It is about that time of the year again where people gather together to celebrate one of the gifts of life: music. The 2013 Grammy Awards are hosting the 55th annual ceremony on February 10, 2013. The red carpet will be laid out perfectly in front of Los Angeles’ own Staples Center, with paparazzi lining the fences. Camera crews from CBS will be present streaming the event live.

Perhaps the greatest way a music fan can get pumped up for this glamorous shindig is to scroll down the lengthy list of talented artists who are recognized for their hard work, efforts, and success. Looking through we noticed some of mxdwn’s personal favorites, such as fun., The Black Keys, The Avett Brothers, Frank Ocean, Mumford & Sons, and Jack White, have been mentioned quite a few times. Looks like the nominations are less of a popularity contest this year and some legitimate talent has been heard and appreciated by others.

To all those who have lately been infected with “Bieber-fever,” my sincerest apologies for the lack of nominations. Who knew that this teeny bopper’s catchy tunes “Boyfriend” and “As Long As You Love Me” would hit the top of the charts, but not earn itself an opportunity at a Grammy? The most “swaggy” that the Biebs has on the red carpet this year will be knowing that his own artist, Carly Ray Jepsen, has earned herself a few nominations with “Call Me Maybe.” It is quite surprising, yet relieving, to know that this song was not amongst the finalists up for The Song of the Year award.

With Mumford & Sons scheduling their own set of arena tour dates and earning the most record sales for Babel, it is no surprise that their name is all over the ballot. Frank Ocean has much to be proud of this year, from making a personal announcement to his fans and having his name mentioned time and time again on that long list of nominees.

Let’s not forget the magic in Jack White’s Blunderbuss or the rich, never-disappointing sounds Muse puts forth in their recent album The 2nd Law. Even after last year’s gracious success, Adele’s music is still just as amazing and the same goes for pop-star Kelly Clarkson. These two powerhouse women join the aforementioned artists, and other favorites such as fun., The Black Keys, and Alabama Shakes, in a great night of music diversity and real, true talent.

Music is a universal language and while personal tastes, preferences, and styles vary from one person to another, the mxdwn team is proud to say that the talented names we follow have a chance to bring home a tangible representation that they are, for lack of a better term, rockstars. The diversity in this year’s nominees is astounding. It’s going to be a great show, regardless of the outcome.

And the nominees are…

Record of the Year
“Lonely Boy” The Black Keys
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) Kelly Clarkson
“We Are Young” fun.
“Somebody That I Used To Know” Gotye ft. Kimbra
“Thinkin Bout You” Frank Ocean
“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” Taylor Swift

Album of the Year
El Camino The Black Keys
Some NIghts fun.
Babel Mumford & Sons
Channel Orange Frank Ocean
Blunderbuss Jack White

Song of the Year
“The A Team” Ed Sheeran
“Adorn” Miguel Pimentel
“Call Me Maybe” Carly Rae Jepsen
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” Kelly Clarkson
“We Are Young” fun.

Best New Artist
Alabama Shakes
fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

Best Pop Solo Performance
“Set FIre to the Rain (Live)” Adele
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” Kelly Clarkson
“Call Me Maybe” Carly Ray Jepsen
“Wide Awake” Katy Perry
“Where Have You Been” Rihanna

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Shake It Out” Florence & The Machine
“We Are Young” fun.
“Somebody That I Used To Know” Gotye ft. Kimbra
“Sexy and I Know It” LMFAO
“Payphone” Maroon 5 & Wiz Khalifa

Best Pop Vocal Album
Stronger Kelly Clarkson
Ceremonials Florence & The Machine
Some Nights fun.
Overexposed Maroon 5
The Truth About Love Pink

Best Dance Recording
“Levels” Avicii
“Let’s Go” Calvin Harris ft. Ne-Yo
“Bangarang” Skrillex ft. Sirah
“Don’t You Worry Child” Swedish House Mafia ft. John Martin
“I Can’t Live Without You” Al Walser

Best Dance/Electronica Album
Wonderland Steve Aoki
Don’t Think The Chemical Brothers
> Album Title Goes Here < deadmau5
Fire & Ice Kaskade
Bangarang Skrillex

