Our Favorite Songs, Albums And Artists That Weren't Nominated For Grammys
Rihanna! Tobias Jesso Jr.! "Hotline Bling!"
In anticipation of the 2016 Grammys -- which take place on Feb. 15 --
we're taking a moment to appreciate a few artists, albums and songs
that didn't earn nominations. In our opinion, everyone on this
list -- including Carly Rae Jepsen and Beach House -- deserved some
recognition, but hey, awards season doesn't always please everyone.
Nonetheless, the music on this list is definitely worth a listen, with or without a Grammy nod.
Nonetheless, the music on this list is definitely worth a listen, with or without a Grammy nod.
"E•MO•TION" -- Carly Rae Jepsen
This is the obvious pick among the hipster Internet demographic, sure, but it's also the only pick that truly matters, because “Emotion” was the pop album of 2015, and longtime Carly Rae Jepsen fans (and converts like me) need to keep screaming about it until the world knows the truth. The album only reached No. 16 on the Billboard Top 200, and it was only on there for one week, which is a goddamn shame two times over. Everyone needs to listen to this album. It rocks and drives, and every song on it is 10 times the song "Call Me Maybe" ever was. Do you enjoy ridiculously catchy pop tunes produced with a flawless touch? Do you have interest in an album that sounds like the 1980s are finally out of rehab and getting their sh*t together? Then listen to this album. No, there is no one song I will point to as proof of its superiority. Just press play on track one and turn up the volume. The Grammys suck. -- Maxwell Strachan
This is the obvious pick among the hipster Internet demographic, sure, but it's also the only pick that truly matters, because “Emotion” was the pop album of 2015, and longtime Carly Rae Jepsen fans (and converts like me) need to keep screaming about it until the world knows the truth. The album only reached No. 16 on the Billboard Top 200, and it was only on there for one week, which is a goddamn shame two times over. Everyone needs to listen to this album. It rocks and drives, and every song on it is 10 times the song "Call Me Maybe" ever was. Do you enjoy ridiculously catchy pop tunes produced with a flawless touch? Do you have interest in an album that sounds like the 1980s are finally out of rehab and getting their sh*t together? Then listen to this album. No, there is no one song I will point to as proof of its superiority. Just press play on track one and turn up the volume. The Grammys suck. -- Maxwell Strachan
"Hotline Bling" -- Drake
I am really, really mad that Drake’s "Hotline Bling" isn’t up for a Grammy. Sure, he has a few other nominations in various categories ("Back to Back," "Truffle Butter," "Only" and yeah -- "If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late" is up for Best Album) BUT STILL. "Hotline Bling" is incredible and started a major conversation about a lot of things: Are turtlenecks actually in? Is Drake good at dancing? Did he rip off "Cha Cha?" Can I transform my entire apartment into a James Turrell lightscape? There were also a ton of memes, puns, GIFs and hot takes dedicated to the song, proving it really shifted the cultural landscape at the time. So how could such a thought-provoker not get nominated? Apparently, MTV boils it down to a "clerical error" on the part of Drake’s label, Cash Money. Uhhh, fire someone, Drake... -- Carly Ledbetter
I am really, really mad that Drake’s "Hotline Bling" isn’t up for a Grammy. Sure, he has a few other nominations in various categories ("Back to Back," "Truffle Butter," "Only" and yeah -- "If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late" is up for Best Album) BUT STILL. "Hotline Bling" is incredible and started a major conversation about a lot of things: Are turtlenecks actually in? Is Drake good at dancing? Did he rip off "Cha Cha?" Can I transform my entire apartment into a James Turrell lightscape? There were also a ton of memes, puns, GIFs and hot takes dedicated to the song, proving it really shifted the cultural landscape at the time. So how could such a thought-provoker not get nominated? Apparently, MTV boils it down to a "clerical error" on the part of Drake’s label, Cash Money. Uhhh, fire someone, Drake... -- Carly Ledbetter
"Carrie & Lowell" -- Sufjan Stevens
It made plenty of 2015 top album lists, but Sufjan Stevens' album "Carrie & Lowell" failed to earn a Grammy nod much to the surprise of loyal fans and music critics alike. Released in March 2015, it marks the singer-songwriter's seventh studio effort -- and arguably his best. This complex, dark record largely centers around the 2012 death of Stevens' mom, Carrie, with childhood memories strewn throughout 11 beautiful tracks. This is not the kind of album you'll want to put on before a big night out. Save it for a reflective mood -- or even a Sunday morning. But whatever you do, save it -- and give it a listen. I could have easily seen this one receive a nod for Album of the Year or Best Folk Album. -- Lauren Moraski
It made plenty of 2015 top album lists, but Sufjan Stevens' album "Carrie & Lowell" failed to earn a Grammy nod much to the surprise of loyal fans and music critics alike. Released in March 2015, it marks the singer-songwriter's seventh studio effort -- and arguably his best. This complex, dark record largely centers around the 2012 death of Stevens' mom, Carrie, with childhood memories strewn throughout 11 beautiful tracks. This is not the kind of album you'll want to put on before a big night out. Save it for a reflective mood -- or even a Sunday morning. But whatever you do, save it -- and give it a listen. I could have easily seen this one receive a nod for Album of the Year or Best Folk Album. -- Lauren Moraski
"Depression Cherry" -- Beach House
I first became enamored with Beach House when they were debuting material in 2009 from what would become their breakout album, "Teen Dream." From then on, I became what I would call more and more religiously obsessed with the duo of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally. The deeper I ventured into their world, the more I loved it. Despite the music always finding a way to have this pristine and spiritual quality, the band would joke about Internet memes onstage in an era before BuzzFeed. I was smitten and not alone.
