Sunday marked the end of the Grammy’s eligibility period, so let’s take a look at the early contenders for the increasingly irrelevant award, but one that features arguably the best ceremony.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Mylo Xyloto, Coldplay
Tempest, Bob Dylan
Babel, Mumford & Sons
Wrecking Ball, Bruce Springsteen
Blown Away, Carrie Underwood
Alternate: Talk That Talk, Rihanna
I have a feeling this will not be a rock-dominated slate, but there hasn’t been any Adele-size juggernaut or indie crossover for the Academy to latch on to. Plus, Dylan and Mumford mayjust be too new to be nominated for the biggest prize. Still, both are eligible and popular with the voting base.
RECORD OF THE YEAR
“Boyfriend,” Justin Bieber
“Paradise,” Coldplay
“Somebody That I Used to Know,” Gotye featuring Kimbra
“Call Me Maybe,” Carly Rae Jepsen
“We Found Love,” Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
Alternate: “We are Young,” fun. featuring Janelle Monae
Should fun. be up nominated as one of the year’s biggest singles? Absolutely, but I highly doubt the Academy will nominate three people (Jepsen and Gotye being the other two) who came out of nowhere to score No. 1’s. Surely there’s an insufferable rap or dance song they can nominate, right? I’m looking at you, Nicki Minaj and The Wanted.
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” J. Elofsson, A. Tamposi, D. Gamson, G. Kurstin (Kelly Clarkson)
“Paradise,” G. Berryman, J. Buckland, W. Champion, C. Martin (Coldplay)
“Somebody That I Used to Know,” W. De Backer (Gotye)
“Part of Me,” K. Perry, B. McKee, L. Gottwald, M. Martin (Katy Perry)
“We Take Care of Our Own,” B. Springsteen (Bruce Springsteen)
Alternate: a country song
I should go ahead and remove one of these songs for a country or folk song, but I’m just not sure which will be dissed.
BEST NEW ARTIST
Gotye
Ellie Goulding
Carly Rae Jepsen
Frank Ocean
One Direction
Alternate: fun.
Calvin Harris and Alex Clare are also in the mix. And don’t forget the distinct possibility that someone you’ve never heard of could also be nominated.
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
The Idler Wheel, Fiona Apple
El Camino, The Black Keys
Making Mirrors, Gotye
Shields, Grizzly Bear
Blunderbuss, Jack White
Alternate: Mirage Rock, Band of Horses
Finally, we come to my favorite category. This race will be brutal, even without releases from mainstays like Death Cab for Cutie, Arcade Fire and Radiohead. I’d say Jack White and The Black Keys are the only safe bets. Remember worthiness has nothing to do with this category, as St. Vincent, The Postal Service and Animal Collective haven’t gotten so much as a nomination.