Grammy Countdown - 2 Days Til Armageddeon

Another day in a series where Radio V tries (in vain) to predict who will win on Music's Most Overhyped Night®.

Tonight, we take a look at the Rock Genre Categories:

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal





Coldplay - Talk
The Fray - How To Save A Life
The Raconteurs - Steady As She Goes
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California
U2 + Green Day - The Saints Are Coming

The Nominees: The Best Rock Duo Or Group With Vocal category is almost completely stocked with guys who've been around the block a few times. The lone exception being The Fray. What troubles me most is how did the band decide that "How To Save A Life" should be submitted as rock while "Over My Head (Cable Car)" fell under pop. They're virtually carbon copies of each other sonically. Of the vets, Coldplay is up for by far the finest moment of their spotty X&Y opus. The Raconteurs, led by White Stripes frontman Jack White find their way to the table with the standout single from the first Jack White album where the words "drum solo" isn't a punchline. Red Hot Chili Peppers should be considered hot favorites as they're the sole nominees here who also appear in the big four categories. That and this record sounds like Californication Deux. U2 and Green Day, on the other hand, account for 25 Grammy wins and 3 of this decade's Record Of The Year winners.

The Breakdown: Count out The Fray, no one who knows rock considers The Fray to be rock, except maybe The Fraymates. Everyone knows the U2 and Green Day song wasn't either's shining moment, but it's friggin U2 and Green Day! Coldplay's a Grammy favorite, but the single and the album from which it came have largely been forgotten. The Raconteurs definitely pumped a shot of adrenaline into the rock world earlier this year and this single was huge. Since then, their record label all but shut down. The Peppers meanwhile have followed the Church Of Latter Day-U2 template perfectly, releasing a single that apes one of their greatest moments with such meticulous reverence that people almost don't realize how self-referential it is.

Should Win: The Raconteurs - "Steady As She Goes"

Will Win: U2 + Green Day "The Saints Are Coming


Best Alternative Album

Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics

Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones

Thom Yorke - The Eraser

The Nominees: A quick hand to Karen O., lead singer of Yeah Yeah Yeahs for managing to be the ONLY woman nominated in the rock and alternative fields. Unfortunately, one single deep, the world seemed to lose interest. There was nothing but interest in Arctic Monkeys, strangely enough they delivered the tunes to follow-up on the hype with one of the most talked-and-blogged about (and actually good) debut records in recent memory. The Flaming Lips may be the most revered band to go ignored by the mainstream since The Pixies. That doesn't generally translate into Grammys, just dorm room evangelism. Gnarls Barkley unleashed the most beloved single of the year, while the ensuing album was equally exalted and eviscerated. Thom Yorke, with Beck, Coldplay and The Beasties absent from the category, stands as The Godfather of Alternative and his hotly anticipated "The Eraser," did little more than cement his status with or without Kids B, C, D or E.

The Breakdown: "Girl Power!" notwithstanding, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs don't stand out among the competition here as likely winners. The Arctic Monkeys delivered a great album, but US interest was minimal, can an album that didn't make a mark outside of alternative circles take the prize? The Flaming Lips have been critical darlings for ages. In the absence of a world-beating competitor could they sneak in for a win? Gnarls Barkley have the sales, they have the hit song and they have the big nominations as well for the Album and Record Of The Year prizes as well. This award could be part of a big night for them, or more likely, a consolation prize. Thom Yorke is the form horse, having won this category with Radiohead a couple times, why not again.

Should Win: Arctic Monkeys "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not"

Will Win: Gnarls Barkley "St. Elsewhere"