2010 was a great year for Switchfoot and Sunday night it got even better when their 2010 release Hello Hurricane won the GRAMMY for Rock or Rap Gospel Album. 

Hello Hurricane took a winding path to become a GRAMMY winner.  The album was initially slated for an independent release but got picked up late in the game by Warner Records.  Prospects for the album were mediocre until it exploded just this past Fall with help from a contract with ESPN that brought the band to the attention of every college football fan in America.  I believe the award is well-deserved not only for the album but for Switchfoot’s career, which had lost a lot of traction in the mainstream since their breakout record The Beautiful Letdown.  It is good to have you back guys!

Another interesting and deserving winner was folk singer Patty Griffin, whose latest release Downtown Church won Best Traditional Gospel Album.  This interesting album combines Griffin’s trademark folk arrangements with traditional black gospel songs.  On her website Griffin calls gospel “the foundation for almost everything that I love” and it shows through in the album’s warm texture and stand out performances.  What seems like an odd match on paper works out very well, and that was certainly recognized by the GRAMMY voters.

There were many other surprises and gems, so don’t forget to check out the other GRAMMY winners!