Creativity and Some Superb Albums Ignored

In a year when Latin music gave renewed signs of creativity, the nominations for the Grammy Awards in the five Latin categories give a very different view of 1998, painting instead a monotonous landscape filled with mediocre, bloated productions.

Yes, the four or five best records of the year have all been nominated. But their competing selections make you wonder if the academy members know what they’re talking about.

The most spectacular fiasco is in the Latin rock category, which, ironically, was the most judicious last year. The good news is that Aterciopelados’ “Caribe Atomico,” by far the best record of the year, has been included. But in a year that included superb albums by the likes of Los Amigos Invisibles, Fito Paez, Tijuana No and Soda Stereo, it is unfair to see the efforts of El Tri, Mana and Los Enanitos Verdes (with an inferior “unplugged” live album) garner nominations. And somebody should have informed the voters that Shakira’s harmless sonic confections belong in the Latin pop arena, not in the world of rock en espanol.

The tropical category also leaves a lot to be desired. The academy was polite in nominating four veterans who released highly recommended albums: the virtuosic Eddie Palmieri, the more traditional Tito Puente, the explosive Irakere and the queen of salsa herself, Celia Cruz. But the nominations for Marc Anthony and Elvis Crespo could have been used instead to give deserved recognition to some of the more adventurous names in the field.

The Latin pop category is the most balanced, with worthy nods to Juan Gabriel and Ricky Martin, and expected nominations for the more mainstream Enrique Iglesias, Chayanne and Jose Feliciano.

The Mexican American category includes the usual suspects (La Mafia, Vicente Fernandez), but also a wonderful surprise, a nomination for “Los Super Seven,” a heartwarming album concocted by a collective of talented musicians, including Los Lobos’ Cesar Rosas and David Hidalgo, paying tribute to the sheer beauty of Mexican music.