The Nominees

Coldplay, Ghost Stories
Miley Cyrus, Bangerz
Ariana Grande, My Everything
Ed Sheeran, X
Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour
Katy Perry, Prism

The Experts Say

Wayne Coyne: It has to be Miley Cyrus. I love her ”” for me, it goes beyond records. The thing she has with her audience is more powerful than music and lyrics. She deserves it.

Charli XCX: This wasn’t Coldplay’s most popular album, maybe, but it really worked for me. There are some beautiful songs on that one. Ariana Grande’s voice is also incredible.

Eric Church: Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith are both great ”” we’re splittin’ hairs here. But I’m gonna go with Ed. Anybody that can stand up there with just a guitar and entertain a big room by himself gets the nod from me.

Vegas Odds Favor

Sam Smith 6-5

Who Should Win

Sam Smith and pop vocals are practically synonymous ”” no one in this category can compare to his divine falsetto.

The Nominees

Iggy Azalea, The New Classic
Childish Gambino, Because the Internet
Common, Nobody’s Smiling
Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Schoolboy Q, Oxymoron
Wiz Khalifa, Blacc Hollywood

The Experts Say

Charli XCX: I recently listened to the Childish Gambino album on a flight, and I was really into it. He’s a great rapper, and his album just has a really cool feel.

Patrick Carney: I dig Schoolboy Q, but I think I’m going to give this one to Wiz Khalifa. I’ve known him for a few years, and he just got divorced. He’s having a hard year.

Eric Church: I’m a child of the Nineties, so I’ve always loved Eminem ”” always thought he’s a poet. But Iggy Azalea just jumped right off the radio for me. A lot of rap feels like it’s become a little bit predictable to me, but her album was refreshing.

Wayne Coyne: I like Common, and my friend Miley Cyrus tells me she likes Childish Gambino. But if you’re asking me, this one is Schoolboy Q, hands down. He’s having fun with it. To me, he seems like he’s in the category of “I just want to get fucked up and fuck all the time.” Maybe that offends some people, but I just think, “Jesus, people. Let’s have some fun, you know?”

Vegas Odds Favor

Iggy Azalea 2-1

Who Should Win

Schoolboy Q’s new spin on West Coast gangsta rap was one of the year’s best.

The Nominees

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Hypnotic Eye
The Black Keys, Turn Blue
U2, Songs of Innocence
Beck, Morning Phase
Ryan Adams, Ryan Adams

The Experts Say

Eric Church: Well, I already said I think that Beck made the best album of the year. But as far as rock goes, Turn Blue was a departure for the Black Keys, so I’d go with them. It’s darker and weirder, in a good way. I applaud that. It almost felt like the album was their therapy.

Wayne Coyne: If someone’s going to stand up there and take the Grammy for Best Rock Album, I’m going to say that it should be Tom Petty. He’s cool, he stands for the right things, and he loves music. And his latest album was pretty cool, just like his other records. He’s probably already won 20 Grammys, but let’s give him another one.

Charli XCX: I really like what Beck does. I’ve listened to his music a lot over the past few years, and I think he makes really amazing, hooky songs.

Vegas Odds Favor

The Black Keys 9-5

Who Should Win

In a strong category, U2 stand out as the band that most deserves this Grammy after tapping into a rich new vein of inspiration on Songs of Innocence.

The Nominees

Iggy Azalea
Bastille
Brandy Clark
Haim
Sam Smith

The Experts Say

Patrick Carney: Isn’t this award considered a curse? I’m friends with Haim, so maybe I shouldn’t pick them. But I’m going to do it anyway.

Eric Church: I’m going with Brandy Clark. I’m so stoked that she was nominated, and I hope it sends more people her way ”” because she’s phenomenal.

Wayne Coyne: You know what? I’m picking Iggy again. Maybe she’ll win all the awards.

Charli XCX: I’ve spent a lot of time with Iggy in the past year, and she’s worked really hard. But Haim are just badass. They made an incredible record, and they’re three of the coolest people in the music industry.

Vegas Odds Favor

Sam Smith 1-5

Who Should Win

Sam Smith had the best year of all these artists. In the Lonely Hour declared him a powerhouse vocalist with a gift for pop-soul songwriting.

The Nominees

Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX, “Fancy”
Sam Smith, “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)”
Sia, “Chandelier”
Taylor Swift, “Shake It Off”
Meghan Trainor, “All About That Bass”

The Experts Say

Charli XCX: Obviously, it would be cool to win myself, but as a listener, “Chandelier” blew my mind. The melodies she wrote are so intricate. And her voice is incredible.

Patrick Carney: Sia, for sure. That’s one of the best hooks of the year.

Eric Church: “All About That Bass” was a big record, but I can’t see anything other than Taylor here. She stands far above the rest. “Shake It Off” is just hooky as hell.

Wayne Coyne: I’ve only heard “Fancy” by accident, but I like it. It doesn’t really seem like rap, it’s more pop.

Vegas Odds Favor

Sam Smith 4-5

Who Should Win

This one is Taylor’s to lose. “Shake It Off” was 2014’s most unforgettable chorus by far. Admit it, you still hum it to yourself once in a while.

The Nominees

Beck, Morning Phase
Beyoncé, Beyoncé
Ed Sheeran, X
Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour
Pharrell Williams, Girl

The Experts Say

Eric Church: This is an incredibly strong category. I like Ed Sheeran’s record, but I’m going to go with Beck’s Morning Phase, for the mood of it, and the uniqueness and the consistent vibe.

Charli XCX: Sam Smith has got this. His record is so universal, and I think he really deserves to be recognized for it ”” it’s so classic, but it’s also pop. I love Beyoncé too, though.

Patrick Carney: I’m picking Beck. I’ve been a Beck fan since high school. I probably saw the Odelay tour three or four times.

Vegas Odds Favor

Beyoncé 6-5

Who Should Win

A year after Beyoncé’s unorthodox release surprised the world, her pop triumph is still blowing our minds.