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So, another year, another publicity-hoarding spectacle disguised as a prestigious awards show. To be honest, the Brits have received a lot of flack since their inception in 1989, made infamous by its two woefully incompetent hosts Samantha Fox and Mick Fleetwood. Since then, the Brits have always had a whiff of corrosive shit about them, but such an advertizing opportunity is not to be missed according to record bosses, so ceaseless buzz and excitement hovers over them every year. And though this year actually sees a few worthier-than-most acts receiving nominations and at least one promise of genuine pop-tastic spectacle, that same stench will surely prompt guests to wear gas-masks come the event itself next month...

One such facet that the Brits have going for it this year is in their honoring British electro-pop duo Pet Shop Boys with a lifetime achievement award, a well-deserved accolade bestowed just in time for the upcoming album. Good to see decent acts get some press for a change... Another is the inclusion of Kylie Minogue hosting alongside the UK's latest comedy darling duo, Mat Horne and James Corden, which must surely mean we are in for something better than the Osbournes' lamentable effort last year. But what of the awards themselves? Well, the nominations are below and ripe for dissection amongst us last.fm bloggers, so here goes:

Mastercard Award For Best British Album
In Rainbows by Radiohead
Rockferry by Duffy
The Seldom Seen Kid by Elbow
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends by Coldplay
We Started Nothing by The Ting Tings
Whilst it's encouraging that both Radiohead and Elbow are nominated for their rather brilliant work (a surprise for Radiohead too, seeing as the album's been around for more than a year), given the amount of units sold internationally and their dominance at the Grammys for this year's nominations, it would be foolhardy to bet against Coldplay winning this. Their fiercest competition surely lies with Elbow, whose Mercury Prize winning album has encouraged late-blooming commercial success for the band alongside industry respect, and justly so.
The Winner: Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Potential Upset: The Seldom Seen Kid
My Choice: In Rainbows
Cruellest Snub: Glasvegas by Glasvegas - The Next Big Things of 2008 delivered a stellar debut last year and yet have not received a single nomination at the Brits this year, despite plenty of critical and commercial success.

Best British Group
Coldplay
Elbow
Girls Aloud
Radiohead
Take That
Like the British Album award, it would appear that there is too much clout to deny anyone other than Coldplay this according to their success against the rest of the shortlist. I would say that Girls Aloud could be the only act to topple them though; Cheryl Cole's well-received appearance on X Factor could be too much for voters to ignore, never mind the fact that their OTT exposure was bolstered by a typically very good album. It would be nice for Elbow to win this though, to cap off a remarkable underdog-done-good year for the Mancunians.
The Winner: Coldplay
Potential Upset: Girls Aloud
My Choice: Elbow
Cruellest Snub: Bloc Party - Sometimes mainstream recognition is ever-elusive; just ask these guys, who delivered their best album so far last year and yet received nothing from the Brits come nomination announcement time.

Best British Male Solo Artist
Ian Brown
James Morrison
Paul Weller
The Streets
Will Young
The first award sponsored by songwriter Eg White, whose painfully-earnest piano chords found their way on many a release last year, not least this category's two front runners, Morrison and Young. Morrison certainly has the edge over Young though, seeing as his album was released a little later and his latest single with Nelly Furtado is receiving a lot of radioplay. It would be nice for Weller to sneak up from behind to nab it though, with his album 22 Dreams receiving adulatory reviews and hitting the number one spot on the UK album chart.
The Winner: James Morrison
Potential Upset: Will Young
My Choice: Paul Weller
Cruellest Snub: Tricky - The trip hop community can normally be counted on to rustle up a wildcard nomination at the Brits, and this fellow's album happened to be very good too. Am sure he doesn't give a flying fuck though, bless 'im!

Best British Female Solo Artist
Adele
Beth Rowley
Duffy
Estelle
M.I.A.
What? No Leona Lewis?? The world must be in some sort on the cusp of cataclysmic collapse!? OK, maybe not, but I was a little surprised that the UK's most prolific solo female export didn't receive a nomination this year, though I'm sure Adele and Duffy are rubbing their mitts with glee as a result. Seeing as they're both up for this and the Breakthrough Act, its most likely one will get the other... but given that Adele already has a Brit to her name, it makes sense she get this over Duffy as she is 1) slightly feistier and 2) her album is slightly better (still more than a little bit crap though!)
The Winner: Adele
Potential Upset: Duffy
My Choice: M.I.A.
Cruellest Snub: Helicopter Girl - Another underrated singer who released something rather lovely last year that fell by the wayside thanks to the lazy listening public at large.

Best International Album
Black Ice by AC/DC
Day & Age by The Killers
Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
Only by the Night by Kings of Leon
Oracular Spectacular by MGMT
Whilst the UK's rock music scene is slowly dying a death bar a few admirable exceptions, it would appear we are more comfortable finding our rock excesses elsewhere in the world. However, this award would be appear to lie between The Killers and Kings of Leon, two US acts who have remained popular in the UK since their debuts despite breakout success in the US failing to materialize. Of these two, Kings have a better grasp than those Las Vegas kids, on the back of their incredibly popular single Sex on Fire and a successful UK tour more than anything.
The Winner: Only By The Night
Potential Upset: Day & Age
My Choice: Fleet Foxes
Cruellest Snub: Feed the Animals by Girl Talk - The sheer amount of samples from the quite astonishing array of artists to find their way on this album is a feat in itself. The fact that it is all mixed into one of the most wonderful dance albums to be recently released makes it all the more essential!

