The Black Keys

The Album of the Year category is the most Rock-centric it has been in years, with Mumford's Babel, Some Nights from fun., Jack White's solo debut Blunderbuss and the Keys' El Camino all nominated, along with critical favorite Ocean and his album Channel Orange.

The Black Keys and fun. are nominees for Record of the Year as well, with "Lonely Boy" and "We Are Young," respectively. Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Gotye's smash hit "Somebody That I Used To Know," "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" from Taylor Swift and Ocean's "Thinkin About You" round out the category.

Song of the Year (which goes to the songwriter) nominees are "The A Team" by UK singer Ed Sheeran, Miguel's "Adorn," the massive "Call Me Maybe" from Carly Rae Jepsen, Clarkson's "Stronger" and "We Are Young."

fun.

As for the Grammy special itself, the show featured performances from Maroon 5, The Who, The Band Perry (playing a tribute to Johnny Cash, as the show was live from Nashville), Ne-Yo, fun. and Country artist Luke Bryan.

The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) saluted this year's nominees and noted that for the third year in a row, half of the nods went to independent artists. A2IM VP Jim Mahoney says, "What an exciting night for so many independent labels and artists... from independent leaders Concord Music Group, Glassnote, Ultra Records and ATO to the outstanding people at Sunnyside Records, Mack Avenue, Nacional, and Compass Records...outstanding!"

Glassnote CEO Daniel Glass commented on Mumford & Sons' multiple nods, saying, "Babel continues to prove itself and touch people. We are elated, inspired, and proud of Mumford & Sons and their very talented producer Markus Dravs."

The complete list of Grammy nominees can be found here. The 55th annual Grammy Awards will be handed out on CBS on February 10. The traditional 2013 Grammy Nominees Album will be released via Capitol Records on January 22.