Mark Hoppus Adele’s album was inescapable this year. Housewives, hipsters and people who normally listen to hip-hop all love it.
Common I can put Adele’s album on and listen to the whole thing. But Lady Gaga may pull off an upset.
Avicii Bruno Mars had a shitload of hits on Doo-Wops & Hooligans, and he’s so talented. His melodies really get to me.
Vegas Odds Favor
Adele 1-2
Who Should Win: Adele
After owning the charts for more than a year, Adele’s hit-stacked LP is all but guaranteed to take the prize.
Record of the Year
“Rolling in the Deep” Adele
“Holocene” Bon Iver
“Grenade” Bruno Mars
“The Cave” Mumford & Sons
“Firework” Katy Perry
The Experts Say
Adam Lambert “Firework” is really inspiring. I enjoyed hearing Katy Perry expand her range and comfort level.
Kelly Clarkson I don’t think radio has played a song like “Rolling in the Deep” since Tina Turner. It brings back an old-school vibe, but it’s also contemporary.
Common There’s a certain originality to Mumford & Sons’ sound, and “The Cave” embodies that. It takes me to another vibe.
21‘s undeniable single united virtually all humans with a retro-mendous hook and a soul-baring vocal for the ages.
Best Rock Album
Rock ‘n’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul Jeff Beck
Wasting Light Foo Fighters
Come Around Sundown Kings of Leon
I’m With You Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Whole Love Wilco
The Experts Say
Mark Hoppus Foo Fighters are the quintessential rock band. They came back with the same energy and charisa on Wasting Light.
Kelly Clarkson The Foo Fighters album was good, but Kings of Leon’s sound feels a little more classic.
Adam Lambert The Chili Peppers album had disco bass lines, double claps and Anthony Kiedis being cool. They’re timeless.
Vegas Odds Favor
Wilco 8-5
Who Should Win: Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl and Nevermind producer Butch Vig delivered a supercharged blast.
Best Rap Album
Watch the Throne Jay-Z and Kanye West
Tha Carter IV Foo Fighters
Lasers Lupe Fiasco
Pink Friday Nicki Minaj
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Kanye West
The Experts Say
Kelly Clarkson Tha Carter IV, because of the song “How to Love.” It’s Lil Wayne doing an R&B ballad!
Common Kanye’s album is a complete project that’s really profound. To go from 808s & Heartbreaks to that just shows how gifted he is.
Avicii Jay-Z and Kanye delivered with Watch the Throne. The tracks sounded really fresh – and I was blown away by their tour.
Vegas Odds Favor
Jay-Z and Kanye West 1-1
Who Should Win: Kanye West
Let’s have a toast for the douchebags! The Throne ruled, but Fantasy is Ye’s masterpiece.
Best Pop Solo Performance
“Someone Like You” Adele
“Yoü and I” Lady Gaga
“Grenade” Bruno Mars
“Firework” Katy Perry
“F–kin’ Perfect” Pink
The Experts Say
Mark Hoppus I think Adele will get the top awards, and this one will go to Bruno Mars. “Grenade” was a big song last winter that stuck around for a long time. It wasn’t a flash in the pan.
Adam Lambert When I first heard “Someone Like You,” I was sobbing. If something can move you to tears, I think that’s beautiful.
Common I thought Pink’s song was really clever. It’s pop, but it’s called “Fuckin’ Perfect,” you know? She combined the rawness of what she’s saying with a catchy melody. It’s a good combination.
Avicii I’m almost nagging on about it, but “Someone Like You” is just ridiculous. That vocal shows how talented Adele is.
The breakup ballad to end all breakup ballads. An unsteady heart grounds itself with rocking-chair piano runs and a chorus that bursts with the ache of moving on: “Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead.” Hurts so good!
Best Rap Song
“All of the Lights” Kanye West
“Black and Yellow” Wiz Khalifa
“I Need a Doctor” Dr. Dre feat. Eminem, Skylar Grey
“Look at Me Now” Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes
“Otis” Jay-Z and Kanye West
The Experts Say
Adam Lambert I know “Look at Me Now” is a Chris Brown song, but when Busta Rhymes comes in, he just blows everybody out of the water. It’s really nice to hear him back on a track.
Common Jay-Z and Kanye took a great sample and just rhymed over it – no hook, no breakdowns, nothing. That’s the essence of rap.
Kelly Clarkson My older brother loves Dr. Dre, so that’s all I had to listen to when I was a kid. And I love how blunt Eminem is on this song. He gets away with it.
Mark Hoppus “All of the Lights” is undeniable. I might have sung on that song and had no idea. When you release a video and have to warn people that it may cause seizures, you know it’s special.
Vegas Odds Favor
Kanye West 6-5
Who Should Win: Jay-Z and Kanye
The inventors of swag take back their title, big-upping luxury brands and vacation spots over a killer sample from Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.”
Best Rock Song
“Every Tearddrop Is a Waterfall” Coldplay
“Down by the Water” The Decemberists
“Walk” Foo Fighters
“The Cave” Mumford & Sons
“Lotus Flower” Radiohead
The Experts Say
Avicii I did a remix of “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall.” I liked it straightaway, but I really grew to love it from hearing the vocal so much. That track delivers what Coldplay is about.
Common “Lotus Flower” is another Radiohead song that solidifies their prowess in the game: their presence, creativity and special abilities. Thom Yorke is doing his thing.
Adam Lambert “Lotus Flower” is beautiful, but it doesn’t feel like a rock song. It’s probably “Walk” by Foo Fighters for me. That’s a really solid tune.
Kelly Clarkson “The Cave” is awesome. I think Mumford & Sons deserve a lot of credit. They’ve done a really great job, and they sound completely different from everyone else right now.
Vegas Odds Favor
Coldplay 3-2
Who Should Win: Radiohead
The Foos were heavier, the Mumfords were strummier, but no band was as awesomely weird as Radiohead were on this percussion-heavy tune.
Best New Artist
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex
The Experts Say
Mark Hoppus It’s so strange that Bon Iver is nominated as a new artist. Skrillex had a phenomenal year. From playing small clubs to headlining giant festivals, he seems to be on everybody’s brain lately.
Kelly Clarkson I’m a big fan of Nicki Minaj, but the Band Perry has a good chance. Their song “If I Die Young” crossed genres.
Avicii Skrillex mainstreamed dubstep, which is a remarkable accomplishment. I know him, and his life this year has been insane.
Adam Lambert Nicki Minaj is a star. I love how she’s really aggressive when she raps, and she has a point of view both lyrically and visually. “Super Bass” was a great move for her.
A nomination for dubstep is historic enough, but with the genre peaking right on time, Skrillex could shock Nicki Minaj superfans. He’s the sound of now.