Country Mike Blog

Krauss wins....so what?

Mike Sudhalter  |  February 8, 2009

Alison Krauss may have won five Grammys, but she's not even a country artist, per se. She's a bluegrass artist and there are much better ones at that. Ever listen to Rhonda Vincent?

The only thing I give Krauss credit for is ruining Alan Jackson's album before last. She did something few could - convince one of country music's greatest singers to do an album of lounge music.

At least, that album was so far out in left field that it motivated Jackson to come back with one of his greatest albums yet - "Good Time."

Some other country artists won awards, but they didn't receive the fanfare that Krauss got.

"Stay" by Sugarland won best country performance by a duo or group with vocals. How can you argue with that after seeing Jennifer Nettles' emotional plea to stay on the video. It also won best country song.

Top Country Album - "Troubadour" by George Strait. I can't argue with that, but doggone it, I wish there were more than 10 or 11 songs on it. I guess Strait spoiled us with "It Just Comes Natural."

Female Country Vocal Performance - "Last Name" by Carrie Underwood. Cute song, but Alan Jackson performed a song about the same theme years ago, and Underwood has far better material - even on that album, i.e. Just A Dream.

"Letter To Me" won Male Country Vocal Performance. No disagreement here. I watched Paisley perform that song at the Ryman Auditorium for his fan club party in the summer of 2007. I fell in love with the song and counted the days until the album dropped. It got overplayed, and my interest in it waned. I can't wait to pick it up again off my CD rack and fall in love with it again in three months.

Country Instrumental Performance: "Cluster Pluck" by Brad Paisley and friends (including Vince Gill and Steve Wariner). There's a reason I'm not a classical music fan. I won't pay for instrumental music. Not that it's bad, I just appreciate lyrics too much.