next month, the recording academy will convene to hand out their annual awards for the best music of the year. between now and that night, we’ll have plenty of time to make predictions, talk about snubs and anticipate the year’s biggest night in music.

undoubtedly, the grammys receive plenty of well-deserved criticism. for many, the album of the year award going to herbie hancock several years ago was the final straw. for me, it was, inexplicably, taylor swift taking home the top prize. those, along with some other head-scratchers were signs that the academy was becoming more and more irrelevant to discerning music fans.

nevertheless, the grammys still manage to get it at least close to right the majority of the time, particularly a couple years ago when arcade fire’s the suburbs was the surprise winner of the best album award. (much to the chagrin of some, um, less-informed fans…)

this year’s list of nominees was announced a few days ago and, all in all, it’s a mixed bag of the aforementioned scenarios. no doubt, there’s still some fluff and head-scratchers, but it continues to shift toward signs of new attitudes and voting values by the members.

we’ll see if this new trend translates into victories next month. in the meantime, i thought i’d make some predictions, offering my thoughts on surprises and snubs when applicable.

—————————–

Album of the Year
The Blessed Unrest: Sara Bareilles
Random Access Memories: Daft Punk
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City: Kendrick Lamar
The Heist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Red: Taylor Swift

snub: kanye’s yeezus might be the biggest snub this year.

surprises: rap albums don’t find their way into this category very often. i couldn’t get into kendrick lamar’s album, but i’m glad (and surprised) to see it there. also didn’t expect the heist for those reasons.

really??: taylor swift…

who i want to win: macklemore & ryan lewis (not as much for the quality of the album, but i’d love to see truly indie guys win.)

who i think will win: there’s no clear forerunner this year, so i’m going with macklemore & ryan lewis.

—————————–

Record of the Year
Get Lucky: Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
Radioactive: Imagine Dragons
Royals: Lorde
Locked Out Of Heaven: Bruno Mars
Blurred Lines: Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell

snub: justin timberlake’s mirrors and kanye’s new slaves

surprises: i shouldn’t be surprised, but i didn’t expect blurred lines. tip toes too far on the top 40 side.

who i want to win: lorde’s royals

who i think will win: imagine dragons’ radioactive

—————————–

Best New Artist
James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran

who i want to win: kendrick lamar

who i think will win: macklemore & ryan lewis (i’ll probably regret not picking ed sheeran)

—————————–

Song of the Year (a songwriter’s award)
Just Give Me A Reason (performed by Pink)
Locked Out Of Heaven (performed by Bruno Mars)
Roar (performed by Katy Perry)
Royals (performed by Lorde)
Same Love (performed by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)

snub: kanye’s new slaves.

who i want to win: royals or same love

who i think will win: same love

—————————–

Best Pop Solo Performance
Brave: Sara Bareilles
Royals: Lorde
When I Was Your Man: Bruno Mars
Roar: Katy Perry
Mirrors: Justin Timberlake

who i want to win: justin timberlake

who i think will win: justin timberlake

—————————–

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Get Lucky: Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
Just Give Me A Reason: Pink Featuring Nate Ruess
Stay: Rihanna Featuring Mikky Ekko
Blurred Lines: Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell
Suit & Tie: Justin Timberlake & Jay Z

who i want to win: justin & jay z

who i think will win: rhianna & mikky ekko

—————————–

Best Pop Vocal Album
Paradise: Lana Del Rey
Pure Heroine: Lorde
Unorthodox Jukebox: Bruno Mars
Blurred Lines: Robin Thicke
The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience: Justin Timberlake

who i want to win: justin timberlake

who i think will win: bruno mars

—————————–

Best Rock Performance
Always Alright: Alabama Shakes
The Stars (Are Out Tonight): David Bowie
Radioactive: Imagine Dragons
Kashmir: Led Zeppelin
My God Is The Sun: Queens Of The Stone Age
I’m Shakin’: Jack White

who i want to win: queens of the stone age

who i think will win: david bowie (the grammys love the geriatrics… 😉 )

—————————–

Best Alternative Music Album
The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You: Neko Case
Trouble Will Find Me: The National
Hesitation Marks: Nine Inch Nails
Lonerism: Tame Impala
Modern Vampires Of The City: Vampire Weekend

who i want to win: vampire weekend

who i think will win: vampire weekend

—————————–

Best Rap Album
Nothing Was The Same: Drake
Magna Carta…Holy Grail: Jay Z
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City: Kendrick Lamar
The Heist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Yeezus: Kanye West

who i want to win: kanye (really anyone but drake)

who i think will win: kendrick lamar

—————————–

Best Rap Performance
Started From The Bottom: Drake
Berzerk: Eminem
Tom Ford: Jay Z
Swimming Pools (Drank): Kendrick Lamar
Thrift Shop: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz

snub: at least something from yeezus

who i want to win: jay z

who i think will win: drake

—————————–

alright, what did i get wrong? what did i get right? let me know.

of course, we’ll all find out together at the end of next month.