Did you watch the Grammys? It doesn’t matter for our purposes, anyway, since the “Latin” categories were not shown on the live TV broadcast. And, while the “important” awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the “Latin” categories were given out at a “Premier” award ceremony at the Nokia Theatre, also in Los Angeles, but a few hours before the main ceremony.

Here are the winners (and you can see the full list of nominees here):  “Tangos,” by Rubén Blades for Best Latin Pop Album;  “Multiviral” by Calle 13 for Best Latin Rock Urban or Alternative Album;  “Mano A Mano – Tangos A La Manera de Vicente Fernández”  by Vicente Fernández for Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano); and “Más + Corazón Profundo” by Carlos Vives for Best Tropical Latin Album.

So, let’s recap. Rubén Blades, one of the forefathers of salsa and a man who shaped Latin America is a Country’s teenage years, won the Latin Pop award for an album in which he reworked 11 of his Salsa classics into Tango songs.  He is 66 years old. Ranchera legend Vicente Fernández won a “Regional Mexican Music” award with an album of his covers of Argentinian and Uruguayan Tango standards. He is 74 years old.

It’s not like the Grammys are relevant, truly, but in one of the few chances Latin American music gets to be recognized, we get this. Even though I like both those Tango albums, I have a suspicion that maybe there were other worthy, non-cover, pop albums and Mexican works that deserved some acknowledgement last year.

And Calle 13? Again, Calle 13? They have won a record-shattering 21 Latin Grammy awards and have won three out of eight Latin Urban slash Latin Urban-Rock-Alternative awards that have been given at the Grammys. Some of the other nominees this year wouldn’t have bothered me. Anita Tijoux’s “Vengo,” was one of my favorite albums from last year.  ChocQuibTown’s “Behind the Machine” is a beautiful pop reinterpretation of Colombian Pacific music that I hold dearly. Jorge Drexler’s “Bailar en la cueva” might be my favorite work of his. But, no, it had to be Calle 13 once more.

Aren’t you tired of Calle 13 being, apparently, the sole face of contemporary Latin American music in the U.S. or Europe? Well I am. Which is why I compiled this brief list of Latin American artists who put out albums last year(ish) which could have been a good choice for the (completely absurd) “Best Latin Rock Urban or Alternative Album” category.

Here’s my nominees for best Best Latin Rock Urban or Alternative Album:

“EveryDay Fight EP,” Zalama Crew:  The rapping crew from Cali, Colombia, has some of the best beats being done right now in Colombian hip-hop, fusing Colombian Afro-Pacific sounds with Colombian Afro-Caribbean cumbia and Afro-Caribbean reggae and dancehall. And with this EP (which is actually from 2013, like ChocQuibTown’s album), you’ll get to dance while listening their heavily socially-conscious lyrics. Listen to the full EP here.

“Bidireccional,” Pounda Ranks & NoModico: The duo of rappers from Lima, Perú, released this album for free in 2014. They dubbed it an “experimental, independent, free” production. Check it out for yourself.

“Contraforma,” Aerstame:The rapper from Santiago, Chile, is part of a crew known as Movimiento Original, but it’s the flow of his solo work that has me enamored. This album, from 2013, is maybe the best example of why you should follow him.

“El presidente de la champeta,” Mr. Black: The big guns over at Africa is a Country have their host of life presidents. Well, at Latin America is a Country we have our own life president too, Mr. Black, the self-proclaimed president of champeta. The Cartagena, Colombia, native is probably the inventor of champeta-pop and has been filling out clubs around his country and abroad with his particular, party-heavy, breed of the Caribbean rhythm.

My “Best Rock” nominees:

“Conducción,” Ases Falsos: I have said it once, and I might say it again. This album, by the Santiago, Chile, band Ases Falsos might very well be my favorite from last year. With great lyrics, ear-catching hooks, and great flow between songs, this is an album you want to hear from start to finish. Which you can do below.

“Eclipse total del corazón,” Los Waldners: Los Waldners, from San José, Costa Rica, bring us this bittersweet album which might make you cry, or look outside the window reminiscing about a past lover, or it might make you want to dance, or all at the same time, why not?

“Alkaloides, Alkaloides:  The Quito, Ecuador, based group makes its debut with this wonderful sci-fi-inspired, punk-influenced, shoegaze record that talks about bacteria, Nintendo 64 and time-travelling girls. What else do you need?

My “Best Alternative Album” nominees:

“Ada,” Adanowsky:  Adán Jodorowsky, the son of multifaceted Chilean Alejandro Jodorowsky and Mexican actress Valerie Trumblay, was born in Paris, France. There, he recorded this funky, 80’s poppish album, in which he sings in English about his feminine side. In the press release for the album, it is stated that Adán’s parents thought he would be born as a girl and were planning to call her “Ada.” When their mistake was revealed, they named him “Adán” instead. This is Adanowsky’s attempt to come to terms with Ada. Fun stuff, right?

“Otra Era,” Javiera Mena:  In my humblest of opinions, this is Santiago, Chile’s Javiera Mena’s finest work yet. Full of techno and electronic beats, this indie pop record gets very easily stuck in your head. Dance away:

“Historia,” Los Actors: Melancholy, romance, dark bass-lines and sadness all around, all the way from Mexico City. Listen (if you have Spotify) to the full album here.

• Also, see the rest of our Teca series here.