And The Grammy Goes To...

The 44th Grammy Awards will be presented at 8 p.m. Feb. 27 on CBS, and the Diversions staff picked who should win if there is any justice in this world. Place your own bets and tune in.

Album of the Year

All That You Can't Leave Behind -- U2

All That You Can't Leave Behind covers the middle ground for U2. It's not as political as War, as epic in scope as The Joshua Tree, as starkly personal as Achtung Baby or as daring as Zooropa.

While the band hasn't gone out on a limb this time around, they stick to their strengths with more consistency than before. The album is full of radio-ready music that succeeds as art because it brims with the energy and pure passion that put the Irish rockers on the map in the first place.

Besides the opening one-two-three-four punch of hits, there are absolute gems like "New York" and "Wild Honey." Every song on All That You Can't Leave Behind can hold its own, yet they come together to form a very solid whole.

The complete work has made U2 relevant and ubiquitous once again, and it has elevated the band back to the level of the biggest and best in the world.

By Elliott Dube

Song of the Year

"Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of" -- U2

There are a few songs that sound as if they apply to nearly everyone. And anyone who has ever seen a bad day go on forever can certainly relate to U2's poignant "Stuck In a Moment You Can't Get Out Of."

In its customary whimsical style, the band transcends the social commentary found in many of its earlier works with this piece. It presents us instead with a simple, moving look at facing the longest and darkest chapters of our lives.

Bono's melodic voice rises and falls with the soothing music.

He is calm in the midst of a hurricane, gently berating the listener for worrying too much and reminding all of us that "it's just a moment."

His soft words of confidence and his firm assurances that our troubles will eventually pass leaves the worried comforted and the forlorn with hope.

By Graham Parker

Record Of the Year

"Walk On" U2; track from: All That You Can't Leave Behind

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

"I'm Like A Bird" Nelly Furtado; track from: Whoa, Nelly!

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

"You Rock My World" Michael Jackson

Best New Artist

David Gray

Best Rap Album

Stankonia Outkast

Best Rock Album

All That You Can't Leave Behind U2

Best Pop Performance by a Duo Or Group With Vocal

"Imitation of Life" R.E.M.; track from: Reveal

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

"New York State of Mind" Tony Bennett & Billy Joel

Best Dance Recording

"One More Time" Daft Punk & Romanthony; track from: Discovery

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

"Short Circuit" Daft Punk; track from: Discovery

Best Pop Instrumental Album

AArt Acoustic Alchemy

Best Pop Vocal Album

Songs from the West Coast Elton John

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Songs I Heard Harry Connick Jr.

Best Female Rock Vocal Performance

"This is Love" PJ Harvey; track from: Stories From The City,

Stories From The Sea

Best Male Rock Vocal Performance

"New York, New York" Ryan Adams; track from: Gold

Best Hard Rock Performance

"Alive" P.O.D.; track from: Satellite

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal

"Yellow" Coldplay; track from: Parachutes

Best Metal Performance

"Schism" Tool; track from: Lateralus

Best Rock Instrumental Performance

"Dirty Mind" Jeff Beck; track from: You Had It Coming

Best Rock Song

"Walk On" U2; track from: All That You Can't Leave Behind

Best Alternative Music Album

Amnesiac Radiohead

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

"Hit 'Em Up Style" Blu Cantrell

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

"Lifetime" Maxwell; track from: Now

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal

"What Would You Do" City High; track from: City High

Best R&B Song

"Fallin'" Alicia Keys, songwriter (Alicia Keys); track from:

Songs In A Minor

Best R&B Album

Songs In A Minor Alicia Keys

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album

At Last Gladys Knight

Best Short Form Music Video

"Weapon of Choice" Fatboy Slim featuring Bootsy Collins

Best Rap Solo Performance

"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" Jay-Z; track from: The Blueprint

Best Rap Performance by a Duo or a Group

"Ms. Jackson" Outkast; track from: The Saga Continues...

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

"Let Me Blow Ya Mind" Eve featuring Gwen Stefani; track from: Scorpion

Best Female Country Vocal Performance

"Cold, Cold Heart" Lucinda Williams; track from: Timeless - Hank Williams Tribute (Various Artists)

Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal

"The Lucky One" Allison Krauss + Union Station; track from: New Favorite

Best Male Country Vocal Performance

"I Dreamed About Mama Last Night" Johnny Cash; track from: Timeless - Hank Williams Tribute (Various Artists)

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

(Various Artists) Nick Angel & Kathy Nelson, producers

Best Score Soundtrack Album For a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Tan Dun, composer

Best Long Form Music Video

"Play: The DVD"

Moby

Best Song Written For a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media

"A Love Before Time;" track from: "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"

Producer Of the Year

T Bone Burnett

Best Contemporary Blues Album

Sweet Tea Buddy Guy