Grammy Predictions: Tool, Vampire Weekend, Cage The Elephant And Gary Clark Jr. May Win The Rock Awards – Forbes

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JAN 30: Maynard Keenan of Tool performs on stage at the Melbourne Big Day out ... [+] at Flemington racetrack on Sunday 30th January 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Martin Philbey/Redferns)

The rock verticals at the Grammys are often a point of contention among fans of the genre, as there is always an argument about what constitutes rock, and many music lovers feel that certain styles are overlooked far too often. This time around, the nominated songs and albums better represent a wide array of sounds (at least when compared to previous years), but when the names are called on Sunday night, there are sure to be some hurt feelings, as not everyone can go home a champion.

Here are my predictions for the rock categories.

Best Rock Album

Nominees:

Bring Me the Horizon - Amo

Cage the Elephant - Social Cues

The Cranberries - In the End

I Prevail - Trauma

Rival Sons - Feral Roots

Should Win:

Cage the Elephant - Social Cues

The Cranberries - In the End

Will Win:

Cage the Elephant - Social Cues

Of the five bands nominated, only Cage the Elephant have been to the Grammys before, and that fact will likely help them walk away with another golden gramophone. Social Cues was well-received, and its a safe choice for most voters. Rock album can be difficult to select a winner, as the nominees can be so different from one another. In this years group, there are acts who feature heavy guitars and screaming, some who employ electronic elements, legends with their own specific style, and one that sounds more middle of the road (thats Cage the Elephant).

The band has earned this honor before, and they appear to be headed toward another big night. If not them, this really should go to The Cranberries for In The End, which is the groups last studio effort after the sudden passing of frontwoman Dolores O'Riordan, who died before the set was released. The outfit has, somehow, never been nominated before, and this would be a great moment for all involved.

Best Rock Performance

Nominees:

Bones UK - "Pretty Waste"

Brittany Howard - "History Repeats"

Gary Clark, Jr. - "This Land"

Karen O & Danger Mouse - "Woman"

Rival Sons - "Too Bad"

Should Win:

Gary Clark, Jr. - "This Land"

Will Win:

Gary Clark, Jr. - "This Land"

Gary Clark, Jr. is already one of the most respected names in the rock field, and in 2019 he delivered what may be considered the greatest track of his career. This Land has everything that should make Grammy voters want to choose it above all others, including, above all else, a spectacular delivery. Perhaps coming in second place would be either Brittany Howards History Repeats or Karen O and Danger Mouses Woman. Both cuts are performed by musicians who have earned the respect of their peers and critics, but its tough to imagine either winning.

Best Rock Song

Nominees:

The 1975 - "Give Yourself a Try"

Brittany Howard - "History Repeats"

Gary Clark, Jr. - "This Land"

Tool - "Fear Inoculum"

Vampire Weekend - Harmony Hall

Should Win:

Gary Clark, Jr. - "This Land"

Will Win:

Gary Clark, Jr. - "This Land"

2020 should be a big year for Gary Clark, Jr., as he stands a good chance at collecting a handful of trophies. The multi-talented stars This Land is timely and incredibly touching, and anybody who heard it or saw the video remembered it and was affected by it. The song deals with racism in America, and does so in a very powerful way. This title may very well bring home both best performance and best song, a songwriters prize.

Best Metal Performance

Nominees:

Candlemass - "Astorolus The Great Octopus (ft. Tony Iommi)"

Death Angel - "Humanicide"

I Prevail - "Bow Down"

Killswitch Engage - "Unleashed"

Tool - "7empest"

Should Win:

I Prevail - "Bow Down"

Will Win:

Tool - "7empest"

Candlemass, Death Angel and I Prevail are all first-time nominees in 2020, and though Killswitch Engage has been here several times before, they have never managed to claim a trophy. Of the bunch, only Tool and I Prevail are up for any other prize, with the former competing for Best Rock Song (although for a different track), while the latter is also up for Best Rock Album.

I would say that I Prevails Bow Down deserves the honor, but my bet is that voters will stick with genre leaders Tool, who have been named champions in this field twice before.

Best Alternative Album

Nominees:

Big Thief - U.F.O.F.

Bon Iver - i, i

James Blake - Assume Form

Thom Yorke - Anima

Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride

Should Win:

Bon Iver - i, i

Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride

Will Win:

Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride

In a rare showing of support for the alternative/rock/indie field, two titles nominated for Best Alternative Album are also up for Album of the Year. Both Bon Ivers i, i and Vampire Weekends Father of the Bride are among the eight titles named as potential winners of the biggest prize of the evening, so they appear to be the obvious frontrunners for their genre-specific group as well.

Picking between them is tough, as both acts are also nominated for two other big awards. If I have to choose, Im going with previous winners Vampire Weekend, as their Father of the Bride seemed to garner more press attention and praise than Bon Ivers semi-surprise release.

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Grammy Predictions: Tool, Vampire Weekend, Cage The Elephant And Gary Clark Jr. May Win The Rock Awards - Forbes

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero