April 5, 2022 by A.S. Van Dorston

Dream Theater wins Best Metal Performance, and Gojira gets to promote their noble cause.

It continues to boggle my mind that metal doesn’t have an album or song category, but new age and even “immersive” (surround dound) do. Why hasn’t this been fixed? As usual, the artists who are nominated grudgingly line up for their chance at the scraps, the booby prize of “Best Metal Performance.” It seems that Dream Theater was simply randomly chosen. I am positive that close to 100% of the voters never even listened to all the songs. I’m not really a fan of that type of polished prog metal, but while Dream Theater are an impressive band, they arguably peaked over two decades ago. When guitarist John Petrucci walked on stage to receive the award, they played an instrumental version of Tomahawk‘s “God Hates A Coward” rather than their song “The Alien.” What was that about? Petrucci gave a congenial speech, and warned that “the song is in 17/8. So don’t try to tap your foot to it.”

Based on creative and artistic merit, Gojira should have won, with their song “Amazonia.” Ever since their first album, Terra Incognita (2001), Gojira has focused their rage on ecological and environmental concerns. Incredibly, the French progressive death metal band have grown to be somewhat of a populist crossover favorite in the past decade. I’m not exactly sure how it happened, but it was probably the combination of their consistent righteous messaging and imagery, their amazing musicianship and dedication, and their slightly more accessible sounds on their last three albums. And here we are, Joe getting a fairly long interview where he’s allowed to talk about their fundraiser Operation Amazonia.

Mastodon are just happy to get the chance to dress up in their finest duds and party with their mates.

Regarding the rest of the categories, the only thing that somewhat woke me up from a Grammys coma was St. Vincent winning Best Alternative Music Album for Daddy’s Home. It didn’t make my top 100, but she is at least a great musician (a lethal shredder in her own right) and substantial artist. There are far worst artists than Jon Batiste who have won the overall Album of the Year, and while there are many, many other viable rock bands that could have been considered, I’ll pass on critiquing Foo Fighters sweeping the rock categories since they just lost poor Taylor Hawkins. RIP.

Album of the Year: Jon Batiste – We Are

The only other album from the nominees that wasn’t extremely weak and spotty was Taylor Swift’s Evermore, the only real competition among the sorry batch (Kanye West, Lil Nas X, Justin Bieber, Doja Cat, H.E.R., Olivia Rodgrigo, Billie Eilish, Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga).

Best New Artist: Olivia Rodrigo

Arlo Parks, Arooj Aftab and Japanese Breakfast were also contenders. Arlo Parks probably should have gotten it.

Best Rock Performance: Foo Fighters – “Making A Fire”

Deftones, Chris Cornell, Black Pumas and AC/DC.

Best Metal Performance: Dream Theater – “The Alien”

Gojira, Mastodon, Deftones, Rob Zombie. I could never get into Dream Theater, but they’re well loved among the prog metal community, and wouldn’t have a problem with it, except Gojira! Come on!

Best Rock Album: Foo Fighters – Medicine At Midnight

Paul McCartney, Chris Cornell, Black Pumas, AC/DC.

Best Rock Song: Foo Fighters – Waiting on a War

Weezer, Kings of Leon, Paul McCartney, Mammoth WVH.

Best Alternative Music Album: St. Vincent – Daddy’s Home

Arlo Parks, Japanese Breakfast, Halsey, Fleet Foxes.

Best R&B Album: Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales
Best R&B Performance: Jazmine Sullivan – “Pick Up Your Feelings”
Best R&B Song: Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”
Best Progressive R&B Album: Lucky Daye – Table For Two
Best Rap Performance: Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties”
Best Rap Album: Tyler, the Creator – Call Me if You Get Lost
Best New Age Album: Stewart Copeland & Ricky Kej – Divine Tides
Best Improvised Jazz Solo: Chick Corea – “Humpty Dumpty (Set 2)”
Best Jazz Vocal Album: Esperanza Spalding – Songwrights Apothecary Lab
Best Jazz Instrumental Album: Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette & Gonzalo Rubalcaba – Skyline
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Christian McBride Big Band – For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver
Best Americana Album: Los Lobos – Native Sons
Best Traditional Blues Album: Cedric Burnside – I Be Trying
Best Contemporary Blues Album: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – 662
Best Global Music Album: Angelique Kidjo – Mother Nature
Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling): Don Cheadle – Carry On: Reflections For A New Generation From John Lewis
Best Comedy Album: Louis C.K. – Sincerely Louis CK
Best Historical Album: Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967)
Best Immersive Audio Album: Alicia Keys – Alicia
Best Music Video: Jon Batiste – Freedom
Best Music Film: Summer of Soul