Feb. 10--Grammy voters have their work cut out for them this time around.
Unlike last year, when Adele was the clear Grammy standout, this year's leading nominees represent a cross-section of talent with no obvious dominant winner.
Several acts lead with six nominations each -- fun., Frank Ocean, Mumford & Sons, Kanye West, Jay-Z and Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. At Sunday night's ceremony, the final tally could go to breakout act Ocean's stirring new soul or to the pop bliss of fun. -- or the hip-hop swag of Jay-Z and Kanye West or the hip folk of Mumford & Sons.
Here is how some of the winners may shake out:
Album of the Year
-- "El Camino," the Black Keys
-- "Some Nights," fun.
-- "Babel," Mumford & Sons
-- "Channel Orange," Frank Ocean
-- "Blunderbuss," Jack White
Prediction -- A deserving field of youthful-skewing releases leads to a tight fight with the Black Keys squeezing out the win.
Record of the Year
-- "Lonely Boy," the Black Keys
-- "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Kelly Clarkson
-- "We Are Young," fun. featuring Janelle Monae
-- "Somebody That I Used to Know," Goyte featuring Kimba
-- "Thinkin About You," Frank Ocean
-- "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," Taylor Swift
Prediction -- Nothing was more unusual yet as likable as "Somebody That I Used to Know."
Song of the Year
-- "The A Team," Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)
-- "Adorn," Miguel Pimentel (Miguel)
-- "Call Me Maybe," Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen, Josh Ramsay (Carly Rae Jepsen)
-- "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Jorgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin, Ali Tamposi (Kelly Clarkson)
-- "We Are Young," Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost, Nate Ruess (fun. featuring Janelle Monae)
Prediction -- Fun. can carry this prize home Sunday night.
Best New Artist
-- Alabama Shakes
-- fun.
-- Hunter Hayes
-- The Lumineers
-- Frank Ocean
Prediction -- Ocean swims away with this award, but not without stiff competition from fun.
Pop Solo Performance
-- "Set Fire to the Rain (live)," Adele
-- "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Kelly Clarkson
-- "Call Me Maybe," Carly Rae Jepsen
-- "Wide Awake," Katy Perry
-- "Where Have You Been," Rihanna
Prediction -- Grammy voters like bringing back the previous year's big winner. Hello, Adele.
Pop Vocal Album
-- "Stronger," Kelly Clarkson
-- "Ceremonials," Florence + the Machine
-- "Some Nights," fun.
-- "Overexposed," Maroon 5
-- "The Truth About Love," Pink
Prediction -- Fun.'s got it in the bag, though it would be nice to see Florence + the Machine twirl away with this one.
Best Rock Album
-- "El Camino," the Black Keys
-- "Mylo Xyloto," Coldplay
-- "The 2nd Law," Muse
-- "Wrecking Ball," Bruce Springsteen
-- "Blunderbuss," Jack White
Prediction -- The Black Keys unlock this win.
Best Alternative Music Album
-- "The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do," Fiona Apple
-- "Biophilia," Bjork
-- "Making Mirrors," Goyte
-- "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming," M83
-- "Bad as Me," Tom Waits
Prediction -- Fiona Apple, for the acceptance speech alone.
Urban Contemporary Album
-- "Fortune," Chris Brown
-- "Kaleidoscope Dream," Miguel
-- "Channel Orange," Frank Ocean
Prediction -- The verdict's out on who won in their recent parking lot scuffle, but Ocean beats Brown here.
R&B Album
-- "Black Radio," Robert Glasper Experiment
-- "Back to Love," Anthony Hamilton
-- "Write Me Back," R. Kelly
-- "Beautiful Surprise," Tamia
-- "Open Invitation," Tyrese
Prediction -- Robert Glasper Experiment is easily the most deserving, but Kelly triumphs.
Rap Album
-- "Take Care," Drake
-- "Food and Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1," Lupe Fiasco
-- "Life is Good," Nas
-- "Undun," the Roots
-- "God Forgives, I Don't," Rick Ross
-- "Based on a T.R.U. Story," 2 Chainz
Prediction -- Three-way race between Nas, the Roots and Drake sees Drake at the finish line, furthering angering Brown.
Best Country Album
-- "Uncaged," Zac Brown Band
-- "Hunter Hayes," Hunter Hayes
-- "Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran," Jamey Johnson
-- "Four the Record," Miranda Lambert
-- "The Time Jumpers," the Time Jumpers
Prediction -- Lambert may have only one thing to say to all the gents in this category: Better luck next year.
Kevin C. Johnson is the popular music critic and nightlife reporter at the Post-Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at kevincjohnson and add him on Facebook at kevincjohnsonstl.
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards
Who -- Scheduled performers include Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, the Black Keys, Kelly Clarkson, fun., the Lumineers, Miguel, Wiz Khalifa, Mumford & Sons, Frank Ocean, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Jack White, Elton John and Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys and Maroon 5, Bruno Mars, Rihanna and Sting.
When -- 7 p.m. Sunday
Where -- CBS
More info -- Join Kevin C. Johnson for live updates Sunday night at stltoday.com/blender and on Twitter at @kevincjohnson.
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