A Producer’s Award. (Artists names appear in parentheses.)
- Jack Antonoff
- Dan Auerbach
- Boi-1da
- Dahi
- Dernst “D’mile” Emile II
I’m exhausted looking at how busy these producers were this year. To be fair, a few of them are nominated for stray tracks off the same album, and others produced several full albums this cycle.
Starting with the records Jack Antonoff worked on, I am consistently impressed with the work of Taylor Swift. She is a great songwriter and a compelling performer. Is this work that will stand the test of time? I cannot answer that, but I can hear she is heads and shoulders above her contemporaries.
I didn’t find much in the Florence + The Machine record to enjoy – and Antanoff’s production style is not a style I enjoy. Subduded, mushy drums, prominent vocals front and center of the soundstage with a dab of gauzy reverb, meh.
Diana Ross makes a few appearances with Mr. Antonoff, not really enhancing my life in any way.
The Minions Soundtrack has some cute moments, and several covers of 70s hits. Have you ever wanted to hear Brittany Howard cover Earth, Wind and Fire? St. Vincent tackle “Funkytown?” You get the idea. I’ve seen the movie, the songs work well in it. This release did enhance my life slightly. Thundercat does a nice version of “Fly Like an Eagle.” I typed that like I have any idea who Thundercat is. I didn’t hate the 1975 track, but I am glad it was just one song and not the entire album. This album marks the spot where I have listened to over 1000 tracks so far on this journey. Category 77.
Next up is Dan Auerbach, one half of the Black Keys. I discovered about a decade ago that I like almost everything he produces. He has great taste in selecting artists, and his production style hits my sweet spot of sounding vaguely retro but not obsessively so like the Daptones / Colemine crowd can get. He has 7 artists he’s worked with in this cycle nominated, including the excellent Black Keys record. The only real puzzler here is the Hank Williams, Jr. ‘blues’ album he worked on.
Lost to the mists of time are the instrumental talents of Hank. It used to be a big part of his live shows when he was a teen, where Hank would display his talents on the piano, guitar, dobro, fiddle, etc. As he morphed from the son of Hank Williams into the patron saint of dudes in giant trucks, the focus on his talents waned. Hank did a record sort of like this twenty years ago called “The Almeria Club Recordings” that showcased his more musical side. This time around, he’s featuring his ‘blues’ side, to mixed results. I’m never against an artist stretching or showing us who they “really” are, but in this case the sexist jokes made between songs don’t do much for me or my opinion of Auerbach.
The “Tribute to John Anderson” contains several surprises, including John Prine’s version of one of my favorite John Anderson songs, “1959.” There are a handful of times I have been moved to tears at a concert, and hearing “1959” for the first time at my first John Anderson show was one of those times. John Prine covering this is perfect. Del McCoury covering “Would You Catch a Falling Star” is also perfect. I rate that song as one of the most perfect Country songs of all time, nice to hear it here. I am puzzled that “Swingin’” and “Chicken Truck,” aren’t included, but maybe they weren’t written by him.
I really liked The Velveteers album, especially “Father of Lies.” Ceramic Animal was also a nice listen. I didn’t care for the most overt blues record here, Marcus King. He’s very talented, just not the kind of thing I like.
The next producer in the category is Boi-1da. There are 9 tracks the Academy has seen fit to include in the nominations. I happened to be working in Louisville Kentucky while listening to these tracks, and was surprised to hear “Churchill Downs” from Jack Harlow. I’m not used to hearing about Kentucky in hip-hop. The Beyoncé track percolated nicely, Harlow appears again with a song about his manicurist I think. Giveon has a nice industrial-sounding tune. Kendrick Lamar is here a few times, but nothing that caught my attention.
Next up is the production work of Dahi. Steve Lacy has listened to his fair share of Prince records. Especially the first two – I didn’t hate this, but it is a little too derivative. He has several tracks in Dahi’s list, along with Kendrick Lamar and Vince Staples. I liked most of the Steve Lacy tracks, as well as the Kendrick Lamar “Rich Spirit” track.
Lastly, Dernst “D’mile” Emile II has two full albums and two tracks. The Silk Sonic album has two amazing songs – the uptempo ones. The rest of it is slow jams that really aren’t my thing. Glad to hear Bootsy Collins sprinkled throughout. Lucky Daye has an old-school trip-hop vibe, reminds me of PM Dawn but way better. “Feels Like” is the standout track. Production is great. The Mary J Blige and the track from the Elvis movie are also enjoyable.
Onward to the next category which begins with track 1,133.
the lee show 