On” - Corinne Bailey Rae
“SexyBack” - Justin Timberlake ft. Timbaland
“SOS” - Rihanna

Song of the Year:


“Big Girls Don’t Cry” - Fergie
“Down There By the Train” - Tom Waits
“Drown Out” - The Swell Season
“Like a Star” - Corinne Bailey Rae*
“Waiting on the World to Change” - John Mayer

Best New Artist:


Arctic Monkeys
Beach House
Corinne Bailey Rae
The Swell Season*
Taylor Swift

2007:

Album of the Year:


Alright, Still - Lily Allen
Back to Black - Amy Winehouse
5:55 - Charlotte Gainsbourg
Graduation - Kanye West
Kala - M.I.A.*

Record of the Year:


"Paper Planes" - M.I.A.*
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse
"Smile" - Lily Allen
"Stronger" - Kanye West
"Umbrella" - Rihanna ft. Jay-Z

Song of the Year:


"Back to Black" - Amy Winehouse*
"Gravity" - Sara Bareilles
"No One" - Alicia Keys
"Say It's Possible" - Terra Naomi
"When You're Gone" - Avril Lavigne

Best New Artist:


Lily Allen*
Example
St. Vincent
Terra Naomi
The Velvet Hearts

2008:

Album of the Year:


808s & Heartbreak - Kanye West
Everything is Borrowed - The Streets
Robyn - Robyn
Rockferry - Duffy*
Secret Diary - College

Record of the Year:


"Bruises" - Chairlift
"Cobrastyle" - Robyn
“Love Lockdown” - Kanye West
"Mercy" - Duffy*
"Shut Up and Let Me Go" - The Ting Tings

Song of the Year:


“Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis
“Glitter in the Air" - P!nk
"Hometown Glory" - Adele
"I'm Yours" - Jason Mraz
“Rockferry” - Duffy*

Best New Artist:


Adele
College
Duffy*
Lady Gaga
Los Campesinos!

2009:

Album of the Year:


Dead Man's Bones - Dead Man's Bones
La Roux - La Roux
Strict Joy - The Swell Season
Tonight: Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix*

Record of the Year:


"Bonkers" - Dizzee Rascal ft. Armand Van Helden
"Bulletproof" - La Roux
“Empire State of Mind” - Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys*
“I Gotta Feeling” - The Black Eyed Peas
"No You Girls" - Franz Ferdinand

Song of the Year:


"Dog Days are Over" - Florence and the Machine
"The Fear" - Lily Allen
"Low Rising" - The Swell Season*
"My Body's a Zombie for You" - Dead Man's Bones
"Who Will Comfort Me" - Melody Gardot

Best New Artist:


Dead Man's Bones
Florence and the Machine
Imelda May
La Roux*
Zee Avi

2010:

Album of the Year:


Body Talk - Robyn
IRM - Charlotte Gainsbourg
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West*
Teen Dream - Beach House
Treats - Sleigh Bells

Record of the Year:


"Dancing on My Own" - Robyn
"A Real Hero" - College ft. Electric Youth*
"Rill Rill" - Sleigh Bells
“Runaway” - Kanye West ft. Pusha T
"Tightrope" - Janelle Monáe ft. Big Boi

Song of the Year:


"The Cave" - Mumford & Sons
"Dancing on My Own" - Robyn*
“Out Go the Lights” - Spoon
“10 Mile Stereo” - Beach House
“Tighten Up” - The Black Keys

Best New Artist:


Bruno Mars
Janelle Monáe
Mumford & Sons
Skrillex
Sleigh Bells*

2011:

Album of the Year:


Computers and Blues - The Streets
Lights - Ellie Goulding*
Northern Council - College
Nostalgia, Ultra - Frank Ocean
W H O K I L L - tUnE-yArDs

Record of the Year:


"Lights" - Ellie Goulding*
"Novacane" - Frank Ocean
"Raconte-Moi Une Histoire" - M83
"Rolling in the Deep" - Adele
"Valerie ['68 Version]" - Amy Winehouse

