“This Land” is also nominated for best music video (directed by Savanah Leaf ); and best rock performance, while the album best contemporary blues album.This Land is up for
BEST ALTERNATIVEMUSIC ALBUMU. F.O. F.BIG THIEF
Wing nominee in the rock categories, hile it’s arguably the most surpris-
Brooklyn-based indie-folk quartet Big Thief earns its first Grammy nom for extolled LPs issued this year on 4AD. The album title alludes to the lyric, “To my UFO friend, goodbye, good-U. F.O. F., the first of two critically
bye” — a line from the LP’s title track in which vocalist-guitarist Adrianne Lenker sings of an alien sighting to rationalize things beyond her understanding. Such is the thematic grandeur of Big Thief ’s breakthrough
LP, which reached No. 2 on the Vinyl Albums chart. Its “sister” album, the comparably excellent lowed on Oct. 11.Assume Form Two Hands, fol-
JAMES BLAKEAfter emerging at the dawn of the 2010s as a trendsetting producer of downtempo electronic music, James Blake made a gradual foray into pop songwriting on his fourth studio
album. Standout singles include a smoky Travis Scott duet on the Mand a riveting blend of Spanish fla-menco and U.K. bass on the Rosalía collaboration “Barefoot in the Park.” etro Boomin-assisted “Mile High,”
The London-born artist has a rich Grammy history: He earned his first win in 2019 for his featured role on the Dead,” following a 2013 best new artist nomination and a 2016 album Black Panther track “King’sof the year nod for his songwrit-ing, production and vocal assists on Beyoncé’s i, iBON IVERLemonade.
It’s difficult to think of Bon Iver’s Grammy prospects without recalling the act’s upset win in 2012 for best new artist. Bandleader Justin Vernon had already endeared himself to the indie-folk set with his tender, cabin-
recorded 2007 indie debut, Forever Agony, after the release of Bon Iver’s self-on Kanye WTwisted Fantasytitled album, made Vernon a figure of , and guested prominently est’s , but the 2012 ceremo-My Beautiful Dark For Emma,
noted intrigue, having bested the likes of Nicki Mreinventions later, Bon Iver released a fourth LP that revels in electro-folk sound collages held together by Vernon’s lush, beaming vocals. It’s inaj and J. Cole. Numerous
the group’s first album since 2012 to break into the Big Four categories, earning an album of the year nomina-tion alongside fellow alternative music album competitor Vampire Weekend.
VAMPIRE Wsix years was a resounding success. the CityVampire WFollowing 2013’s Father of the Bride (which earned the band its eekend’s first album in EEKENDModern Vampires offirst Grammy in this same category), the indie rock group’s major-label debut was its third consecutive LP to top the Billboard 200, and its first release since the amicable departure of multi-instrumentalist and in-house
producer Rostam Batmanglij in 2016. But extensive production from alt-pop dynamo Ariel Rechtshaid assured frontman Ezra Koenig’s newfound taste for Grateful Dead licks and old-timey country balladry would mesh
with an innovative roster of featured artists, including Danielle Haim and The Internet’s Steve Lacy. Alongside Bon Iver’s of two LPs in this field also nominated for album of the year.i, i, Father of the Bride is one
AnimaTHOM YORKEAs Radiohead’s frontman, Thom Yorke has won three Grammys, but he’s still looking for his first as a solo artist. Yorke’s 2019 LP, Anima, is up
for four awards, led by his second career solo nom for best alternative music album (following 2006’s Eraserwith dreams and dystopian realms, Yorke tapped frequent Radiohead ). Inspired by his fascination The
producer Nigel Godrich to help craft Animadistorted vocals and looped, Flying Lotus-inspired beats. He also enlisted filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, who directed a psychedelic ’s eerie soundscapes of harshly Anima-
themed short film released on Netflix and in select IMwas Yorke’s first to bow at No. 1 on Top Dance/Electronic Albums.AX theaters. The LPRock
Gary Clark Jr. at the Shaky Knees Music Festival in Atlanta on May 3.
Matty Healy of The 1975 at Milano Rocks in Milan on Aug. 30.GRAMMYAWARDS
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94 BILLBOARD • DECEMBER 7, 2019