Slim Pickings

Grammy nominees list

It's been tough being a fan of alternative and rock music come Grammy time these last several years, and this year is no exception. With best album nods for Kanye West, Usher, Ray Charles, and Alicia Keys, it's a miracle there was room for Green Day in the top five. Loretta Lynn was relegated to the country album category, Brian Wilson and Norah Jones were exiled to the pop vocal album list, and Bjork, Franz Ferdinand, Modest Mouse, and Wilco got crammed into an alternative album list that also includes PJ Harvey. Heck, Grammy fave U2 couldn't bust into the song of the year category for "Vertigo," settling for a best rock song nod, though you can blame that on John Mayer's underwhelming but Grammy-baiting "Daughters."

Anyway, here, right now, are my picks in the top categories. Let's see someone else get their list out half an hour after the nominations:

Record of the Year: I pick Green Day's "American Idiot," would be content with "Let's Get It Started" from the Black Eyed Peas, and doubt either will win.
Album of the Year: Again, Green Day, but unless there's some sort of demographic process of elimination that gives GD the prize, this will go to Usher or Kanye.
Song of the Year: In a category with no songs I loved, I'm guessing Kanye wins with "Jesus Walks."
Best New Artist: Franz Ferdinand isn't even nominated! Doesn't matter; you don't get 10 nominations and not win this trophy, do you, Mr. West?
Best Female Pop Vocal: Good category for me. It'd be fun to see Gwen Stefani win for "What You Waiting For?" but I wouldn't be stunned if Grammy-mongers Norah Jones or Sheryl Crow took this.
Best Male Pop Vocal: Prince's "Cinnamon Girl" should win this and probably will.
Best Pop, Group: It's old now, but everyone loved No Doubt's "It's My Life" when it came out.
Best Pop Vocal Album: Ray Charles vs. Brian Wilson vs. Norah Jones. Wilson should win, but Charles is dead, so you never know.
Solo Rock Vocal: Ryan Adams' rendition of "Wonderwall" is begging for this trophy.
Rock Performance, Duo or Group: Should be "American Idiot" or Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out," but could go to U2 for "Vertigo."
Best Rock Song: "American Idiot," "Vertigo," and Modest Mouse's "Float On" compete here. I'd love to see the latter win something; if there was a catchier song this year, I didn't hear it.
Best Rock Album: Should and will go to Green Day, the only one of the bunch also nominated for the big prize.
Best Alternative Music Album: Franz and Mouse should be duking it out, but they'll give it to Wilco instead, right?
Best R&B Album: I include this only to express my hope that Prince will win.
Best Country Collaboration: Norah Jones and Dolly Parton take on Jack White and Loretta Lynn. This is a win-win situation, but I hope Loretta wins here.
Best Country Song: This should be another win for "Portland, Oregon," the White/Lynn duet that gets Van Lear Rose rocking.
Best Country Album: Loretta Lynn. No question.

More music news shortly: This year's top ten (or so) list should be up on the 17th.