Song of the Year:


"Let England Shake" - PJ Harvey
"Lights" - Ellie Goulding*
“Lonely Boy" - The Black Keys
“Shake It Out” - Florence and the Machine
"Someone Like You" - Adele

Best New Artist:


The Civil Wars
Ellie Goulding*
Frank Ocean
Rizzle Kicks
The Weeknd

14 comments:

  1. Love, love, love! There are so many great choices here, and I cannot wait to discover the artists who I hadn't even heard of! Also, kudos on the nomination for Charlotte Gainsbourg, who is as good of a singer as she is an actress.

    Album of the Year-
    2000: Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea - PJ Harvey
    2001: Vespertine - Björk
    2002: Come Away With Me - Norah Jones
    2003: Fever To Tell - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
    2004: Funeral - Arcade Fire
    2005: The Woods - Sleater-Kinney
    2006: Back to Black - Amy Winehouse
    2007: Kala - M.I.A.
    2008: Viva la Vida - Coldplay
    2009: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix
    2010: The ArchAndroid - Janelle Monáe
    2011: Let England Shake - PJ Harvey

    Not as varied as yours, but I think all of these albums are just wonderful. Once again, great choices on your part.

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    1. Thanks! I love Charlotte Gainsbourg. I would've nominated her for Best New Artist, too, but her first album in the 80's disqualified her.

      Love your picks! If I had Back to Black in 2006, Winehouse would be my winner there as well, and it's awesome that we both have Phoenix and M.I.A. as winners. (And I now give Janelle Monáe Album of the Year for The Electric Lady.) I'm actually not much of a Coldplay fan, but I couldn't keep them out of Best New Artist in 2000. Oh, I still need to check out Stories from the City, Fever to Tell, and The Woods. Again, great choices! :)

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  2. Epic post! I was a fan of Avril Lavigne's first album, remember had good songs from start to finish. Norah Jones' Come Away was an album I also enjoyed and it seemed like everywhere you looked you saw her Come Away With Me sleeve :)
    Everytime by Britney Spears didn't really click with me until I saw Spring Breakers.
    A lot of the music from the 2000s you shared here I haven't listened to in a long time so it was quite a trip down memory lane going through your list! I ought to listen to La Roux's debut album, I missed it back then.

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    1. Thanks! :) I forgot how much I loved Avril Lavigne's early music, and Norah Jones' debut album is still my favorite of hers.

      Have you heard Glen Hansard's cover of "Everytime"? It really made me appreciate the lyrics of that song.

      Yeah, it was a nostalgic trip for me when I put these together. I think I prefer Trouble in Paradise (which is now a close second to FKA twigs' LP1 for Album of the Year last year), but La Roux's first album is pretty great.

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    2. Nice cover! Had not heard it before

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  3. I would like to start by saying that I'm a big fan of your blog and I like the direction that your blog is taking.
    I love the OutKast win, though I prefer TMMLP a bit more (same can't be said about Ms. Jackson which is one of the best hip-hop song ever). I'm interested to know your opinion on Eminem's other work. Also love that P!nk wins in such a strong lineup.
    Daft Punk is one of my favorite bands and I can't say how happy I am to see them win for one of their best albums. Also love to see Missy Elliott getting nominated for one of her best songs. And again love the lineup for best new artist, Alicia Keys and Gorillaz especially.
    Interesting to see Avril Lavigne, Eminem and Missy Elliott making your lineup for best record. Very curious about your opinion on The Eminem Show. I'm sorry to say but I never like Jason Mraz, sadly.
    Nice to see Amy Winehouse and OutKast (again!) through your nominations. And I love that "Crazy in Love" win, so good.
    I see that you are a big Kanye fan, TCD is probably my second favorite of his albums, after MBDTF, and dare I say maybe almost as good imo. I would just change the winner for the Best Record to Jesus Walks.
    Also I love LR a lot.
    Gnarls Barkley made my favorite song of the entire 2000s, Crazy, a song I'm crazy for. Though, kind of questioning SexyBack presence because I think it's pretty awful.
    Graduation contains Stronger, the best Kanye song, a perfect mashup between Daft Punk production and Kanye West performance. Also love Rehab and Umbrella.
    808s & Heartbreak is probably my least favorite Kanye album but still is good. But that Duffy win(s) are just amazing.
    Empire State of Mind is probably one of the best songs of Jay Z entire career (which is saying something), just amazing. Not a big fan of The Black Eyed Peas but I have a soft spot for I Gotta Feeling.
    My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is my favorite Kanye West album, not the best hip-hop album nor the best album of the decade but great nonetheless, though the single Runaway is a bit weak, I much prefer All of the Lights. Drive is my favorite film of the decade, so yeah, I love A Real Hero.
    And finally, let me say something. I love Ellie Goulding, I love Lights, I LOVE Lights, I love that Lights wins for best album, record and song and that Ellie Goulding wins for best new artist. Can't wait for your SoundSpec awards to come out.

