ALL THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS
WE CARE ABOUT

Here's a selected list of nominees for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. We're particularly buzzed by the Album of the Year nominees, each of them left of center in one way or another, yet somehow accessible, an apt touch in the year of Obama's reelection. The Best New Artist noms don't suck, either. Conversely, such mainstream mainstays as Justin Bieber and One Direction were shut out. Let the carping begin.

Topping the list of nominees are The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, fun., Jay-Z, Mumford & Sons, Frank Ocean and Kanye West with six nods apiece; while The Black Keys, Chick Corea and Miguel each snagged five. Producer Jeff Bhasker, mastering engineer Bob Ludwig and Nas are each up for four megaphones.

"The Grammy Awards process once again has produced a diverse and impressive list of nominations across multiple genres," said Neil Portnow, sounding even more euphoric than usual. "This year's nominees truly represent an exceptional and vibrant creative community that exemplifies some of the highest levels of artistry and excellence in their respective fields. This is so cool that I’m seriously considering shaving my mutton chops. Are we having fun. yet? See what I did just then?"

For the complete list, go to grammy.com.

Album of the Year
Mumford & Sons, Babel
Frank Ocean, Channel Orange
The Black Keys, El Camino
fun., Some Nights
Jack White, Blunderbuss

Record of the Year
The Black Keys, "Lonely Boy"
Kelly Clarkson, "Stronger"
fun. "We Are Young" (featuring Janelle Monae)
Gotye "Somebody That I Used To Know"
Frank Ocean, "Thinkin Bout You"
Taylor Swift, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"

Song of the Year
"The A Team,” Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)
"Adorn,” Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
"Call Me Maybe,” Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)
"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson)
"We Are Young,” Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (fun. featuring Janelle Monáe)

Best New Artist
Frank Ocean
Alabama Shakes
fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers

Producer of the Year
Dan Auerbach
Jeff Bhasker
Diplo
Markus Dravs
Salaam Remi

Best 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

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
"Shake It Out,” Florence & The Machine
"We Are Young,” fun. f/Janelle Monáe
"Somebody That I Used To Know,” Gotye f/Kimbra
"Sexy And I Know It," LMFAO
"Payphone,” Maroon 5 & Wiz Khalifa.

Best Pop Vocal Album
Kelly Clarkson, Stronger
Florence + the Machine, Ceremonials
fun., Some Nights
Maroon 5, Overexposed
P!nk ,The Truth About Love

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Christmas, Michael Bublé
A Holiday Carole, Carole King
Kisses on the Bottom, Paul McCartney

DANCE
Best Dance Recording
"Levels," Avicii
"Let's Go," Calvin Harris featuring Ne-Yo
"Bangarang," Skrillex featuring Sirah
"Don't You Worry Child," Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin
"I Can't Live Without You," Al Waiser

Best Dance/Electronica Album
Wonderland, Steve Aoki
Don't Think, The Chemical Brothers
>Album Title Goes Here<, Deadmau5
Fire and Ice, Kaskade
Bangarang, Skrillex

ROCK
Best Rock Performance
"Hold On," Alabama Shakes
"Lonely Boy," The Black Keys
"Charlie Brown," Coldplay
"I Will Wait," Mumford & Sons
"We Take Care of Our Own," Bruce Springsteen

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance
"I'm Alive," Anthrax
"Love Bites (So Do I)," Halestorm
"Blood Brothers," Iron Maiden
"Ghost Walking," Lamb of God
"No Reflection," Marilyn Manson
"Whose Life (Is It Anyways)?", Megadeth

Best Rock Song
"Freedom at 21," Jack White
"I Will Wait," Mumford & Sons
"Lonely Boy," The Black Keys
"Madness," Muse
"We Take Care of Our Own," Bruce Springsteen

Best Rock Album
El Camino, The Black Keys
Mylo Xyloto, Coldplay
The 2nd Law, Muse
Wrecking Ball, Bruce Springsteen
Blunderbuss, Jack White

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, Björk
Making Mirrors, Gotye
Hurry Up, We're Dreaming., M83
Bad as Me, Tom Waits

R&B
Best R&B Performance
"Thank You," Estelle
"Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B)," Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Ledisi
"I Want You," Luke James
"Adorn," Miguel
"Climax," Usher

Best Traditional R&B Performance
"Lately," Anita Baker
"Love on Top," Beyoncé
"Wrong Side of a Love Song," Melanie Fiona
"Real Good Hands," Gregory Porter
"If Only You Knew," SWV

Best R&B Song
"Adorn," Miguel
"Beautiful Surprise," Tamia
"Heart Attack," Trey Songz
"Pray for Me," Anthony Hamilton
"Refill," Elle Varner

Best R&B Album
Black Radio, Robert Glasper Experiment
Back to Love, Anthony Hamilton
Write Me Back, R. Kelly
Beautiful Surprise, Tamia
Open Invitation, Tyrese

RAP
Best Rap Performance
"HYFR (Hell Yeah F--king Right)," Drake featuring Lil Wayne
"N----s in Paris," Kanye West and Jay-Z
"Daughters," Nas
"Mercy," Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz
"I Do," Young Jeezy featuring Jay-Z and André 3000

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
"Wild Ones," Flo Rida featuring Sia
"No Church in the Wild," Kanye West and Jay-Z featuring Frank Ocean and The-Dream
"Tonight (Best You Ever Had)," John Legend featuring Ludacris
"Cherry Wine," Nas featuring Amy Winehouse
"Talk That Talk," Rihanna featuring Jay-Z

