Luis Fonsi
The Puerto Rican star Luis Fonsi, 30, has been famous for a decade, but now hes becoming interesting too. Up for best Latin pop album, Mr. Fonsis artfully constructed seventh release, Palabras del Silencio (Universal Music Latino) was one of last years best Latin records. Though his songs are hugely ambitious the majestic bombast of Llueve Por Dentro, or the blithe, sinuous dance-pop of La Mentira Mr. Fonsi never oversings them, an impressive demonstration of restraint. Instead this is an album as suited to small rooms as huge arenas, which Mr. Fonsi will certainly keep filling, given that the single No Me Doy Por Vencido has spent the majority of the last six months atop the Latin music chart.
Brandon Heath
Brandon Heath has a gentle and breathy voice, an abiding sense of optimism, and songcraft any number of VH1 staples would gladly convert for. Which is what many of them would have to do: Mr. Heath is one of the most promising young talents in contemporary Christian music. His excellent second release, What If We (Reunion), up for best pop/contemporary gospel album, has echoes of Coldplay and Jason Mraz as well as the Christian-music singer Bebo Norman. And while Mr. Heaths sense of wonder is firmly intact Give Me Your Eyes, which is nominated for best gospel song, is a breezy statement of humble devotion the most arresting song here is London, about wishing you werent so far away from someone who could make you happy: not God, in this case, but a lover.
Patty Loveless, Kathy Mattea And Trisha Yearwood
Young female country singers have been hogging the spotlight for the last couple of years, but no town nurtures its veterans more assiduously than Nashville, as seen in the trio of albums by Patty Loveless, Kathy Mattea and Trisha Yearwood stars of the 1980s and 90s all nominated this year. Ms. Yearwoods Heaven, Heartache, and the Power of Love (Big Machine) is among her best, a sparkling mix of uptempo affirmations and slow scoldings. Its up for best country album, as is Sleepless Nights (Saguaro Road), by Ms. Loveless, a collection of elegantly rendered covers. Its a landmark recording for this singer, who makes frailty sound strong, and also an opportunity for re-evaluation. The same goes for Ms. Matteas Coal (Captain Potato), nominated for best traditional folk album, on which she immerses herself in the rich history of music that documents life in the mines. Its a modest concept album and a successful one, demonstrating that even in a Nashville preoccupied with princesses, theres still room for a real coal miners granddaughter.
Los Pikadientes de Caborca
Compared to the rest of the competition in the best regional Mexican album category, Vmonos Pal Ro (Norte), the first release by Los Pikadientes de Caborca, sounds as if it should be nominated for best comedy album. The frontman Pancho sings this groups cumbias with a whimsical edge, and the music, while deliberately ragtag in sound, is never less than sharp, driven by the sprightly, deft tuba player Chalomo (especially the dizzying Cuando Anduve Como Perro). And then theres the party anthem La Cumbia del Ro, this bands breakthrough hit from last summer, which like any good joke spread quickly, in the form of numerous homemade comic dance routines littered across YouTube.
Karina
The life of a teenage girl isnt all love stories and crushes on the boy on the football team. Its also full of peer pressure, overzealous suitors and the letdowns of inconstant affection. At least thats how the young Dominican-American singer Karina describes it on First Love (Def Jam), her debut album, which is up for best contemporary R&B album. That category reflects her age, 17, more than her style, which is proudly, defiantly old-fashioned, with an emphasis on sober piano soul (Slow Motion, Cant Find the Words). Concessions to the modern come in the three tracks produced by Tricky Stewart and The-Dream (known for their work with Rihanna), particularly the shamefully overlooked single 16 @ War. If there are musical growing pains on display, theyre no different from those on the sometimes awkward debut album of the artist Karina most recalls: Alicia Keys.
Chente Barrera y Taconazo
On Music Lessons (Q-Vo), a set of collaborations with a host of Tejano stars, Chente Barrera, who began his career as a respected session player for other artists, imagines the genre as a big house to which he holds the key. Mr. Barrera sings in a lovely, plaintive voice, and plays drums on each track as well. The results on this nominee for best Tejano Album are spry, warmly melodic, and diverse, with hints of salsa and big-band jazz on Ritmo Pilon, featuring Rick Vasquez; disco on Pense Rogarte, featuring Albert Diaz; and soft rock on El Destino, a beautiful, desperate duet with Elida Reyna.
Cedric Watson
An aggressive and gifted reanimator of Louisiana Creole music, Cedric Watson sings in entrancing brays and yelps and plays fiddle and accordion in cocksure fashion. His first proper solo release Cedric Watson (Valcour), nominated for best zydeco or Cajun music album, is dynamic, filled with frenetic yet supple music. While Mr. Watson, from Lafayette, La., has played with the well-regarded revivalists the Pine Leaf Boys (also nominated in this category), hes more thrilling on his own, and the most radical moments here are Jai t Tout Autour du Pays and La Valse de Grand Basile, nimble rearranged versions of two traditionals.
