2013 Grammy Awards

The Grammy's are approaching, and this years' awards are more indie-centric, with multiple nominations for artists/bands such as Frank Ocean, The Black Keys, Mumford & Sons and Fun.

I'm not going to pretend to act like I know rap and r&b, so I'll just preview/predict the general,pop and rock nominees.

Best Rock Performance:
"Hold On" - Alabama Shakes
"Lonely Boy" - The Black Keys
"Charlie Brown" - Coldplay
"I Will Wait" - Mumford & Sons
"We Take Care Of Our Own" - Bruce Springsteen

Winner: "Lonely Boy"
Dark Horse: "I Will Wait"

Its been a solid year for rock, and I think the break out band The Black Keys score a win here. "Lonely Boy" is such a unique and catchy song. However, you can never count out Mumford & Sons.

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance:
"I'm Alive - Anthrax
"Love Bites (So Do I)" - Halestorm
"Blood Brothers" (live) - Iron Maiden
"Ghost Walking" - Lamb Of God
"No Reflection" - Marilyn Manson
"Whose Life (Is It Anyway?)" - Megadeth

Winner: "Love Bites (So Do I)"
Dark Horse: "Whose Life (Is It Anyway?)"

It has been a solid sophomore showing for Halestorm coming off their debut album.

Best Rock Song:
"Freedom At 21" - Jack White
"I Will Wait" - Mumford & Sons
"Lonely Boy" - The Black Keys
"Madness" - Muse
"We Take Care Of Our Own" - Bruce Springsteen

Winner: "I Will Wait"
Dark Horse: "Lonely Boy"

I think we'll see Mumford & Sons and The Black Keys battling it out Sunday night. The Black Keys take best Rock Performance, but I see Mumford & Sons taking this.

Best Rock Album:
El Camino - The Black Keys
Mylo Xyloto - Coldplay
The 2nd Law - Muse
Wrecking Ball - Bruce Springsteen
Blunderbuss - Jack White

Winner: El Camino
Dark Horse: Blunderbuss

Without Mumford & Sons being nominated here, this seems to be The Black Keys' for the taking. Don't count out the "hardest working musician" in the business, Jack White.

Best Pop Solo Performance:

"Set Fire To The Rain" (live) - Adele

"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" - Kelly Clarkson

"Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen

"Wide Awake" - Katy Perry

"Where Have You Been" - Rihanna

Winner: "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"

Dark Horse: "Set Fire To The Rain" (live)

Kelly Clarkson just seems to churn out hit after hit, a true force in pop music, and in music in general. Adele had a haul in awards last year, but you just never know.

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
"Shake It Out" - Florence & The Machine
"We Are Young" - Fun ft/ Janelle Monae
"Somebody That I Used To Know" Gotye ft/ Kimbra
"Sexy And I Know It" LMFAO
"Payphone" Maroon 5 ft/ Wiz Khalifa

Winner: "We Are Young"
Dark Horse: "Somebody That I Used To Know"

Fun really broke into the scene this past year. They could be going home with a multitude of awards. Watch for Gotye, another pop artist who broke into the scene.

Best Pop Vocal Album:

Stronger - Kelly Clarkson

Ceremonials - Florence & The Machine

Some Nights - Fun

Overexposed - Maroon 5

The Truth About Love - Pink

Winner: Some Nights

Dark Horse: Stronger

As I said, Fun could have a pretty good haul Sunday night. Kelly Clarkson could also pull off an upset here.

Best New Artist:

Alabama Shakes

Fun

Hunter Hayes

The Lumineers

Frank Ocean

Winner: Frank Ocean

Dark Horse: Fun

Frank Ocean really stormed onto the scene this past year, he could have a major haul. Don't count out Fun, who really came out of nowhere

Song Of The Year:

"The A Team" - Ed Sheeran

"Adorn" - Miguel

"Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen

"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" - Kelly Clarkson

"We Are Young" - Fun ft/ Janelle Monae

Winner: "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"

Dark Horse: "We Are Young"

Kelly Clarkson put out one of her best pop anthems. Of course, you can't count out Fun

Record Of The Year:

"Lonely Boy" - The Black Keys

"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" - Kelly Clarkson

"We Are Young" - Fun ft/ Janelle Monae

"Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye ft/ Kimbra

"Thinkin Bout You" - Frank Ocean

"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Taylor Swift

Winner: "Thinkin Bout You"

Dark Horse: "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"

Its Frank Ocean's time to shine. This is an award that he deserves. Watch out for a controversial "gimmie" award to Taylor Swift

Album Of The Year:

El Camino - The Black Keys

Some Nights - Fun

Babel - Mumford & Sons

Channel Orange - Frank Ocean

Blunderbuss - Jack White

Winner: Channel Orange

Dark Horse: El Camino

Frank Ocean continues to haul in the awards, in what could be one of many awards to come for Frank Ocean. If there's an upset, look for The Black Keys with El Camino, a solid album featuring a mixture of rock and blues. Honestly, any winner for album of the year would not shock me. It has certainly been a solid year in music.

Only 4 artists have ever won both Best New Artist along with Album of the Year. Frank Ocean should, and will be the 5th.