Best Rap Song
"Daughters," Nas
"Lotus Flower Bomb," Wale featuring Miguel
"Mercy," Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz
"The Motto," Drake featuring Lil Wayne
"N----s in Paris," Kanye West and Jay-Z
"Young, Wild and Free," Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg featuring Bruno Mars

Best Rap Album
Take Care, Drake
Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1, Lupe Fiasco
Life Is Good, Nas
Undone, The Roots
God Forgives, I Don't, Rick Ross
Based on a T.R.U. Story, 2 Chainz

COUNTRY
Best Country Solo Performance
"Home," Dierks Bentley
"Springsteen," Eric Church
"Cost of Livin'," Ronnie Dunn
"Wanted," Hunter Hayes
"Over," Blake Shelton
"Blown Away," Carrie Underwood

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
"Even If It Breaks Your Heart," Eli Young Band
"Pontoon," Little Big Town
"Safe and Sound," Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars
"On the Outskirts of Town," The Time Jumpers
"I Just Come Here for the Music," Don Williams featuring Alison Krauss

Best Country Song
"Blown Away," Carrie Underwood
"Cost of Livin'," Ronnie Dunn
"Even If It Breaks Your Heart," Eli Young Band
"Springsteen," Eric Church

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

AMERICAN ROOTS
Best Americana Album
The Carpenter, The Avett Brothers
From the Ground Up, John Fullbright
The Lumineers, The Lumineers
Babel, Mumford & Sons
Slipstream, Bonnie Raitt

Best Blues Album
33 1/3, Shemekia Copeland
Locked Down, Dr. John
Let It Burn, Ruthie Foster
And Still I Rise, Heritage Blues Orchestra
Bring It On Home, Joan Osborne

Best Folk Album
Leaving Eden, Carolina Chocolate Drops
Election Special, Ry Cooder
Hambone's Meditations, Luther Dickinson
The Great Rodeo Sessions, Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile
This One's For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark, Various Artists

Best Remixed Recording
"In My Mind (Axwell Remix)," Axel Hedfors
"Lie Down in Darkness (Photek Remix)," Photek
"Midnight City (Eric Prydz Private Remix)," Eric Prydz
"Promises (Skrillex and Nero Mix)," Skrillex
"The Veldt (Tommy Trash remix)," Thomas Olsen

COMEDY
Best Comedy Album
Blow Your Pants Off, Jimmy Fallon
Cho Dependent (Live in Concert), Margaret Cho
In God We Rust, Lewis Black.
Kathy Griffin: Seaman 1st Class, Kathy Griffin
Mr. Universe, Jim Gaffigan
Rize of the Fenix, Tenacious D

VISUAL MEDIA
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
The Descendents, Varous Artists
Marley, Bob Marley and the Wailers
Midnight in Paris, Various Artists
The Muppets, Various Artists
Rock of Ages, Various Artists

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
The Adventures of Tin Tin: The Secret of the Unicorn, Josh Williams
The Artist, Ludovic Bource
The Dark Knight Rises, Hans Zimmer
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Hugo, Howard Shore
Journey, Austin Wintory

Best Song Written for Visual Media
"Abraham's Daughter," from The Hunger Games, Arcade Fire
"Learn Me Right," from Brave, Mumford & Sons
"Let Me Be Your Star," from Smash, Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty
"Man or Muppet," from The Muppets, Jason Segel and Walter
"Where the River Goes," from Footloose, Zac Brown
"Safe and Sound," from The Hunger Games, Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars

MUSICAL SHOW
Best Musical Theater Album
Follies
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Newsies
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Once: A New Musical

PACKAGING
Best Recording Package
Biophilia, Bjork
Boys and Girls, Alabama Shakes
Charmer, Aimee Mann
Love This Giant, David Byrne and St. Vincent
Swing Lo Magellan, Dirty Projectors

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Rob Sheridan
Go Fly a Kite, Liz Kweller
Ram: Paul McCartney Archive Collection, Simon Earith and James Musgrave
Some Girls: Super Deluxe Edition, Stephen Kennedy
Woody at 100, Fritz Klaetke

Best Album Notes
Banjo Diary: Lessons From Tradition, Stephen Wade
First Recordings: 50th Anniversary Edition, Hans Olof Gottfridsson
The Pearl Sessions, Holly George-Warren
Piazzolla in Brooklyn, Fernando Gonzalez
Singular Genius: Complete ABC Singles, Billy Vera

HISTORICAL
Best Historical Album
He Is My Story: The Sanctified Soul of Arizona Dranes, Josh Rosenthal
Old-Time Smoky Mountain Music, Kent Cave, Michael Montgomery and Ted Olson
Opika Pende: Africa at 78 RPM, Steven Lance Ledbetter and Jonathan Ward
Ram: The Paul McCartney Archive Collection, Paul McCartney
The Smile Sessions, Alan Boyd, Mark Linett, Brian Wilson and Dennis Wolfe

ENGINEER
Best Engineered Album
The Absence, Moogie Canazio and Al Schmitt
Ashes and Fire, Glyn Johns
The Goat Rodeo Sessions, Richard King
Love Is a Four Lettered Word, Joe Chiccarelli, Steve Churchyard, Lars Fox, Graham Hope, Tony Maserati and Morgan Stratton
Slingshot, Helik Hadar

VIDEO
Best Short Form Music Video
"Houdini," Foster the People
"No Church In the Wild," Kanye West and Jay-Z featuring Frank Ocean and The-Dream
"Bad Girls," M.I.A
"We Found Love," Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
"Run Boy Run," Woodkid

Best Long Form Music Video
Big Easy Express, Mumford & Sons
Bring Me Home-Live, Sade
Radio Music Society, Esperanza Spalding
Get Along, Tegan and Sara
From the Sky Down, U2