Grammys 2024: Mark’s Picks
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From 1999 to 2005, I loved and learned a great deal from Pitchfork.
Then, their reviewers began to consistently let me down.
A strange journey from love to nemesis.
So, now, when I read a Pitchfork review, it’s often to discover the ways in which we are in opposition.
Sometimes, we still have moments of being on the same page.
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Here’s Pitchfork’s Grammy predications.
Full list of Grammy nominations.
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::: Album of the Year :::
Mark’s Pick: Boy Genius – The Record
2nd Place – Taylor Swift (Midnights)
3rd Place – SZA (SOS)
Who will win?
Mark’s Guess: SZA – SOS
In this case, I agree with Pitchfork.
Worst Case Scenario: Olivia Rodrigo – Guts
This artist is still developing. Their best music is ahead of them.
This happens to be who Pitchfork expects will win.
::: Record of the Year :::
This category barely makes any sense.
Taylor Swift - “Anti-Hero” is my pick to win.
2nd Place – Boygenius - “Not Strong Enough”
Pitchfork’s preferred pick: SZA - “Kill Bill”
Pitchfork’s guess for actual winner: Miley Cyrus - “Flowers” (oof)
::: Song of the Year :::
I don’t see what everyone else is seeing in Lana Del Rey’s track “A&W”. It’s just not that good.
I think the messaging in SZA’s “Kill Bill” isn’t the best tbh. I know that’s probably considered a hot take.
I think Taylor Swift should win for “Anti-Hero”.
Pitchfork think’s Lana should take it for “A&W”.
Pitchfork expects Billie Eilish will win for “What Was I Made For?”
::: Best New Artist :::
If you go by Google searches by U.S. state over the last year, then the winner will be “Jelly Roll” (Fun fact, right?). Next up would be Ice Spice. Pitchfork thinks Victoria Monét should and will win. I’m out of touch enough that I can’t weigh in on this.
::: Best Rock Performance :::
Another category where I’m just hoping for boygenius to take home some trophies.
Pitchfork seems to agree with me on this one.
::: Producer of the Year, Non-Classical :::
Go, Jack, go!
Jack Antonoff is a likely winner and Pitchfork agrees.
::: Best Rap Song :::
The list is a giveaway that this has been a terrible year for the world of rap.
::: Best Progressive R&B Album :::
I’ll be interested to see if 6lack wins for ‘Since I Have a Lover’
::: Best Country Solo Performance :::
It will be absolute insanity if Luke Combs doesn’t win for his cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”.
::: Best Comedy Album :::
An important category this year because no one wants to see Dave Chappelle or Chris Rock win.
We’ll all be cool with Sarah Silverman or Trevor Noah or Wanda Sykes winning.
::: Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording :::
I kinda want to see Rick Rubin win this. I have a lot of good things to say about his book ‘The Creative Act: A Way of Being’. For another time.
::: Best Song Written for Visual Media :::
An interesting category this year because – Barbie.
Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice should probably win on principle.
I can totally see Ryan Gosling winning for his performance of “I’m just Ken” (which is killer) but it’s supposed to be a feminist film and, well, this just somehow seems wrong.
The only ""Jelly Roll" I care about had the surname Morton.