Although they've never broken through to a mainstream audience, Beach House has been one of the most critically acclaimed and beloved bands of this decade. Even Grammy-nominated artists in different genres like Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd sample their songs. And yet this award ceremony has repeatedly ignored the band entirely with zero nominations. Obviously this isn't surprising as it's become a universally accepted truth that the Grammys are terrible. Regardless, "Depression Cherry" was yet another perfect, beautiful and surprising album from Legrand and Scally and it should be included on any list of best albums from 2015. -- Todd Van Luling
I first became enamored with Beach House when they were debuting material in 2009 from what would become their breakout album, "Teen Dream." From then on, I became what I would call more and more religiously obsessed with the duo of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally. The deeper I ventured into their world, the more I loved it. Despite the music always finding a way to have this pristine and spiritual quality, the band would joke about Internet memes onstage in an era before BuzzFeed. I was smitten and not alone.
Although they've never broken through to a mainstream audience, Beach House has been one of the most critically acclaimed and beloved bands of this decade. Even Grammy-nominated artists in different genres like Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd sample their songs. And yet this award ceremony has repeatedly ignored the band entirely with zero nominations. Obviously this isn't surprising as it's become a universally accepted truth that the Grammys are terrible. Regardless, "Depression Cherry" was yet another perfect, beautiful and surprising album from Legrand and Scally and it should be included on any list of best albums from 2015. -- Todd Van Luling
"Rodeo" -- Travi$ Scott
Sure, he’s the dude who low-key dates Rihanna and is rumored to have significantly influenced her departure album "ANTI" (and possibly delayed its release date). But Travi$ Scott is more than RiRi’s boy-toy. He flat out gifted us with one of the best rap albums in a long time. His 2015 release "Rodeo" has everything you could want: The Weeknd, Young Thug, a Jimi Hendrix sample, Kanye West threatening to piss on your grave and sexy piano hooks. Despite its sleepy, hazy vibe, the track "Antidote" delivers as a certified banger and it’s no surprise it ruled rap radio all summer. The entire album flows with dark subversion that feels cinematic and entrancing: "90210" especially encapsulates that, which is by far my favorite track. It’s the closest thing to driving down Mulholland Drive at 4 a.m. with the top down after attending a pool party in which blunts are served on silver platters (which is, by the way, what I imagine Scott does on the regular). -- Melissa Radzimski
Sure, he’s the dude who low-key dates Rihanna and is rumored to have significantly influenced her departure album "ANTI" (and possibly delayed its release date). But Travi$ Scott is more than RiRi’s boy-toy. He flat out gifted us with one of the best rap albums in a long time. His 2015 release "Rodeo" has everything you could want: The Weeknd, Young Thug, a Jimi Hendrix sample, Kanye West threatening to piss on your grave and sexy piano hooks. Despite its sleepy, hazy vibe, the track "Antidote" delivers as a certified banger and it’s no surprise it ruled rap radio all summer. The entire album flows with dark subversion that feels cinematic and entrancing: "90210" especially encapsulates that, which is by far my favorite track. It’s the closest thing to driving down Mulholland Drive at 4 a.m. with the top down after attending a pool party in which blunts are served on silver platters (which is, by the way, what I imagine Scott does on the regular). -- Melissa Radzimski
Rihanna
She may not have released her album "ANTI" in time for consideration in the Album of the Year category, but Rihanna still managed to debut a few great hits with equally great videos in 2015. There was "FourFiveSeconds" with Kanye West and Paul McCartney (basically a formula for Grammys gold), with its simple acoustic melody and equally simple music video, which brought to mind those awesome Gap commercials of the late '90s and early aughts. Then there was "American Oxygen," in which Rihanna tried her hand at political activism through music. And lastly, my personal favorite: "Bitch Better Have My Money." RiRi cements her status as an unapologetic bitch in this grimy banger, complete with Tarantino-esque video (which she co-directed) that spawned plenty of amazing GIFs and think pieces. IMHO, all three of these tracks could have been up for Song of the Year and/or Record of the year and maybe even Best Video. -- Julia Brucculieri
