My comments on the Grammies/nominees in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette today

My comments on the Grammies/nominees in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette today:

“The Grammies are a different planet for me,” says singer-songwriterShane Hall, “but I can speak on the artists that have been nominated and what I think of their art. I truly do not care who wins or believe that there is any substantive notion to whether or not the award is tangibly relevant in the artistic sense. Like a college degree or a professional certification, though, you get more work if you’ve got the document saying you’re good. Heh. I don’t hate the Grammies. I really don’t care because it’s simply not relevant to my life.”

But all that being said, Hall’s not shy to share his opinions on particular artists, noting that “Jay-ZandAlicia Keysare insanely talented,” even if he hasn’t yet heard “Empire State of Mind,” and that “Lady Gagais what happens when the early ’90s has a love child with the more obscure British disco-pop of the ’80s, using a synthesizer as … inspiration. I obviously approve.”

But a couple of artists stand out for Hall:Cee Lo GreenandEminem.

“Cee Lo has been dope … since the Goodie Mob. Straight up … That he and Danger Mouse dropped that album was amazing, but both of them saw their best work before now … until (Green’s recent album) “The Lady Killer.” The dude kills it. … What the hell kind of a quantum leap has Cee Lo gone through to bring present-day wordsmithing into ’70’s Motown functionality? Not of this planet. The guy is out of his mind talented.”

As to the often criticized Eminem, Hall says he’s “the dude. I don’t care. He has put out some trash, no doubt, but there isn’t a bad thing that can be said about his rap mechanics. Right now, he’s doing what he thinks is right. Doesn’t include good music, unfortunately, but hey — what are we gonna do?”

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