Grammy Nominees - Rock

I think the nominating committee did a bit better here than in the general category, but of course, there are more than a couple head-scratchers...

Again, if agree, it's in green.

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance

Wonderwall- Ryan Adams: I like covers, but this straight-foward reading is hardly the perfomance of the year.
The Revolution Starts Now- Steve Earle: yeah, maybe not...
Breathe- Melissa Etheridge: Not her best.
Code Of Silence- Bruce Springsteen: Seems like they needed a fifth name so they went with one they know..
Metropolitan Glide- Tom Waits: I approve. More Tom Waits- at the mall, on the radio...

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal

Monkey To Man- Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Take Me Out- Franz Ferdinand
American Idiot- Green Day
Somebody Told Me- The Killers
Vertigo- U2
Wow- I agree with all of these!

Best Hard Rock Performance

Megalomaniac-Incubus
Some Kind Of Monster-Metallica
Feelin' Way Too Damn Good- Nickelback
Duality- Slipknot
Slither- Velvet Revolver
Now we're back on track. I agree with none of these. The Grammy committee's definition of hard rock needs refining. And any award that Nickelback is up for isn't an award worth presenting.

Best Metal Performance

Nymphetamine- Cradle Of Filth
Live For This- Hatebreed
The End Of Heartache- Killswitch
Whiplash- Motörhead
Vermilion- Slipknot
I am officially out of touch with all things metal. I'm going to have to pass on commenting here, except to say I like Motörhead, but I can't help but think like Springsteen & Metallica, they're here only because they're an established name. It's one of the Grammys' biggest flaws- choosing the familar over the new and more challenging.

Best Rock Instrumental Performance

Instrumental Illness- The Allman Brothers Band
Onda- Los Lonely Boys
O Baterista- Rush
Whispering A Prayer- Steve Vai
Mrs. O'Leary's Cow- Brian Wilson
This award was once a good idea- when there were regular instrumental hits being put out. That was 35 years ago. This award needs to go away. Until then, give it to Wilson, as he may have a goofy acceptance speech (and the album it comes from is really good.)

Best Rock Song (A Songwriter(s) Award)

American Idiot- Green Day
Fall To Pieces- Velvet Revolver
Float On- Modest Mouse
Somebody Told Me- The Killers
Vertigo- U2
I don't get the fascination with Velvet Revolver. Other than that, some really good choices.

Best Rock Album

The Delivery Man- Elvis Costello & The Imposters: seems out of place, but I'm not complaining...
American Idiot- Green Day: man, they must have naughty pictures of somebody...
The Reason- Hoobastank: Hoobastink. No, Hoobasuck.
Hot Fuss- The Killers: Good album, surprised to see them here...but they are on a major label, so I'm sure that didn't hurt their chances..
Contraband- Velvet Revolver: Pass. Again.

Next: Dance, Alternative (one whole category!) and Rap