Grammys Preview: World Music Radio | Jon Batiste
Could Batiste upset once again and snag Album of The Year?
Ahead of the 2024 Grammy Awards, on slower music release weeks this winter, Pop Lobster will feature some of the most nominated albums for next year’s ceremony hosted by the Recording Academy. To read more about 2024’s Grammys, click here!
Hot off his Grammy win for Album Of The Year in 2021 for WE ARE, Jon Batiste released his follow-up album World Music Radio last August to mixed reception. The project is a concept album around an interstellar alien DJ named "Billy Bob Bob Bob," searching for what Batiste describes as "the vibe." Batiste enlists sounds from all over the globe to craft this genre-blending project.
If you follow along with the Grammys, you might ask: How could such a wacky concept be considered for the music industry's highest prestige? What dirt does Jon Batiste have on the Recording Academy? On the surface, it could appear that Batiste is batting well above his average and getting lucky with his art. However, the truth is anything but.
(Quick interlude from Carson here - I have to plug the Armchair Expert episode that Jon was interviewed on recently. I kind of had a sour taste in my mouth ever since Jon won the Album Of The Year in 2022 when I felt it should have gone to several others before him, but this episode really humanized him for me and I am now a fan of him. Not really a fan of his music but you can’t help but want to root for this guy! What a wonderful human.)
Jon Batiste was born to be a great musician. Born into a music family in New Orleans boasting over 20 mostly jazz musicians, Batiste was set up to be successful. While online information about the Batiste family can be conflicting (interesting deep dive), It's clear that Batiste had talent in his circle growing up. His father reportedly played bass for some of the great black jazz artists of the 60s and 70s, such as Jackie Wilson and Isaac Hayes. While neither of us would claim to be jazz gurus - These names are familiar to us and make excellent studying music! (I Stand Accused -Isaac Hayes).
With a deep history of New Orleans Jazz and an education from Julliard, Jon Batiste became a professional musician, landing a long-term house band gig on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, in which he led his band Stay Human for 7 years. Within those 7 years, Batiste had the opportunity to perform and network with some of the industry's heaviest hitters.
With an impressive resume and immense talent, Batiste, now a force to be reckoned with, shifted his solo musical identity from jazz solo instrumental albums to a unique form of genre-bending songwriting that has captured broad concentration from the recording academy. What really makes Jon Batiste special is his ability to blend genre both idealistically and sonically into vibes rather than songs fitting into categorial genres. Listening to Jon Batiste is like unlearning what you've learned to expect from music and being hit with these unique and one-of-a-kind moments. I want to differentiate this process from the typical blending of genres we've seen in recent years - this is not trap drums over cowboy chords but a different beast. Following these songs are like following very intricate storylines. Take Wherever You Are, for example; it starts as a pretty Jazz-based pop tune with a solid classic rock and roll-inspired vocal performance. The track evolves into a Rock banger with these ear-candy bits that feel derivative of Batiste's Jazz background. The song is an exciting moment all around.
To no surprise, the primary struggle with World Music Radio is categorizing it. There are moments that leave the listener puzzled. These moments leave me to describe them as just that - moments. CALL NOW is a good example here - A pop song? Most people would say so? The chorus has this classic rock and roll thing going on? An unmistakably 80s renaissance-influenced bridge/outro concludes this unidentifiable mush of good, high-energy music.
Highlights on this record of course have Pop Lobster favorite Jon Bellion on production. Worship and Drink Water have the more interesting and chewy hooks on the project which has to do with Bellion’s ability to craft a good pop song.
Much like Batiste, this album bears fruit the more time and thought you put into listening. For music nerds, it provokes genre, influences from other cultures, and songwriting. For fans, it checks the box of innovative, good-feeling music. For Jon - it’s clear music is his lifeline and his heartbeat. Unsurprisingly, it’s when Batiste looks inward, toward the personal that this album finds its footing. Butterfly - nominated for Song Of The Year, was written for his wife Suleika who is recovering from her battle with cancer.
