Best Americana Album

Like many magazines, this one has been relegated unfortunately to the online only medium, but it has championed American roots, folk, rock or some mixture of all three over the course of its lifespan. In fact, the "No Depression" movement gave way to the alt.country phase which currently is described my many as Americana.

This year's Grammy Awards have five artists vying for the Best Americana Album of 2009. And while it looks good on first glance, it's generally two or three artists who deserve to be there and a couple who have made credible albums but don't seem to fit into what is defined as country or roots or folk anymore. Willie Nelson is a good example, a man who has made as many solid country albums as a Canadian goose has bowel movements. And Levon Helm, god love him, keeps recording and performing in upstate New York but hasn't really done anything great in recent memory.

Which leaves Mr. Dylan, Miss Lucinda Williams and Wilco in the running. Dylan is automatically given more clout because he's in his 60s and continues to hit the road on his neverending mumbling tour, but he may end up losing a bit of luster with his Christmascana album. Miss Williams latest album is also pretty strong, but given how consistent Wilco's work has been of late, and in particularly this album, it would be surprising to see anyone than Mr. Tweedy and company picking up the hardware (that is, if they're interested in such events).

Yes, Wilco's album is called Wilco (The Album)....but you don't gain or lose points for creative titles.