Arctic Monkeys ... Sheffield's finest lead the NME awards nominations with KasabianThe nominees for this year's NME awards have been announced, giving Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian and, er, generally boys with guitars lots of reasons to be chuffed. The shortlist's other leading acts include Muse, Oasis, Biffy Clyro, and Florence and the Machine.
Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian each received six nominations, including best British band, best album, best live band and best video. Muse trail with four nominations. Oasis, who won the prize for best British band last year – and then promptly broke up – are again nominated.
"The NME awards is the one ceremony where you see the bands who have really meant something and made a difference get justly rewarded," editor Krissi Murison told BBC 6 Music. By happy coincidence, most of the acts that "really meant something" seem to involve guitars. By our clumsy estimate, 21 of the 29 nominees are guitar-based bands. Led by male singers.
At last year's awards, only two winners, MGMT and Dizzee Rascal, were not merely lads with guitars (MGMT, after all, are lads with guitars AND lots of keyboards). Even the winners for worst band and worst album – the Jonas Brothers – have Stratocasters. But lads playing indie rock are what NME readers love best.
"The great thing is," Murison said, "there's no predicting which way the fans will vote!" We just wouldn't put any money on La Roux.
The Shockwaves NME awards take place on 24 February at the O2 Academy in Brixton.
