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Not for a long time has a Brit Awards Nominations list resonated as strongly as it does for this year's ceremony. Understandably, following a year when British music ruled the waves once again, the list reflects the strong depth of British talent - from the live dominance of Muse to the exultant breakthrough of Lily Allen. Here are Gigwise’s choices for this year's key awards at the ceremony, held on Valentine's Day (February 14) . If these acts don’t win, it will truly be a travesty.
Best Album
Nominees:
• Amy Winehouse – ‘Back To Black’
• Arctic Monkeys – ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’
• Lily Allen – ‘Alright Still’
• Snow Patrol – ‘Eyes Open’
• Muse – ‘Black Holes And Revelations’
Gigwise Choice:
Muse – ‘Black Holes And Revelations’
Unquestionably Britain’s finest live performers, Muse showed with ‘Black Holes And Revelations,’ that their musical ambition at times transcends our universe. From the hypnotic ivory keys of ‘Starlight,’ to the out-of-space intensity of, ‘Knights Of Cydonia,’ it’s an album that will make you think a holiday to Mars is more viable than package trip to the Costa-del-sol.
Best Male
Nominees:
• James Morrison
• Jarvis Cocker
• Lemar
• Thom Yorke
• Paulo Nutini
Gigwise Choice:
Thom Yorke
The Radiohead man proved in 2006 with ‘The Eraser,’ that there might just be a solo-life after Radiohead. Yorke’s first solo venture was a joyous concoction which mixed all the glorious melodies that we know him so well for with his own distorted visions of the world.
British Female
Nominees:
• Amy Winehouse
• Corinne Bailey Rae
• Lily Allen
• Jamelia
• Nerina Pallot
Gigwise Choice:
Amy Winehouse
The UK soul sensation didn’t just come back on the scene in 2006 with bigger hair and tighter jeans, but she hit us with one of the strongest albums of the year in, ‘Back To Black.’ With a voice that goes deeper than most millionaires pockets, the honest and melancholy reflection of the album proved that Winehouse is more than d of becoming one of Britain’s finest female artists.
British Group
Nominees:
• Kasabian
• Muse
• Arctic Monkeys
• Snow Patrol
• Razorlight
Gigwise Choice:
Arctic Monkeys
Sheffield’s Arctic Monkeys began 2006 as the band to look out for with a cult following strong enough to rival any British band of days gone by. After releasing the devastatingly good, ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,’ the band trekked around the UK picking up new disciples to their kitchen sink revolution along the way. They then audaciously took Reading by storm, just to make sure that we wouldn’t forget them anytime soon.
Breakthrough Act
Nominees:
• Corinne Bailey Rae
• The Kooks
• Fratellis
• James Morrison
• Lily Allen
Gigwise Choice:
Lily Allen
Lily Allen’s all conquering debut album, ‘Alright Still,’ possessed enough tunes to soundtrack a lot of peoples summers in 2006. From the sing-a-long splendour of ‘Smile’ to the biographical journey of, ‘LDN,’ you’d have been hard pushed to have not heard one of her songs last year. With a flawless live voice, all that she has to prove now is that she can make a follow-up to match.
British Live Act
Nominees:
• Muse
• Kasabian
• Robbie Williams
• George Michael
• Guillemots
Gigwise Choice:
Muse
Prolific, soul crushing and like a journey to another planet are just some of the ways you could describe Muses live gigs in 2006. Just as you thought that they’d reached their pinnacle at the Carling Festival’s in the summer, they unleashed a galactic arena tour which swept the nation off its feet. What can they possibly do next? Well two nights at Wembley Stadium, what else?
International Breakthrough Act
Nominees:
• Raconteurs
• Orson
• Gnarls Barkley
• Ray Lamontagne
• Wolfmother
Gigwise Choice:
Gnarls Barkley
If you managed to escape ‘Crazy’ in 2006 then congratulations because Gigwise didn’t, and we definitely weren’t the only ones. The single entered the charts at number one world wide, and was only out done in the end by Danger-Mouse and Cee-Lo Brown’s ridiculous on stage attire. A formidable partnership, the duo’s album was one of those records which sounded so fresh, yet seemed top borrow sounds effortlessly from decades gone by.
International Group
Nominees:
• The Flaming Lips
• Gnarls Barkley
• The Killers
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Scissor Sisters
Gigwise Choice:
The Killers
Brandon Flowers’ band returned in 2006 with newly grown facial hair and an album which further showed the bands intentions to become one the biggest band in the world. Another release jam packed with singles to make you laugh and cry, ‘Sam’s Town,’ effortlessly categorised life in America through Flowers’ patriotic eyes.
