Our critic makes his picks for the Grammys
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 08: Musician Cee-Lo Green attends Woman's Day Red Dress Awards & Campbell's AdDress Your Heart at Jazz at Lincoln Center on February 8, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Campbell's) Credit: Getty/Dimitrios Kambouris
RECORD OF THE YEAR
B. o. B featuring Bruno Mars, "Nothin' on You"
Eminem featuring Rihanna, "Love the Way You Lie"
Cee Lo Green, "Forget You"
Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, "Empire State of Mind"
Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now"
SHOULD WIN Cee Lo's
"Forget You" is a well-crafted, passionate and unforgettable kiss-off that wasn't just the best song of 2010, but the 21st century so far.
WILL WIN My heart is with Cee Lo, but my head says that three very deserving R&B/hip-hop songs will split the vote and hand the victory to Lady A's nice, safe "Need You Now."
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Arcade Fire, "The Suburbs"
Eminem, "Recovery"
Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now"
Lady Gaga, "The Fame Monster"
Katy Perry, "Teenage Dream"
SHOULD WIN Though Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs" can match its ambitions, Lady Gaga's "Fame Monster" delivered on nearly all of them - artistically, commercially and culturally.
WILL WIN Eminem's "Recovery" is the sales winner and has the right back story to win over voters who have avoided giving Em the big prize in the past. That said, don't rule out a Lady A surprise.
SONG OF THE YEAR
Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs, "Beg, Steal or Borrow"
Cee Lo Green, "Forget You"
Miranda Lambert, "The House That Built Me"
Eminem featuring Rihanna, "Love the Way You Lie"
Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now"
SHOULD WIN "Forget You" deserves it for craftsmanship that works as an expletive-filled rant and a song suitable for The Muppets.
WILL WIN "Forget You"
BEST NEW ARTIST
Mumford and Sons
SHOULD WIN Florence and the Machine's debut "Lungs" felt like an introduction to a new superstar, succeeding in America through word-of-mouth and true grit.
WILL WIN Drake. Sorry Beliebers, but the Recording Academy made a rule change that made Drake eligible for the award this year, and he's set to claim it.
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
Justin Bieber, "My World 2.0"
Susan Boyle, "I Dreamed a Dream"
Lady Gaga, "The Fame Monster"
John Mayer, "Battle Studies"
Katy Perry, "Teenage Dream"
SHOULD WIN Lady Gaga's "The Fame Monster" showed how substantial pop, especially dance pop, can actually be.
WILL WIN "The Fame Monster." Ga should edge out Katy Perry's popular, but flawed "Teenage Dream."
BEST ROCK ALBUM
Jeff Beck, "Emotion & Commotion"
Muse, "The Resistance"
Pearl Jam, "Backspacer"
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Mojo"
Neil Young, "Le Noise"
SHOULD WIN Muse's "The Resistance" brought some much-needed bombast and wild-eyed ambition back to rock with the spacey stadium anthem "Uprising" and the title track.
WILL WIN "The Resistance." Of course, if the Warner Bros. crew splits its votes among its three nominees - Muse, Tom Petty and Neil Young - Pearl Jam could sneak away with it.
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Arcade Fire, "The Suburbs"
Band of Horses, "Infinite Arms"
Black Keys, "Brothers"
Vampire Weekend, "Contra"
SHOULD WIN On Black Keys' "Brothers," the Akron, Ohio, duo expanded their rock vision to include a full band sound without losing their indie-rock spark. The results are spectacular.
WILL WIN "Brothers," as Black Keys' support peaks at the right time.
BEST CONTEMPORARY R&B ALBUM
Chris Brown, "Graffiti"
R. Kelly, "Untitled"
Ryan Leslie, "Transition"
Janelle Monae, "The Archandroid"
Usher, "Raymond vs. Raymond"
SHOULD WIN Monae's "The Archandroid" is one of the most inventive R&B albums in years, with great songs that don't get overwhelmed by the concept.
WILL WIN "Raymond vs. Raymond." Voters will find it hard to argue with "Oh oh oh-oh oh-oh oh oh-oh." OMG, indeed.
BEST RAP ALBUM
B. o. B, "The Adventures of Bobby Ray"
Drake, "Thank Me Later"
Eminem, "Recovery"
Jay-Z, "The Blueprint 3"
The Roots, "How I Got Over"
SHOULD WIN Jay-Z's "The Blueprint 3" showed that Hov can unleash powerful statements and No. 1 jams almost at will. He should run this town.
WILL WIN "Recovery." Voters will reward Em's comeback success, instead of Jay's unfaltering excellence.
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
Dierks Bentley, "Up on the Ridge"
Zac Brown Band, "You Get What You Give"
Jamey Johnson, "The Guitar Song"
Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now"
Miranda Lambert, "Revolution"
SHOULD WIN Miranda Lambert's "Revolution" is her declaration of war against faux country gals and studio creations. It's real and clever and inspiring.
WILL WIN "Revolution"
BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ALBUM
BT, "These Hopeful Machines"
The Chemical Brothers, "Further"
Goldfrapp, "Head First"
Groove Armada, "Black Light"
SHOULD WIN La Roux's "La Roux" deserves the win for injecting '80s synth-pop back onto the radio, though Groove Armada's "Cards to Your Heart" is almost as undeniable.
WILL WIN "La Roux." It's bulletproof.
