This is the first year in a long time that this writer has felt let down, almost insulted by the "safe" choices and lack of artistically valuable nominees for Grammy awards. Going through the list and seeing the same pattern of (i) popular (that is to say superstar) performers (Jay-Z, Foo Fighters), (ii) classic and revered performers (Eagles, McCartney), (iii) wildly successful tracks ("What Goes Around ... Comes Around", "Umbrella") and (iv) recognizable names nominated in non-pop genres (Slayer for Best Metal Performance again? Last year's win was based on band name alone) for the nomination year, I cannot help but shake my head and wag my finger at the voting body. Put it this way: "Trapped In The Closet" is up for a best video award? Aliens, genies, and sea monkeys finding their way into this bedroom wherein Kells is stuck in a closet, and we're considering a Grammy? I'll nod to "Same Girl" for Best R&B Performance By A Duo, but I'm not touching the "Closet" saga. And that's coming from someone who bought 12 Play.

Here are AGT's guesses for who the voting body will select this year (who's keeping score out there? Anyone? Anyone?):

Record of the Year:
"Umbrella" - Rihanna

Album of the Year:
Graduation - Kanye West (this award should go to Herbie Hancock for River: The Joni Letters, but 'Ye is up for 8 awards. You saw Alicia Keyes scoop up about a half dozen a few years back? The over-nominated artist will clean up as always.)

Song of the Year:
"Umbrella" - Rihanna

Best New Artist:
Paramore

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance:
"Candyman" - Christina Aguilera

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance:
"Everything" - Michael Buble

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:
"Window In The Skies" - U2 (do these guys go a year without an award?)

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals:
"Steppin' Out" - Tony Bennett w/ Christina Aguilera

Best Pop Instrumental Performance:
"Simple Pleasures" - Spyro Gyra

Best Pop Instrumental Album:
At The Movies - Dave Koz

Best Pop Vocal Album:
It Won't Be Soon Before Long - Maroon 5

Best Dance Recording:
"LoveStoned/I Think She Knows" - Justin Timberlake

Best Electronic/Dance Album:
Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
Call Me Irresponsible - Michael Buble (James Taylor is nominated, but if he wins for recycling Christmas albums ad nauseum, I'm changing the channel!)

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance:
"Radio Nowhere" - Bruce Springsteen

Best Rock Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals:
"Instant Karma" - U2

Best Hard Rock Performance:
"The Pot" - Tool

Best Metal Performance:
"Final Six" - Slayer (Can they pull it off two years in a row? Probably ... no one recognizes the other bands)

Best Rock Instrumental Performance:
"Always With Me, Always With You" - Joe Satriani (It's Satch versus Steve Vai here)

Best Rock Song:
"The Pretender" - Foo Fighters

Best Rock Album:
Magic - Bruce Springsteen

Best Alternative Music Album:
Neon Bible - Arcade Fire (Bruce and Win Butler can high-five and jump on stage for another collabo)

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance:
"Just Fine" - Mary J. Blige (again. Every year.)

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance:
"Because of You" - Ne-Yo (gambling here. Ne-Yo is the best writer among the nominees, but this award is for performance.)

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals:
"Same Girl" - R. Kelly feat. Usher

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance:
"In My Songs" - Gerald Levert

Best Urban/Alternative Performance:
"Daydreamin'" - Lupe Fiasco feat. Jill Scott

Best R&B Song:
"Hate That I Love You" - Rihanna feat. Ne-Yo (most ubiquitous songstress with the most ubiquitous songwriter? Solid gold.)

Best R&B Album:
Luvanmusiq - Musiq Soulchild

Best Contemporary R&B Album:
Just Like You - Keyshia Cole

Best Rap Solo Performance:
"Stronger" - Kanye West

Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group:
"Better Than I've Ever Been" - Kanye West, Nas & KRS-One

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
"Umbrella" - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z

Best Rap Song:
"Can't Tell Me Nothing" - Kanye West

Best Rap Album:
Graduation - Kanye West

Best Female Country Vocal Performance:
"Before He Cheats" - Carrie Underwood

Best Male Country Vocal Performance:
"Stupid Boy" - Keith Urban

Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals:
"How Long" - Eagles

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals:
"Oh Love" - Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood

Best Country Instrumental Performance:
"Fidoodlin'" - The Time Jumpers

Best Country Song:
"Before He Cheats" - Carrie Underwood

Best Country Album:
These Days - Vince Gill (Best songwriter in country music today.)

Best Bluegrass Album:
Lefty's Old Guitar - JD Crowe & The New South

Best New Age Album:
Southwest - Eric Tingstad

Best Contemporary Jazz Album:
River: The Joni Letters - Herbie Hancock (Give this man his award!)

Best Jazz Vocal Album:
Red Earth - A Malian Journey: Dee Dee Bridgewater

Best Jazz Instrumental Solo:
"Lullaby" - Hank Jones, soloist

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group:
Pilgrimage - Michael Brecker

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album:
Eternal Licks & Grooves - The Bob Florence Limited Edition

Best Traditional Blues Album:
Last Of The Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live In Dallas - Henry James Townsend, Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins, Robert Lockwood, Jr. & David "Honeyboy" Edwards

Best Contemporary Blues Album:
The Road To Escondido - JJ Cale & Eric Clapton (like these Grammy people recognize any of the other nominees)

Best Traditional Folk Album:
Dirt Farmer - Levon Helm (drummer for The Band goes out and gets folky, wins Grammy)

Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album:
Orphans - Tom Waits (nothing says America like Tom Waits)

Best Reggae Album:
Mind Control - Stephen Marley (and nothing says reggae like the last name Marley. Toots and Burning Spear are legends, but have they still got it?)

Best Instrumental Composition:
"I Knew Her (From Notes On A Scandal)" - Philip Glass, composer

Best Instrumental Arrangement:
"Besame Mucho" - Maynard Ferguson

Best Recording Package:
Cassadaga - Bright Eyes (even better than the album)

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package:
Icky Thump - The White Stripes (if folks are willing to embrace MP3 technology and celebrate the clever USB packaging)

Producer of the Year, non-classical:
Timbaland

Best Remixed Recording, non-classical:
"Proper Education (Club Mix - Radio Edit)" - Eric Prydz vs. Pink Floyd

Best Short Form Music Video:
"D.A.N.C.E." - Justice

Best Long Form Music Video:
Trapped In The Closet Chapters 13-22 - R. Kelly (I just don't have enough faith in humanity to guess otherwise)

Tags: any given tuesday, grammys