PICKS FOR THE 54TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS

The Grammys air this Sunday on CBS, and most of the modern music world will be watching for a few hot categories-- left-field nominations like Bon Iver will have to contend with the massive favorites (Adele, Mumford and Sons, etc). The Grammys aren't exactly the pinnacle of music recognition. Plenty of categories seem like they are floating handicaps for popular, established artists (like The Red Hot Chili Peppers get a nod for their worst work ever, somehow). However, with performances, reunions, and maybe a provocative gesture or two, it's sure to be something everyone will gripe about on Monday.

We're submitting our picks for the big four, with commentary.

Record of the Year:
ROLLING IN THE DEEP - Adele
HOLOCENE - Bon Iver
GRENADE - Bruno Mars
THE CAVE - Mumford & Sons
FIREWORK - Katy Perry

Bon Iver has a shot at being the upset but we're betting this winds up being Adele's show through and through. Katy Perry and Bruno Mars seem like fluff, and if NARAS is going to snub Adele, it's going to be for the most indie act on the list.

Album of the Year:
21 - Adele
WASTING LIGHT - Foo Fighters
BORN THIS WAY - Lady Gaga
DOO-WOOPS & HOOLIGANS - Bruno Mars
LOUD - Rihanna

WHOA. Gaga would have taken this category easily, if she had avoided the sophomore slump but alas, Born This Way was as disappointing as Robocop 2. The Foo Fighters put up a strong showing, but we're once again betting on Adele to take the cake. If Bruno Mars wins anything, we're jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge. Oh and Rihanna's nomination is laughable.

Song of the Year:
ALL OF THE LIGHTS - Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)
THE CAVE - Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
GRENADE - Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
HOLOCENE - Justin Vernon, songwriter (Bon Iver)
ROLLING IN THE DEEP - Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)

Because all of the songs are so old, it's tough to remember (and properly measure) the impact of each. Kanye's bombastic opus (at least in our minds) nudges Adele out ever so slightly, although Mumford's "The Cave" and Bon Iver's "Holocene" are both dark horses. Really anyone can win this one! Except Bruno Mars. Please God. We have families.

Best New Artist:
THE BAND PERRY
BON IVER
J. COLE
NICKI MINAJ
SKRILLEX

The most contentious category of all time features several artists you've probably been listening to since 2007, but that's the Grammys for you. This is where Bon Iver is almost certainly going to win, unless the NARAS overlords decide this is the year to dub (get it?) electronic music fit for awards consideration, in which case, Skrillex will receive the award in what is sure to be the goofiest tux you've ever seen. Then again, the Grammys could pull a 2011 and give it to the band no one has ever heard of, and we wouldn't be surprised at all.

Other categories will be fun, especially the Best Alternative Music Album (can they all win?). Tune in this Sunday and we'll be discussing the winners in a long winded angry rant first thing Monday morning. We'll leave you with this, last years performing confirming our suspicions that some of the performers think that most of the Grammy audience is stoned out of their minds.

We hate you too, Goop. We hate you too.
Article By: Joe Puglisi