Grammys shock by not altogether sucking

Doo doot doo doot doo doo doo doot -- breaking news! (That's the breaking news sound, see ... um. Yes.)

The Grammy nominees have been announced! Non-breaking news: The Grammys are mostly bullshit. I know, I know. That's been true for years. I don't know it shocks me every year. I mean, really. I couldn't see it coming that Mariah Carey would screech her way to leading the nominations? Oh sweet naive Stacy. Will you ever learn? At least R.Kelly got snubbed. There is still some little speck of sanity left in the world, I guess.

Surprisingly, however, the Grammy bullshit factor this year is somewhat less than in past years. Some deserving people actually snuck in among the 50 Cents and the (shudder) Gwen Stefanis. Swimming in the sea of nominees are:

Emmylou Harris - Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "The Connection" and, with Rodney Crowell, Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for "Shelter From The Storm" on Crowell's "The Outsider"
Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, & Bela Fleck - Best Country Instrumental for "Who's Your Uncle?"
Nickel Creek - Best Country Instrumental for "Scotch & Chocolate" and Best Contemporary Folk Album for "Why Should the Fire Die?"
The Grascals - Best Bluegrass Recording for "The Grascals"
Chris Thile - Production, Non-Classical for "Deceiver"
Keane - Best New Artist
Jack Johnson - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing"
The Killers - Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Mr. Brightside" and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "All These Things That I've Done"
Los Lonely Boys - Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "More Than Love"
The White Stripes - Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "My Doorbell" and Best Alternative Music Album for "Get Behind Me Satan"
Daniel Lanois - Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Agave" and Best Pop Instrumental Album for "Belladonna"
Les Paul - Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Caravan"
Death Cab for Cutie - Best Alternative Music Album for "Plans"
Beck - Best Alternative Music Album for "Guero"
Alison Krauss and Union Station - Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Restless" and Best Country Instrumental Performance for "Unionhouse Branch" and Best Country Album for "Lonely Runs Both Ways"
Blue Highway - Best Bluegrass Album for "Marbletown"
Cherryholmes - Best Bluegrass Album for "Cherryholmes"
The Del McCoury Band - Best Bluegrass Album for "The Company We Keep"
Rhonda Vincent and the Rage - Best Bluegrass Album for "Ragin' Live"
North Mississippi Allstars - Best Contemporary Blues Album for "Electric Blue Watermelon"
Buddy Guy - Best Contemporary Blues Album for "Bring 'Em In"
Delbert McClinton - Best Contemporary Blues Album for "Cost of Living"
Tim O'Brien - Best Traditional Folk Album for "Fiddler's Green"
Jimmie Dale Gilmore - Best Traditional Folk Album for "Come On Back"
The Chieftains - Best Traditional Folk Album for "Live from London - A Tribute to Derek Bell"
Ry Cooder - Best Contemporary Folk Album for "Chávez Ravine"
Rodney Crowell - Best Contemporary Folk Album for "The Outsider"
John Prine - Best Contemporary Folk Album for "Fair & Square"
Aimee Mann - Best Recording Package for "The Forgotten Arm"
Ani Difranco - Best Recording Package for "Knuckle Down"

And of course more mainstream artists we dig like U2, Bruce Springsteen and (this one's arguable here, but *I* like 'em) Green Day racked up the noms, too many for me to type. For the full list of nominees in every category, look here.

For the exciting conclusion to the drama of who will limo home with all the statues (Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey -- she'll even get the bluegrass ones somehow, I friggin' know it ...), look alive on Feb. 8, the day of the awards show.