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For a lot of music fans, 2009 was "The Year of the GaGa." Lady GaGa, that is, assuming you haven't been hiding under a rock for the past twelve months. But no new artist Grammy? Idolator says
Rumors had begun flying in recent days that Grammy rules would somehow be modified in the eleventh hour so that Lady Gaga could nab a Best New Artist nomination—despite “Just Dance” being in the Best Dance Recording category during the previous ceremony. However, yesterday Pop & Hiss, the Los Angeles Times music blog, reported that a spokeswoman for the Recording Academy said the ballots had already been returned for this year. No go, Gaga.
Despite not getting a Grammy nod for 'Best New Artist," most blogs agree she blew everyone out of the water with her performance at the American Music Awards. Jezebel on her performance:
We would have been more shocked if she came out wearing sweatpants than something terrifyingly kooky. And that choreography for “Bad Romance” is supposed to be cheesy on purpose… right? But not even the pyro-piano could distract from the fact that Ms. Germanotta can belt.
Who else had a big year in '09? Amazon recently published its critics' picks for the 100 Best Albums of 2009 with Neko Case's Middle Cyclone and the Yeah Yeah Yeah's It's Blitz! taking the top two spots. Newcomer singer-songwriter Sarah Jarosz also made the top twenty with her low-key, Songs Up In Her Head. Only eighteen-years-old, but making a big impression. Paste says:
Eighteen-year-old bluegrass whiz Sarah Jarosz will have just graduated from high school when her first album is released this summer, but her age is nearly beside the point. She's a wildly talented instrumentalist, wielding her mandolin and claw-hammer banjo like an old pro alongside actual old pros like Tim O'Brien, Abigail Washburn and Chris Thile (all of whom make guest appearances). Her voice is lovely, glowing and unfurled at only the right moments, and two well-done covers—Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan's “Come on up to the House” and The Decemberists' “Shankhill Butchers”—attest to her skill as much as her taste
So what music moved you this year?
