The thing about a collection such as the 2008 Grammy Nominees is that it's like a mixed tape from a friend--chances are, you will love a couple of songs, like a few, and dislike at least one, possibly more.

Such is the case with this CD, which covers 21 Grammy nominees.

My favorites include the following:

Feist's "1234," which I surprisingly did not get sick of over the holidays when it was used in seemingly every commercial on television (Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance). Bon Jovi's "(You Want To) Make A Memory," which I had never heard before but appreciated for its down-home rock sensibilities (Best Pop Vocal Album). Nelly Furtado's "Say It Right," which is probably the best song on her album, Loose (Best Female Pop Vocal Performance). Vince Gill's "What You Give Away" with guest vocalist Sheryl Crow, which I'm surprised to admit I liked, since I'm not a big country music fan (Album Of The Year). Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats," which I also appreciated, despite the genre (Song Of The Year). Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah," which got way too much radio airtime where I live, but I'm still not sick of (Song Of The Year). And Corinne Bailey Rae's "Like a Star," which also got a lot of radio play but still remains one of my favorites from last year (Song Of The Year).

Among the remaining songs, the two I did not care for at all were the Foo Fighter's "The Pretender" (Record Of The Year, Album Of The year) and The White Stripes' "Icky Thump" (Best Rock Performances By A Duo Or Group With Vocals), both of which were too hard rock for my taste.

The remaining tracks include Justin Timberlake's "What Goes Around...Comes Around (Interlude)" (Record Of The Year); Amy Winehouse's aptly-named "Rehab" (Record Of The Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year); Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" (Record Of The Year); Maroon 5's toe-tapping, danceable "Makes Me Wonder" (Best Pop Vocal Album); Paul McCartney's "Dance Tonight" (Best Pop Vocal Album); Christina Aguilera's "Candyman" (Best Female Pop Vocal Performance); Kanye West's "Good Life" featuring T-Pain (Album Of The Year); Herbie Hancock's "River" featuring Corinne Bailey Rae (Album Of The Year); Green Day's "Working Class Hero" (Best Rock Performances By A Duo Or Group With Vocals); Daughtry's "It's Not Over" (Best Rock Performances By A Duo Or Group With Vocals); Nickelback's "If Everyone Cared" (Best Rock Performances By A Duo Or Group With Vocals); and U2's "Instant Karma" (Best Rock Performances By A Duo Or Group With Vocals).

In all, the 2008 Grammy Nominees CD is a eclectic mix of rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, country and jazz, and offers plenty of mainstream music with lots of hits and just a couple of misses.