Awards season is upon us, and tonight sees one of the pinnacles of the UK music calender come to our television sets from the O2 Arena, and here's all the nominations and who I think should win"
BRITISH MALE SOLO ARTIST
NOMINATIONS: Mark Ronson, Paul Weller, Plan B, Robert Plant, Tinie Tempah
This is the first opportunity for me to have a small moan about the Brit awards; they are dominated by pop and the votes will reflect that. Technically, if you look at the pedigree and the quality of their releases, the winner of this award should come from ex-Jam leader Paul Weller or Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. Both have had excellently received recent albums, Weller's last album 'Wake Up The Nation' being compared to his best work with 'Band of Joy' from Plant similarly so. But this award will probably (and not undeservedly) go to Plan B or Tinie Tempah. Just please God, don't give it to Mark Ronson.
WINNER (who I want to win): PAUL WELLER
BRITISH FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
NOMINATIONS: Cheryl Cole, Ellie Goulding, Laura Marling, Paloma Faith, Rumer
I consider this a four-way tustle as it has been a long time since Cheryl Cole could be classed as an 'artist', if she ever was. Her X Factor popularity may win her some votes, but let's hope it goes to the more talented members of the nomination list. Paloma Faith has talent and a couple of good tunes, but I think her weirdness rules her out. Rumer's album is a great listen, a real gem but hasn't had enough mainstream access to put her in pole position for me. Out of the two remaining, both are worthy winners but my preference would be Laura Marling's acoustic beauty over Ellie Goulding's pop perfectness.
WINNER: LAURA MARLING
BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH ACT
NOMINATIONS: Ellie Goulding, Mumford and Sons, Rumer, Tinie Tempah, The xx
A fine selection for this category and hard to pick a winner from a group of differing artists. Goudling has the pop side down, her exposure in the later part of last year assures she will have a strong backing, while Mumford and Sons will surely be a good bet after the widespread success of 'Sigh No More'. As I've said before, Rumer has an exceptional album to back herself up with, while Tinie Tempah has shot to the forefront of the British grime/hip-hop scene and The xx have seen their debut album met with both critical and commercial success. A very hard one to call, but I'm going to go with my favourite of the five.
WINNER: MUMFORD AND SONS
BRITISH GROUP
NOMINATIONS: Biffy Clyro, Gorillaz, Mumford and Sons, Take That, The xx
This is pretty much a foregone conclusion for the wrong reasons really. Take That will almost definitely take the gong, and I cannot argue with the reception the band has received on their live shows. But the re-introduction of Robbie Williams to the band has meant they were always going to be favourites, with their album doing well because of his return to the band rather than for its musical quality. A shame aswell, as Mumford and Sons and The xx should have decent claims after fine debut efforts. The winner for me should come from either Biffy Clyro, now a fully-outfitted and successful rock band thanks to 'Only Revolutions', or Gorillaz, with Damon Albarn's project having gone on to huge things in the past year such as headlining Glastonbury.
WINNER: GORILLAZ
BRITISH SINGLE
NOMINATIONS: Alexandra Burke 'All Night Long', Cheryl Cole 'Parachute', Florence & The Machine'You've Got The Love', Matt Cardle 'When We Collide', Olly Murs 'Please Don't Let Me Go', Plan B 'She Said', Scouting For Girls 'This Ain't A Love Song', Taio Cruz 'Dynamite', Tinie Tempah 'Pass Out', The Wanted 'All Time Low'
In the most pop dominated stage of the ceremony, there is little for a indie/modern rock fan to look forward to. The efforts of Alexandra Burke, Cheryl Cole, Olly Murs, Taio Cruz and The Wanted have all washed over me, with the two songs with the best chance being covers. Matt Cardle with Biffy Clyro's 'Many Of Horror' could be worse I suppose, but Florence & The Machine's Candie Staton remake is brilliant and deserves the award. Don't rule out the pop gems 'This Ain't A Love Song', 'Pass Out' or 'She Said' yet though.
