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The boys of Mumford & Sons are back to win Best Rock Song for "The Cave" after "Little Lion Man" was defeated last year. Their anthemic track which builds brilliantly is featured on album "Sigh No More," one of 2011's best-selling releases. The British band -- consisting of members and songwriting team Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett and Country Winston -- is having a tremendous year that will almost certainly be capped off with a Grammy win or two.
Foo Fighters may be safe bets in the Best Rock Album race, where Mumford & Sons was not eligible to compete, but they're less likely to win for the inspiring "Walk." Though the song ran up the Billboard rock chart and reigned at #1 for several weeks, it still lacks the momentum "The Cave" has. It also scarcely helps that Foo Fighters have lost this prize three times for "All My Life" (2003), "Best of You" (2006) and "The Pretender" (2008).
The immensely popular Coldplay have also struggled to win this category, something unlikely to change with "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall." "Yellow" (2002), "Speed of Sound" (2006) and "Violet Hill" (2009) all couldn't do the trick and the lightweight "Every Teardrop" just doesn't sound like a winning rock song. Songwriters Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin already have plenty of Grammys, so they surely don't mind too much.
It's hard to imagine a more low-key track than Radiohead's "Lotus Flower" getting cited for Best Rock Song, but then their previous nod for "House of Cards" (2009) was in the same vein. This is a category where a booming, memorable chorus means more than a pleasant melody. Songwriters Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Phil Selway and Thom Yorke will have to be content with this well-earned nomination.
The Decemberists compete here for the first time for "Down by the Water." Lead singer Colin Meloy penned this exuberant track with delightful harmonies. Perhaps the folk-rocker can win in a year where the competition is a little less fierce.
After reviewing the category handicapping, enter your Best Pop Solo Performance predictions here.
Listen to the nominated records below.
