We picked them, somewhat hopefully, as our outside bet for winner of Album of the Year at the Grammys this year, but now that it’s actually happened it seems somewhat bizarre and a lot more of a joyous occasion than we’d have expected. It’s a triumph to have an album released on an indie label (the fantastic Merge) win such a renowned award, not to mention the fact that the fact that this album is smart, thoughtful and beautifully written.
Well done Arcade Fire and Merge Records, you deserve it.
The other highlight was The Black Keys picking up Alternative Album of the Year.
The full list of winners is here:
Album Of The Year: Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
Record Of The Year: Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now”
Best Rap Album: Eminem, Recovery
Best New Artist: Esperanza Spalding
Song Of The Year: Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now”
Best Country Album: Lady Antebellum
Best Pop Vocal Album: Lady Gaga
Best Rock Album: Muse
Best Pop Performance By A Duo/Group: Train
Best Female Country Performance: Miranda Lambert
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: Bruno Mars, “Just The Way You Are”
Best Rock Song: Neil Young, “Angry World”
Best R&B Album: John Legend & The Roots, Wake Up!
Best R&B Song: John Legend & The Roots, “Shine”
Best Rap Solo Performance: Eminem, “Not Afraid”
Best Rap Song: Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind”
Best Male Country Vocal Performance: Keith Urban, “‘Til Summer Comes Around”
Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group: Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now”
Best Latin Pop Album: Alejandro Sanz, Paraiso Express
Best Contemporary Jazz Album: The Stanley Clarke Band, The Stanley Clarke Band
Best Dance Recording: Rihanna, “Only Girl (In The World)”
Best Electronic Dance Album: La Roux, La Roux
Best Alternative Music Album: The Black Keys, Brothers
