The Album of the Year nominees Sunday night at the 50th annual Grammy Awards constitute an adventurous roster of bands and musicians who are firmly in the here and now:

• LCD Soundsystem "Sound of Silver"

• Radiohead "In Rainbows"

• M.I.A. "Kala"

• Amy Winehouse "Back to Black"

• Arcade Fire "Neon Bible."

No, wait, that was the top five vote-getters in the Village Voice's survey of the nation's critics.

The real Grammy nominees for Album of the Year reside somewhere in that limbo between what the critics praise, the fans consume and whatever crazy ideas the committee might have. This year's list of Album nominees is a head-scratcher, pitting:

• Foo Fighters "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace"

• Vince Gill "These Days"

• Herbie Hancock "River: The Joni Letters

• Kanye West "Graduation"

• Amy Winehouse "Back to Black"

As you see, Winehouse is the only one on the other list, and she turns up here on a Grammy ballot that was clearly calculated to pluck one entry from four different genres: rock, country, jazz, hip-hop and soul, respectively.

Right off, we can dismiss the possibility that Granny, or rather Grammy, would even notice anything as cool as LCD Soundsystem in the lofty top Album category. Arcade Fire, despite being gushed over by critics and debuting at No. 2 on the charts, lacks the major-label clout to get there. And the Radiohead album, existing as a mere download until last month, will probably be eligible next year.

But what in the world did Bruce Springsteen ever do to them? The guy has had one of the greatest careers in the history of pop music. Rolling Stone has him at No. 23 on the Greatest Artists of All Time list (one that doesn't include van Gogh, Mozart and people like that, by the way). He just made one of the best, most topical albums of his career with "Magic." And he's never won an Album of the Year Grammy. Not for "Born to Run," not for "Darkness on the Edge of Town," not for "The River." "Born in the U.S.A." was his first album ever nominated, and it lost to Lionel Richie. Lionel Richie! If it's any consolation, "Magic" was nominated for Best Rock Album and has two nods for "Radio Nowhere," that single that sounds an awful lot like "867-5309/Jenny."

The biggest nominees are the two people most likely to create a scene. Kanye West, who has eight, acts like he's 8 at these shows and won't be happy unless he takes home the big one. And Amy Winehouse, who finally said "yes, yes, yes" to rehab, may or may not be able to walk the carpet.

Here are assorted picks and predictions:

Album of the Year: This is the equal opportunity category, and if there were 10 nominees, they would probably throw in folk, blues, Hawaiian, reggae and polka.

Gill is in there with a 43-track opus featuring a cast of thousands helping out on everything from rock to country to bluegrass. It's almost unfair. Hancock, who's won 10 Grammys in the jazz and R&B categories, is a huge surprise here with an understated tribute to Joni Mitchell (it was No. 81 on the Village Voice's Pazz and Jop). The Foo Fighters' "Echoes" (146) is another solid effort from a rock band that's, well, solid. God love Dave Grohl and the Foos, but Album of the Year material? Not so much.

That brings us to the two wild things: the boozy, bluesy Winehouse and the brilliant but temperamental West. Kanye was robbed in '05 and '06, and while "Graduation" is no "College Dropout," it not only deserves the pomp and circumstance, it also has the sympathy vote.

Record of the Year: Here's a tough category seemingly designed to put Jay-Z on the spot. He signed Rihanna and backed her on "Umbrella," which goes up against his beloved Beyonce's "Irreplaceable." The Foos are here with the high-octane rocker "The Pretender," and Winehouse thumbs her nose at "Rehab" in smoky fashion. And then there's Justin Timberlake, looking dangerous with the dizzying pop of "What Goes Around ... Comes Around." It's probably the best song, but I think it's looking like rain because the Rihanna hit was hot and it was everywhere, and, sorry, Be, but Jay has to be pulling for it.

Song of the Year: Winehouse and Rihanna are back again for this award, which goes to the songwriter. Coming out of the blue are Plain White T's with the emo ballad "Hey There Delilah" and Corinne Bailey Rae with the lovely "Like a Star." But watch out for America's sweetheart, Carrie Underwood, and her revenge hit "Before He Cheats." I would go to "Rehab" but think Underwood will prevail.

New Artist: Winehouse is the favorite here, but Feist, a new artist who released her first record in 1999, went deeper and more expansive on "The Reminder." This prize is a dubious honor, but she should get it over Winehouse, Ledisi, Paramore and Taylor Swift.

Rock Album: Please ... please, don't let Daughtry beat Bruce. Foo, Wilco and Fogerty are also in the running, but even with "Magic" being something of a sonic throwback, it's the album that's the most urgent in terms of message.

Best Alternative Music Album: Maybe someday the Album of the Year category will look like this: Lily Allen, Arcade Fire, Bjork, The Shins and The White Stripes. Allen's was the freshest of the bunch, but Arcade Fire will probably get this as a reward for the past two albums.

Best Electronic/Dance Album: An A+ Grammy broadcast would have LCD Soundsystem doing "North American Scum." We'll settle for the Brooklyn band getting some hardware.

Pop Vocal Album: A bizarre category with Winehouse, Feist, Maroon 5 and Bon Jovi going up against the cute Beatle. McCartney will probably win, but the Feist record was far better.

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Winehouse is the favorite, but our homegirl Christina Aguilera could grab this for "Candyman." The R&B voters all respect her pipes, and the geezers love the retro-swing.

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals: There's a showdown here between Tony Bennett and Christina Aguilera ("Steppin' Out") and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss ("Gone Gone Gone"). (Incidentally, the latter will eligible next year for the album "Raising Sand," and the world tour could propel it into Album of the Year contention.) Last word: You don't beat Bennett at the Grammys.

Best Rock Song: Good songs here from Bruce, The White Stripes and Lucinda Williams, but none of them match the passion of the Foos' "The Pretender," which should get the nod.

Best Rap Song: It's Kanye against himself in this category, with two different songs from "Graduation" ("Can't Tell Me Nothing" and "The Good Life") -- meaning that 50 Cent might actually win this round with "Ayo Technology," featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.

Best Rap Album: Kanye, Nas and Jay-Z are entangled here, along with Common and T.I. "The Graduation" is the head of the class.

Country Album: Because of the Album of the Year nomination, Gill will probably win this for "These Days," but I would click into "5th Gear" with the clever and downhome Brad Paisley.

Best Country Song: Underwood and her Louisville slugger.

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album: This will probably go to the Beatles' "Love," but it would be great to see Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova upset the Fab Four, "Hairspray" and "Dreamgirls" for the moving songs that made the movie "Once."