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    1. Thanks for the awesome comment!

      I can't argue with giving TMMLP the win over Stankonia. Both are great. I prefer Eminem’s older work to his post-Encore stuff. I’d probably rank The Slim Shady LP as his best, followed by TMMLP. I might even put Encore ahead of The Eminem Show.

      I only like some Avril Lavigne songs, but the ones I like I REALLY like. I kind of feel the same about Jason Mraz, though I do like his third album.

      I LOVE “Jesus Walks”, but I’m too enamored with The Streets’ album (and “Dry Your Eyes”) to give it the win.

      “Empire State of Mind” feels somewhat underrated to me. It’s an epic song.

      So glad you’re a fan of the Duffy and Ellie Goulding sweeps. Their debut albums are brilliant.

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  4. Great post. Glad to see Charlotte Gainsbourg, MIA, Lilly Allen, and College get some love on here The only artist I don't care for is Pink but other then that good choices

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    1. Thanks, Vern! It's great to see another College and Gainsbourg fan on here. They, in particular, seem so overlooked.

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  5. Ok...let's begin:

    2000:

    Your Album of the Year is incredible, and I love your winner! I loved the rise of Outcast. They were such a great all around group, and much preferred them together than when they got into their solo acts. I may slightly prefer Eminem's sophomore album, though.

    Love the noms for Britt...not so crazy about the U2 noms just because I'm over them...and P!nk winning New Artist? LOVE IT!

    2001:

    MY GOD that New Artist category is stacked with greatness! Love the Alicia Keys domination.

    2002:

    I feel shamed to say that I've never heard of The Streets...but now I feel like I need to Spotify everything they've (he's) ever done. Also Mic, but we already talked about that one.

    2003:

    The tears on my face from seeing Rice up for Song and New Artist and NOT Album of the Year, when O is one of my favorite albums of ALL TIME...just know that there are tears all over my face.

    That being said, love the love for Winehouse and White Stripes and Everytime and My Immortal!

    2004:

    Ah...the good ol' days when Kanye West was a new and inspired act who didn't turn us all off by, well, being Kanye West.

    Also, Arcade Fire!!!

    2005:

    I've never heard of The Tossers, but literally everything else about those nominees (from Gardot to Franz to West to M.I.A. to Feist) is absolute LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

    2006:

    I miss Corrine Bailey Rae so much!!! That debut album was everything. UM...where's JT in Album of the Year? Like, that album is the definition of HOW YOU DO IT.

    Also, I guess I really need to catch up on these 'Streets' people ASAP!

    2007:

    Finally, a year where I've heard all of your noms! I'm so in love with your nominations for Gainsbourg. Sometimes I feel like the only person who knows she's a singer because no one talks about it! M.I.A. domination is wonderful, and the Sara, Amy and Lily love is just LOVE!

    2008:

    Love Duffy's debut...but 2008, for me, is all about Robyn's comeback. Like, that album is SICK!

    2009:

    My heart! Florence, La Roux, Phoenix! What a great year for music and I love that you recognize them all!

