Last Updated on January 10, 2013 by
2013 Grammy prediction: Album of the Year nominees
• El Camino, Black Keys
• Some Nights, Fun.
• Babel, Mumford & Sons
• Channel Orange, Frank Ocean
• Blunderbuss, Jack White
From the look of the list of 2013 Album of the Year nominees, with four rock albums up against Frank Ocean, it’s almost as if the Recording Academy purposely set up the field to give Ocean the best chance to win. Anybody who doesn’t like rock music has to vote for Ocean. All those classical people in the Academy, the world music people, the jazz people, they’re all going to pick Ocean, right?
Maybe not. The R&B star’s Channel Orange was one of the best records of 2013 and deserves to win Album of the Year. But it’s not going to be that much of a slam dunk for Ocean. In fact, he’s not even the favorite here.
With their rootsy sound, Mumford & Sons are close enough to country to get most of the votes from the country contingent within the Academy. They also appeal to rock fans, folk fans, and pop fans. That coalition will be tough for any of the others to overcome.
Fun. has a shot to win since they’re the most “pop” of the bunch. With six nominations, including Record of the Year for “We Are Young,” the Nate Ruess-led group has widespread appeal. Jack White and the Black Keys are annual Grammy faves, but they have no chance to win here. They cater to the same crowd of rock fans and will thus cancel each other out.
Mumford & Sons really exploded in popularity after their live performance on the ’11 Grammys, and two years later, they’re set to walk off with one of the biggest prizes. We predict Babel wins Album of the Year.
2013 Grammy Awards: Album of the Year prediction
Deserves to win: Channel Orange, Frank Ocean
Will win: Babel, Mumford & Sons
Should have also been nominated: Old Ideas, Leonard Cohen
See a list of every Album of the Year nominee and winner in history.