WINNER: FLORENCE & THE MACHINE 'YOU'VE GOT THE LOVE'
MASTERCARD BRITISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR
NOMINATIONS: Mumford and Sons 'Sigh No More', Plan B 'The Defamation of Strickland Banks', Take That 'Progress', Tinie Tempah 'Disc-Overy', The xx 'xx'
Another good selection and it's hard to pick a winner. Take That will be favourites for the Robbie Williams factor, but again I hope it doesn't sway the votes. 'xx' is a fine mellow album, 'Disc-Overy' is a vastly impressive debut effort and Plan B's effort has brought Motown and soul to 21st century Britain. Again, if it was my decision, I would just go for Mumford and Sons, for a terrificly different folky-indie effort in 'Sigh No More' that is still playing on my iPod now.
WINNER: MUMFORD AND SONS 'SIGH NO MORE'
INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST
NOMINATIONS: Bruce Springsteen, Cee Lo Green, David Guetta, Eminem, Kanye West
Following on from the British equivalent, I should argue that Springsteen or Eminem should win this. Springsteen has the long-lasting legendary tag as America's best, while Eminem has put himself back to the forefront of the rap scene in the past year. But Cee Lo Green is probably the most poppy of the nominees with his soulful 'The Lady Killer', and my favourite Kanye West released one of the best albums of the last year. Just again, please God, don't let it be David Guetta.
WINNER: KANYE WEST
INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
NOMINATIONS: Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue, Rihanna, Robyn
A more difficult one to call, if only because it tough to choose between two of the pop's princesses; Rihanna or Katy Perry. One of those will surely claim this one, but we shouldn't discount one of the other contestants. Alicia Keys is hugely talented, Kylie Minogue has been at the peak of pop now for around thirty years and Robyn's recent releases have been met with a lot of critical praise. But if the charts are anything to go by, this should go to either of the big ones; it's just a big guess who though.
WINNER: RIHANNA
INTERNATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH ACT
NOMINATIONS: Bruno Mars, Glee Cast, Justin Bieber, The National, The Temper Trap
Dear God. I'd love to say these bands wouldn't florish in the UK, but I can't be sure. The top three are about as diabolical as pop gets I'm afraid; the faux-soulful Bruno Mars, the over-zealous Glee Cast and the sheerly laughable Justin Bieber showing it's not all brilliant over in the States. One of those three is dead on to win, but it would hopefully strike a blow for real music if either the US indie outfit The National or alternative debutants The Temper Trap claimed this award.
WINNER: THE TEMPER TRAP
INTERNATIONAL GROUP
NOMINATIONS: Black Eyed Peas, Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon, The Script, Vampire Weekend
Black Eyed Peas are the worst band in the world, so I'm gonna put that out there straight away and hope that shows that I'm not to fond of them. Thankfully, I think there's better bands with a chance of winning this one so hopefully they won't get this award, they'll get the message and retire immediatley. Kings of Leon returned (somewhat) to their roots last year, a year that Arcade Fire owned with a multi-award winning and commercially successful album and fine festival shows to boot. The Script are still too lightweight for me, and Vampire Weekend are brilliant; just not quite prestigious enough for me at this moment in time though.
WINNER: ARCADE FIRE
INTERNATIONAL ALBUM
NOMINATIONS: Arcade Fire 'The Suburbs', Cee Lo Green 'The Lady Killer', Eminem 'Recovery', Katy Perry 'Teenage Dream', Kings of Leon 'Come Around Sundown'
Not a bad selection again, with a lot covered in here. You've got the pop highlight of Katy Perry in 'Teenage Dream', the soulful bellows of Cee Lo Green in 'The Lady Killer' and a touch of rock/blues in Kings of Leon's 'Come Around Sundown'. There's both the rap and the R'n'B sides of 'Recovery' by Eminem, and to top it off, the indie hums of Arcade Fire in 'The Suburbs'. A good selection and my shout would make it a fine one-two for Arcade Fire.
WINNER: ARCADE FIRE 'THE SUBURBS'
There we have it, I'm predicting good nights for Mumford and Sons and Arcade Fire, and poor ones for Take That and Justin Bieber. Just to remind you these are my shouts to win the Brits tonight, they probably won't and you're more than welcome to agree/disagree/shout swear words at me. And here's the highlight of last year's BRIT Awards, Florence and Dizzee Rascal teaming up for 'You've Got The Dirtee Love'. Enjoy.
NWR
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