    2010:

    Can't argue with that Album win at all. That is one of the, if not the greatest, rap album of the decade, last two decades, ever in all time. It's just a complete powerhouse of inspiration and creativity, and MONSTER IS EVERYTHING!!!

    2011:

    You know of our shared love for all things Goulding, so I highly endorse her domination here...even if I personally would have lavished Adele the same way the Grammys did.

    I feel so shamed that I haven't heard any of the other nominees for Album of the Year. I've heard Ocean's next album, but not that one, and I don't even know who College is.

    So, in other words...I have a lot of listening to do!!!

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    1. Thanks for the comment, buddy!

      2000:

      Glad you love those! I’m not really a U2 fan, but I love a little of their work. “Beautiful Day” just happens to be one example. ;)

      2001:

      I’ve been listening to “Fallin’” for days. I forgot how much I LOVE that song!

      2002:

      The Streets are the five-album (plus a mixtape) hip-hop project of Mike Skinner, who, in his heyday, was basically the Eminem of the UK. His style is different to Em’s, but he’s famous across the pond. And his first two albums received glowing reviews, but they had very little commercial success in the US. I’d recommend starting with his first album, and going from there if you like it. ;)

      2003:

      Sorry about the tears. :( O’s probably my #6.

      2004:

      Kanye and Arcade Fire. What’s not to love?

      2005:

      YAY! Haha, The Tossers are an Irish punk band. They’re better (and less popular) than Flogging Molly and The Dropkick Murphys, and The Valley of the Shadow of Death is their best album. I could see it losing the nom in the future, though.

      2006:

      Corrine Bailey Rae’s debut is SO good. Ha, I guess I’m just not as much of a JT fan as you are. ;)

      I listened to The Streets’ third album when I was prepping these, and I forgot how much I love it. (Most people just single out his first or second album, but I’m a fan of ALL of them. Like, he’s one of my favorite artists of all time!)

      2007:

      Yay! Gainsbourg love. She’s awesome, and I’m in love with my 4 wins this year.

      2008:

      Oh, I adore Robyn’s album. But Duffy has it on lockdown.

      2009:

      Phoenix’s album sometimes feels like a filler win, until I revisit it and am reminded of its brilliance. :)

      2010:

      If we’re talking the last two decades, my favorite hip hop album would be The Streets’ A Grand Don’t Come for Free. But this past decade I’d go with MBDTF for sure. Monster is amazing!

      2011:

      Love that you’d reward Adele. I hate that she doesn’t have any big 4 wins, but she might this year. ;) Ocean’s album is actually a mixtape he self-released. It’s as long as an LP though, and I think it’s better than Channel Orange.

      College is the sound behind “A Real Hero” (sans vocals). He (David Grellier) does 80s-style electronic music, and it’s heaven. If you’re into that sort of thing, I’d highly recommend it.

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  6. Ohhh man, I love love LOVE this! So cool that our tastes are so similar.

    Few thoughts from me:
    2000
    Whatta year. I’d give it to Kid A, but I love The Marshall Mathers LP and Stankonia.
    “How to Disappear Completely” – yesssssss.

    2001
    M83!!

    2004
    “Wake Up,” always been one of my favorites.

    2006
    Man, “Crazy,” that was everywhere that year in college. Everywhere.

    2009
    Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix… a perfect album.

    2010
    My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is probably still my favorite Kanye album, though I love 808s and Yeezus.

    2011
    Love that M83 gets a slot in Record of the Year!

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    1. Thanks man! I need to beef these up, but I'm SO behind!

      2000:

      Knew you'd love the Radiohead win, and I figured Kid A would be your choice, accordingly. :)

      2001/2011:

      M83, indeed!

      2004:

      "Wake Up" is brilliant. Didn't know it was one of your faves.

      2006:

      As it should've been. It's an awesome track!

      2009:

      I always forget how amazing that album is.

      2010:

      Easily my favorite Kanye album. So ambitious, and the production is INSANE.

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