Grammy Prediction

Gotta get this in quick. Who will and should win...

Album of the Year
Should win: Amy Winehouse's Back to Black was the best album of the year, an awesome record that managed to look both forward and backward, or to put it another way, a modern pop record grounded in the traditions of the past.
Will win: With Amy's antics spoiling her chances, the path is clear for three-time nominee Kanye West to finally win this award with his Graduation.

Record of the Year
Should win: Rihanna's "Umbrella" was the ubiquitous hit of 2007 and deservedly so. It was quite a lot of fun.
Will win: Unless Beyonce steals with overrated "Irreplaceable," Rihanna should get it.

Song of the Year
Should win: I think Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins should win for Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats," a clever and tuneful track.
Will win: This one's hard to predict, it might go to Rihanna's team, I seriously doubt anyone will back Amy Winehouse's song about rejecting rehab from a woman who seriously needs to detox. Let's say Kear and Tompkins for "Before He Cheats."

New Artist
Should win: Amy Winehouse is the most interesting and deserving choice.
Will win: Ignored in the album and record categories, she won't be ignored here. It's Amy Winehouse.

Female pop performance
Should win: Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry" for putting out the year's best slice of cheesy pop balladry.
Will win: Probably Amy Winehouse for "Rehab."

Male pop performance
Should/will win: Justin Timberlake's "What Goes Around...Comes Around"

Duo/group pop performance
Should win: Maroon's 5's energetic return, "Makes you Wonder."
Will win: Grammy loves U2, so why would it pass up the chance to honor them yet again for "Window in the Skies."

Pop collaboration
Should/will win: With the more contemporary stuff canceling each other out, look for this to go to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss's "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)."

Pop album
Should/will win: Shut out of the general album category, look for Amy Winehouse's Back to Black to pick this up.

Other predictions:
Rock album: Magic - Bruce Springsteen
Rap album: Graduation - Kanye West
Country album: These Days - Vince Gill
Alternative album: Neon Bible - The Arcade Fire