After having the weekend to marinate on both this year’s Grammy nominations and the college football bowl selections, I’m having a hard time figuring out which entity frustrates me more, the BCS or the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. For both, a lot of money is riding on who gets anointed with top honors, but every year both groups seem to get more wrong than they do right. (Except for the year NARAS picked 60% right on the Album of the Year nomination with Radiohead’s OK Computer, Paul McCartney’s Flaming Pie and Bob Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind.) But the sad fact is, both entities aren’t going away anytime soon, so we must make due with what we’ve got. I’ve highlighted a few categories below and picked some crowd favorites and dark horses. (You can see the entire list of nominations here.) Sit back, crack open a juice box, and prepare to shake your fist at the screen. And don’t forget to check out some of our very own nominations at the end. We think they deserve a little shine, too!

Record of the Year
I’d be very surprised if Jay didn’t pull this one off. A really good video and a close-to-home hook from Rihanna could help Em’s chances, but “Empire State Of Mind” is the omnipresent jam of 2010, and it’s a great piece of music. I personally could care less about Bruno and Antebellum, and even though I’d personally love for Cee Lo to win Record of the Year for a song that has the word “fuck” in the hook, it won’t.
I say: “Empire State Of Mind” – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
They’ll say: “Empire State of Mind” – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

Album of the Year
There is no justice in this world, which means Arcade Fire has zero chance of winning. If Katy Perry wins I’m going to jump off a bridge.
I say: The Suburbs – Arcade Fire
They’ll say: The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga

Song of the Year
This is the songwriter’s category, so I’d bet money it’ll go to a country artist. Again, Cee Lo is my dark horse, but the old guard at NARAS is looking at that song like Republicans look at the health care bill.
I say: “Fuck You” – Cee Lo Green
They’ll say: “The House That Built Me” – Miranda Lambert (“Time To Get A Gun” is better, though.)

Best New Artist
“For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.” If we’re going with a direct interpretation of the award, it’s gonna be either Drake or The Beebs. Actually that sounds like a good cop show name. “Tune in next week for another episode of Drake & The Beebs!”
I say: Florence & The Machine
They’ll say: Drake

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
At least we can call a spade a spade here. This is pop at it’s best. As much as I love “Halo,” that track has been redone too many times. (Plus, the Hope For Haiti version is way better). Gaga wins again. For the guys it’s gotta be Bruno Mars. An MJ win here would be sad.
I say: Feh
They’ll say: “Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga / “Just The Way You Are” – Bruno Mars

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
Seriously, what’s the difference here?
I say: Meh
They’ll say: “Don’t Stop Believin” – Glee Cast / “Imagine” – Herbie Hancock and a grip of other people

Best Pop Vocal Album
Again we’re dealing with pop music here so I’ve gotta keep everything in perspective, but picking a winner in this category is easier than you’d think.
I say: “Rah, Rah, ah, ah, ah. Roma, roma, ah. Gaga, ooh, la, la.”
They’ll say: The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga

Best Dance Recording
This category is doomed from the start in that both vocal and instrumental tracks are eligible. To really satisfy dance heads there should be separate categories for both, but I guess I should just be happy that it exists at all. (Thanks, Jason Bentley!)
I say: “In For The Kill” – La Roux
They’ll say: “Dancing On My Own” – Robyn

Best Electronic/Dance Album
Typically one of my favorite categories in that they usually get the nominations at least 80% right. BT’s double-album gets a nod here, and I’m sure La Roux is gagging for this one since she was passed over for the Mercury Music Prize earlier this year. Love me some Chem Bros, but Further isn’t their best work. I’m gonna go out on a limb here and pick from the heart.
I say: Black Light – Groove Armada
They’ll say: Black Light – Groove Armada

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Interesting list of artists here. Arcade Fire, Jeff Beck and Joss Stone, The Black Keys, Kings Of Leon and Muse. The Academy will probably throw a bone to Arcade Fire here. I’d personally like to throw a bone to Joss Stone.
I say: “Resistance” – Muse
They’ll say: “Ready To Start” – Arcade Fire

Best Hard Rock Performance
I was going to pick a winner here but my time machine got stuck in 1997.
I say: “Between The Lines” – Stone Temple Pilots
They’ll say: “New Fang” – Them Crooked Vultures

Best Rock Album
Seriously, do these people listen to artists who started making records after the year 2000? (O hai, Muse! Didn’t see ya there.)
I say: Le Noise - Neil Young (Truthfully, this album is amazing.)
They’ll say: Le Noise – Neil Young

Best Alternative Music Album
Again, a haven of respite for me. Some good choices here, but it reminds me of the year Radiohead’s OK Computer was nominated for Album of the Year, then casually tossed into this category because there was no way it was going to beat out Bob Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind. Wish Kevin Devine’s album was nominated. (See below.)
I say: The Suburbs – Arcade Fire
They’ll say: The Suburbs – Arcade Fire

Beset Urban/Alternative Performance
Where the hell did this category come from? I blame Danger Mouse.
I say: “Fuck You” – Cee Lo Green
They’ll say: “Fuck You” – Cee Lo Green (Finally.)

Best Contemporary R&B Album
Hopefully this won’t be a close call between the dude who likes to beat on women and the dude who likes to pee on them. Janelle’s album is brilliant. Very contemporary. Very R&B. We’ll see if “they” do the right thing here. Usher auto-tuned is no bueno.
I say: The ArchAndroid – Janelle Monae
They’ll say: Raymond V Raymond – Usher

Best Rap Song
I could see anyone winning here, even though Jay has 40% of the noms with “Empire State of Mind” and “On To The Next One” and Em has another 40% with his two tracks. My guess is that Em gets his due.
I say: “Deadly Medley” – Black Milk feat. Royce da 5’9” and eLZhi (I know it’s not nominated. Leave me alone.)
They’ll say: “Not Afraid” – Eminem

Best Rap Album
Drake, Eminem, Jay-Z, The Roots and B.o.B. What a list. I’ll admit I haven’t heard The Roots’ new one, but I have heard the rest of them and The Blueprint 3 is just so damn strong. I’d love to see a percentage breakdown of the vote-getters here. I’m sure it’ll be close.
I say: The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z
They’ll say: Thank Me Later – Drake (Maybe.)

And finally, some albums that deserved some honorable mention, but were destined to be overlooked by the academy…

Frazey Ford – Obadiah
Incredibly soulful folk album from a former member of the Be Good Tanyas. Not a bad song on it. Wish she got into the Best Americana Album category. HEAR WHY.

Apparat – DJ Kicks!
My pick for the best DJ mix of the year. Heady, soulful, banging and mind-numbing, all in one set. Pick it up! HEAR WHY.

Francis and the Lights – It’ll Be Better
In a perfect world, this would get a nod in the R&B category. But in a perfect world Cam Newton would be ineligible and Starbucks would stop brewing bad coffee. HEAR WHY.

Kevin Devine – Brother’s Blood
Would have been a great addition to the Alternative Music Album category. Passionate songwriting and ultra heavy when it needs to be. HEAR WHY.

Underworld – Barking
How this missed out in the Best Electronic/Dance Album is beyond me. This is their best since Beaucoup Fish. HEAR WHY.

Black Milk – Album Of The Year
I love Usher as much as the next guy (maybe?), but the minute I hear him using Auto-Tune on his first single, I got disheartened. Maybe I’m just getting my rap from the wrong sources, but I haven’t heard much as good as Black Milk’s joint. HEAR WHY.

Words by Rich Thomas