Didn't submit any comments (haven't in years), but here are some footnotes:
-- Guess I decided Taylor's album was more country than the sum of its singles, one or two or three of which I like as much as some singles I did vote for.
-- Decided 2012 albums by Elfin Saddle, Bhi Bhiman, Them Bird Things (whose previous album I voted for in 2011) and Kid Rock (whose album doesn't attempt country until its final three songs) were not country enough to vote for, even though I like them all more than some albums I did vote for, and even though some might actually sound more country in some ways than the Taylor Swift one I voted for.
-- Decided not to vote in the vocalist or songwriter categories; just didn't feel strongly enough about who deserved a vote, and haven't figured out a good way to keep track of who does(for instance, I can never decided if carryover singles from 2011 albums should be taken into account here, and I almost never watch CMT or country award shows much less concerts these days), and I never even got around to hearing the Toby Keith album this year. If I had voted, I almost definitely would've named Taylor in both categories, and Lionel Richie in the male vocalist category, and probably Charlie Starr, who sings for Blackberry Smoke.
-- Almost voted for Kacey Musgraves in the Best New Act category, then decided I'd save her for next year, when she has an album out.
Re: Chuck's Nashville Scene ballot
-- Guess I decided Taylor's album was more country than the sum of its singles, one or two or three of which I like as much as some singles I did vote for.
-- Decided 2012 albums by Elfin Saddle, Bhi Bhiman, Them Bird Things (whose previous album I voted for in 2011) and Kid Rock (whose album doesn't attempt country until its final three songs) were not country enough to vote for, even though I like them all more than some albums I did vote for, and even though some might actually sound more country in some ways than the Taylor Swift one I voted for.
-- Decided not to vote in the vocalist or songwriter categories; just didn't feel strongly enough about who deserved a vote, and haven't figured out a good way to keep track of who does(for instance, I can never decided if carryover singles from 2011 albums should be taken into account here, and I almost never watch CMT or country award shows much less concerts these days), and I never even got around to hearing the Toby Keith album this year. If I had voted, I almost definitely would've named Taylor in both categories, and Lionel Richie in the male vocalist category, and probably Charlie Starr, who sings for Blackberry Smoke.
-- Almost voted for Kacey Musgraves in the Best New Act category, then decided I'd save her for next year, when she has an album out.