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

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance
“I’m Alive” Anthrax
“Love BItes (So Do I)” Halestorm
“Blood Brothers” Iron Maiden
“Ghost Walking” Lamb of God
“No Reflection” Marilyn Manson
“Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)” Megadeth

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

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

Best Alternative Music Album
The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do Fiona Apple
Biophilia Bjork
Making Mirrors Gotye
Hurry Up, We’e Dreaming. M83
Bad As Me Tom Waits

Best Urban Contemporary Album
Fortune Chris Brown
Kaleidoscope Dream Miguel
Channel Orange Frank Ocean

Best Rap Performance
“HYFR (Hell Ya F***ing Right)” Drake
“N****s In Paris” Jay-Z & Kanye West
“Daughters” Nas
“Mercy” Kanye West Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz
“I Do” Young Jeezy FEaturing Jay-Z & Andre 3000

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
“Wild Ones” Flo Rida ft. Sia
“No Church in the Wild” Jay-Z & Kanye West ft. Frank Ocean & The-Dream
“Tonight (Best You Ever Had)” John Legend ft. Ludacris
“Cherry Wine” Nas ft. Amy Winehouse
“Talk That Talk” Rihanna ft. Jay-Z

Best Rap Song
“Daughters” Nas
“Lotus Flower Bomb” Wale ft. Miguel
“Mercy” Kanye West ft. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz
“The Motto” Drake ft. Lil’ Wayne
“N****s in Paris” Jay-Z & Kanye West
“Young, Wild & Free” (Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa ft. Bruno Mars)

Best Rap Album
Take Care Drake
Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1 Lupe Fiasco
Life is Good Nas
Undun The Roots
God Forgives, I Don’t Rick Ross
Based On A T.R.U. Story 2 Chainz

Best Americana Album
The Carpenter The Avett Brothers
From the Ground Up John Fullbright
The Lumineers The Lumineers
Babel Mumford & Sons
Slipstream Bonnie Raitt

Best Comedy Album
Blow Your Pants Off Jimmy Fallon
Cho Dependent (Live in Concert) Margaret Cho
In God We Rust Lewis Black
Kathy Griffin: Seaman 1st Class Kathy Griffin
Mr. Universe Jim Gaffigan
Rize of the Fenix Tenacious D

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
The Adventures of Tintin – The Secret of the Unicorn Composed by John Williams
The Artist Composed by Ludovic Bource
The Dark Knight Rises Composed by Hans Zimmer
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Composed by Trent REznor & Atticus Ross
Hugo Composed by Howard Shore
Journey Composed by Austin Wintory

Best Song Written for Visual Media
“Abraham’s Daughter” T Bone Burnett, Win Butler & Regine Chassagne (From The Hunger Games)
“Lern Me Right” Mumford & Sons (From Brave “Let Me Be Your Star” Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman (From Smash)
“Man Or Muppet” Bret McKenzie (From The Muppets)
“Safe & Sound” T Bone Burnett, Taylor Swift, John Paul White & Joy Williams (From The Hunger Games)

Best Recording Package
Biophilia Bjork
Boys & Girls Alabama Shakes
Charmer Aimee Mann
Love This Giant David Byrne & St. Vincent
Swing Lo Magellan Dirty Projectors

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) Trent REznor & Atticus Ross
Go Fly A Kite Ben Kweller
Ram – Paul McCartney Archive Collection (Deluxe Edition) Paul and Lina McCartney
Some Girls: Super Deluxe Edition The Rolling Stones
Woody At 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Dan Auerbach
Jeff Bhasker
Diplo
Markus Dravs
Salaam Remi

Best Short Form Music Video
“Houdini” Foster the People
“No Church in the Wild” Jay-Z & Kanye West ft. Frank Ocean & The-Dream
“Bad Girls” M.I.A.
“We Found Love” Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
“Run Boy Run” Woodkid

Best Long Form Music Video
“Big Easy Express” Mumford & Sons
“Bring Me Home” (Live 2011) Sade
“Radio Music Society” Esperanza Spalding
“Get Along” Tegan & Sara
“From the Sky Down” U2

See details about the listed nominees and view the many, many other categories here.