World Music Radio is nominated for Album of The Year at the 66th annual Grammy Awards. The project also received nominations for Record and Song of the Year for Worship and Butterfly. Additionally, Butterfly is nominated for Best American Roots Performance. Batiste is also nominated with the track Movement 18’ (Heroes) for Best Jazz Performance. Outside of this record, Jon is nominated for being featured on Lana’s Candy Necklace for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Look for Jon to take home a few Grammys next Sunday, but not in any of the major categories.
Check out our favorite tracks, listen to the album, and see our scores below:
Can’t Miss: Worship, Drink Water, CALL NOW
You Can Skip: 17th Ward Prelude, White Space
BY THE NUMBERS
Bennett’s Score: 5.80
Carson’s Score: 5.25
Album Score: 11.05
Notes from Bennett:
I get it. I really do think so. I think.
I am UBER impressed by how Batiste uses his voice on this album. There are moments when Batiste does interpolations of gospel singers, country singers, R&B singers, Rappers, rock stars, and so on. it’s just wild. I wouldn’t even necessarily say that I enjoy his voice that much but damn, this man is good vocally.
As for instrumentation and production, the talent is obviously there as well. Hard to miss.
Love this JID feature, so fun.
I think there is a fine line between soundtrack music, streaming music & retail music and unfortunately, Batiste blends those lines sometimes. The only time I really mind is when the album makes me feel like I’m in Home Goods.
I don’t think our scores reflect the quality of this record: it is very impressive. I just don’t love it. It’s definitely worthy of praise and attention.
Notes from Carson:
I liked this more than I thought I would, but I’ll be pissed it it takes home any Grammys. For me, Jon Batiste falls in that category of artists where it’s clear they are gifted and a musical genius but are unable to produce accessible, good music. They get lost in their gifts (Jacob Collier).
So many of these songs are disjointed and confusing to me. I feel like there some good songs but overall it still feels like a mess.
I can’t take “Billy Bob Bo Bob” seriously like please it’s giving elementary school imaginary best friend.
Be Who You Are is the most random ass song to ever exist. It’s very much when a big budget movie asks 4 random artists to put together a song for the soundtrack like Fast X or something lmfao. NewJeans, Camilo, and JID??? What in the world. Somehow it is catchy enough to be stuck in my head.
Lil Wayne slid on Uneasy. Good track.
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Here is our all-time top albums featured on Pop Lobster. Lana lands in the top 10!
Funk Wav Bounces, Vol 1 | Calvin Harris | Score: 16.60
GUTS | Olivia Rodrigo | Score: 16.33
Speak Now | Taylor Swift | Score: 15.68
1989 | Taylor Swift | Score 15.67
SOS | SZA | Score 15.22
Heaven knows | PinkPantheress | Score: 14.85
the record | boygenius | Score: 14.48
Lover | Taylor Swift | Score: 14.42
AUSTIN | Post Malone | Score: 14.41
Did you know there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd | Lana Del Rey | Score: 14.38
Sunburn | Dominic Fike | Score: 14.33
Zach Bryan / Zach Bryan | Score: 14.19
Midnights | Taylor Swift | Score 14.09
Endless Summer Vacation | Miley Cyrus | Score: 14.00
Unreal Unearth | Hozier | Score: 14.00
In The End It Always Does | The Japanese House | Score: 13.92
Barbie: The Album | Various Artists | Score: 13.88
Gag Order | Kesha | Score: 13.77
The Age of Pleaure | Janelle Monáe | Score: 13.21
Snow Angel | Reneé Rapp | Score: 13.00
UTOPIA | Travis Scott | Score: 12.79
The Album | Jonas Brothers | Score: 12.67
I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet | Del Water Gap | Score: 12.58
Bewitched | Laufey | Score: 12.50
THE FIRST TIME | The Kid Laroi | Score: 12.47
Stick Season | Noah Kahan | Score: 12.43
The Show | Niall Horan | Score: 11.42
For All The Dogs | Drake | Score: 11.35
American Dream | 21 Savage | Score: 11.33
Scarlet | Doja Cat | Score: 11.24
World Music Radio | Jon Batiste | Score: 11.05
Pink Friday 2 | Nicki Minaj | Score: 10.67