Hey, the Grammys weren't bad this year!

I'm the staff music nut. I know everything there is to know about music, and I have no problem letting everybody know it. What am I reading right now? A book about Radiohead's masterpiece, OK Computer. I bought some new vinyl over the weekend (the new Flaming Lips record Embryonic). I listen to the radio, CDs, vinyl daily. So, of course, I'm going to watch the Grammy Awards, right? Well, in recent years, I've been totally uninterested in the telecast. Every year, when I see the Black Eyed Peas getting tons of award noms, I start to wonder what's wrong with the voting committee. (This year, sadly, was no different—and they performed. Ugh.) I mean, the music is OK, but do they deserve Grammy nominations? But this year was different. You had actually cool bands like the Kings of Leon (above) and Zac Brown Band in the running for major awards (and winning!). You had Lady Gaga, who may or may not be a dude, leotarding it and singing face to face with the Modern Elton John (who is nowhere near as good as the Ghost of Elton John Past). You had a Michael Jackson 3-D tribute (I didn't have the specs, but the tune was still great). You had Stephen Colbert, who was hilarious and won an award, which I guarantee will be worked into The Colbert Report in coming episodes. This year had it all. Here's hoping CBS and the Grammys have finally figured out the right equation—at least for me. What did you think?

—Posted by Will Levith