An early look at potential Grammy nominees

With only one month left in the 2011-2012 Grammy eligibility window, let's preview some potential nominees in the music academy's top categories before they're revealed in December!

Album of the Year
Babel, Mumford & Sons
Ceremonials, Florence + The Machine
Channel Orange, Frank Ocean
Mylo Xyloto, Coldplay
Wrecking Ball, Bruce Springsteen

Honestly, it's a pretty wide open field so far. With Adele's album of the year winner 21 as the best selling album again this year, there aren't a lot of runaway bestsellers to consider. With four of last year's nominees being pop albums, there seems to be very little to consider this year. Of the pop fare you could consider Gotye's Making Mirrors (if it's not already considered an alternative album), One Direction's Up All Night, and maybe Justin Bieber's Believe. Could any of these be nominated here? Maybe Gotye.

Screw it, let's throw 21 back into the race because it's already outsold the next best selling album of this year three times over.

This year could be packed with alternative picks, including Florence + The Machine, Coldplay, and Mumford & Sons highly anticipated sophomore album Babel. Like most years, there is usually a rap/hip-hop/r&b album nominated, so why not the breakout rap star Frank Ocean? Bruce Springsteen could steal the fifth slot with his rock entry, Wrecking Ball.

Best New Artist
fun.
Gotye
Frank Ocean
Emile Sandé
Sia

Considering fun. and Gotye had breakout hit singles one right after another this year, why wouldn't they be nominated? Fun. is the alternative/rock group that is interesting, and Gotye is his own genre of pop/alternative. With the way out of left field inclusion of Skrillex in this race last year, the academy has opened the doors for more electronic/dance artists like Sia. Garnering loads of success this year on Flo Rida's Wild Ones and David Guetta's Titanium, Sia has proven her worth. But watch out, Calvin Harris' chart-topping success with Rihanna late last year could help fill that slot. Scottish songbird Emile Sandé could be riding on the coattails of former winner, and newfound Grammy darling, Adele with a possible nod. Frank Ocean will fill the last slot.

Record of the Year
Payphone, Maroon 5 f/ Wiz Khalifa
Somebody That I Used Know, Gotye f/ Kimbra
Spectrum (Say My Name), Florence + The Machine
We Are Young, fun. f/ Janelle Monae
We Found Love, Rihanna f/ Calvin Harris

I think this is a pretty diverse selection, with some pretty obvious choices. The one thing that amazes me is the number of songs that could be nominated that all have featured artists. Maybe it was just a killer year for collaborations. I'm throwing F+TM in here as the 'wtf?' choice which is common sometimes. BUT, could the Grammys still want to shower Adele with love and nominate Set Fire to the Rain or Rumour Has It? Also, my blood boils at the thought of Call Me Maybe possibly getting nominated.

Song of the Year
Somebody That I Used Know, Songwriter: Gotye
We Are Young, Songwriters: fun. and Jeff Bhasker

There's usually a strong overlap between record and song of the year, but I'm not sure how many of the record contenders have award-winning lyrics (which this category recognizes). For now, I'm just leaving these two.