She may not have released her album "ANTI" in time for consideration in the Album of the Year category, but Rihanna still managed to debut a few great hits with equally great videos in 2015. There was "FourFiveSeconds" with Kanye West and Paul McCartney (basically a formula for Grammys gold), with its simple acoustic melody and equally simple music video, which brought to mind those awesome Gap commercials of the late '90s and early aughts. Then there was "American Oxygen," in which Rihanna tried her hand at political activism through music. And lastly, my personal favorite: "Bitch Better Have My Money." RiRi cements her status as an unapologetic bitch in this grimy banger, complete with Tarantino-esque video (which she co-directed) that spawned plenty of amazing GIFs and think pieces. IMHO, all three of these tracks could have been up for Song of the Year and/or Record of the year and maybe even Best Video. -- Julia Brucculieri
"Breathe In. Breathe Out" -- Hilary Duff
Lizzie McGuire has gone through a metamorphosis, even more than when she released the 2003 album “Metamorphosis." Today, she’s a mom, stars in a hit TV show on TV Land and now goes by the name Hilary Duff. But even with all the changes in her life, McGuire Duff's musical prowess is anything but so yesterday. The singer's 2015 album "Breathe In. Breathe Out" is what dreams are made of. (And it'd be great advice if you are trying to blow up a balloon, too.) Plus, as part of her musical comeback, Duff released a video ahead of her album release for the song "Chasing the Sun," and it's about one Gordo short of being a "Lizzie McGuire" episode. Give Duff a Grammy nom? Why not? Take a crazy chance. -- Bill Bradley
Lizzie McGuire has gone through a metamorphosis, even more than when she released the 2003 album “Metamorphosis." Today, she’s a mom, stars in a hit TV show on TV Land and now goes by the name Hilary Duff. But even with all the changes in her life, McGuire Duff's musical prowess is anything but so yesterday. The singer's 2015 album "Breathe In. Breathe Out" is what dreams are made of. (And it'd be great advice if you are trying to blow up a balloon, too.) Plus, as part of her musical comeback, Duff released a video ahead of her album release for the song "Chasing the Sun," and it's about one Gordo short of being a "Lizzie McGuire" episode. Give Duff a Grammy nom? Why not? Take a crazy chance. -- Bill Bradley
"Goon" -- Tobias Jesso Jr.
Tobias Jesso Jr.'s "Goon" was such a strong debut, it's a shame it got overlooked by the Grammys. The album features a collection of dreamy ballads clearly influenced by the likes of Paul McCartney and The Beatles, as well as Harry Nilsson and Todd Rundgren. (Standout tracks include "How Could You Babe," "Just A Dream" and "Hollywood.") "Goon" was on multiple "Best Of" lists for 2015, and it was a shortlisted nominee for the Polaris Music Prize -- there's no doubt it was a strong contender for Album of the Year, and Jesso Jr. definitely could have been up for Best New Artist. But considering the Canadian singer co-wrote Adele's "When We Were Young" (which was released after the cutoff date), there's hope that he'll get recognized next year. -- Julia Brucculieri
Tobias Jesso Jr.'s "Goon" was such a strong debut, it's a shame it got overlooked by the Grammys. The album features a collection of dreamy ballads clearly influenced by the likes of Paul McCartney and The Beatles, as well as Harry Nilsson and Todd Rundgren. (Standout tracks include "How Could You Babe," "Just A Dream" and "Hollywood.") "Goon" was on multiple "Best Of" lists for 2015, and it was a shortlisted nominee for the Polaris Music Prize -- there's no doubt it was a strong contender for Album of the Year, and Jesso Jr. definitely could have been up for Best New Artist. But considering the Canadian singer co-wrote Adele's "When We Were Young" (which was released after the cutoff date), there's hope that he'll get recognized next year. -- Julia Brucculieri
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