Best International Group
AC/DC
Fleet Foxes
Kings of Leon
MGMT
The Killers
The same can almost be said for this category as the one above, seeing as the same acts are nominated. However, given their presence and influence in the rock world since God was a lad, surely AC/DC are to pick this one up over the others for recognition for their still rocking decades since they begun gigging. Completely against my whims in particuar, it must be said, as either MGMT or Fleet Foxes would warrant a more deserving win here, and given their presence in plenty of year-end publications, MGMT may have an outsiders chance (read: none).
The Winner: AC/DC
Potential Upset: Kings Of Leon
My Choice: MGMT
Cruellest Snub: TV on the Radio - Surely, after the near-triumphs of so many Top 10 placings on Best of 2008 lists all over the world, these guys deserved at the very least a nomination??! Er, no!

Best International Male Solo Artist
Beck
Neil Diamond
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Seasick Steve
This is probably the weirdest category to deduce a winner from, only because it would appear that Brit voters have gone out of their way to make sure Kanye wins this one... Commercially, his biggest competition is Diamond, who even the Grammys snubbed quite horribly this year. Artistically, its between him and Beck, though Kanye has it in the bag should it come to that. Jay-Z's last album came out nearly 18 months ago so Lord knows how he got a nomination in the first place. And Seasick Steve's novelty wore out as soon as his album was released.
The Winner: Kanye West
Potential Upset: Neil Diamond
My Choice: Kanye West
Cruellest Snub: Insert Male Solo Artist Who Isn't From The UK here... Are you kidding me!!!? ,':^/

Though, that has reminded me of one of my favorite YouTube clips from last year... Tee Hee!!


Best International Female Solo Artist
Beyoncé
Gabriella Cilmi
Katy Perry
P!nk
Santogold
Another forgone conclusion here really, seeing as X Factor made sure Beyoncé's profile was never less than high enough to make skyscrapers seethe with envy, even if Gabriella brought out a slightly better album, and P!nk's So What pissed all over both of them! We're all in agreement that Santogold should definitely have scored more points than this solitary nomination though, right??? I'll be OK with Beyoncé scoring a win for this category though if it means her quite-clearly better sister Solange accepts on her behalf...
The Winner: Beyoncé
Potential Upset: P!nk
My Choice: Santogold
Cruellest Snub: Grace Jones - Come on now, Brit voters!! You missed a golden opportunity to bring the crazy back into this show by snubbing the Corporate Cannibal herself!! Kudos for snubbing Madonna though...

Best British Single
American Boy by Estelle featuring Kanye West
Better in Time by Leona Lewis
Chasing Pavements by Adele
Dance Wiv Me by Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris and Chrome
Hallelujah by Alexandra Burke
Heartbeat by Scouting for Girls
Hero by X Factor Finalists
Mercy by Duffy
The Promise by Girls Aloud
Viva la Vida by Coldplay
I know, I was surprised by Basshunter's absence too, but this category still serves up probably the best mix of potential winners than any other this year... don't get me wrong, it's still pretty torpid, but I'm doing all I can to remain interested! So, it's between Girls Aloud and Estelle for this one, I feel, both feelgood tunes that the public will probably never ever tire of. But there's always the horrible chance that Duffy could pip both of them to the post... personally, I'm all for Dizzee winning, if only to put all those NME writers' noses right out of joint!
The Winner: The Promise
Potential Upset: American Boy
My Choice: Dance Wiv Me
Cruellest Snub: A&E by Goldfrapp - OK, it wasn't the most prolific Top 10 to hit the record books, but it's still one of the most beautiful pop moments of last year... Humph!!

Best British Breakthrough Act
Adele
Duffy
Scouting for Girls
The Last Shadow Puppets
The Ting Tings
Another Adele/Duffy headlock here, this one I think going to Duffy on account of her unprecedented success and Adele already having a Brit to her name. And whilst The Last Shadow Puppets outshine everyone else on this shortlist by some margin, I think there should be a rule that members of prolific award-darling bands should be rendered ineligible... unless they're amazing, of course, in which case laud them to the heavens!
The Winner: Duffy
Potential Upset: The Last Shadow Puppets
My Choice: The Last Shadow Puppets
Cruellest Snub: Glasvegas - Heartbreakingly brutal and yet majestically beautiful, where the fuck are they in these nominations!!?

Best British Live Act
Coldplay
Elbow
Iron Maiden
Scouting for Girls
The Verve
Considering there's only one act here I genuinely like, I'm keeping this to a minimum... sorry! :^(
The Winner: Iron Maiden
Potential Upset: The damage is done already, guys...
My Choice: Elbow
Cruellest Snub: Yazoo - They played their last ever gigs last year to adoring fans in the most faithfully enjoyable way possible, Alison Moyet in particular being her incredibly lovely self.

Critic's Choice Award
Florence and The Machine
Rocking up the radio like something sublime for most of 2008, this bodes a major improvement for the Critic's Choice Award history, given their tapping of Adele for the same honour last year, whilst also hinting that Florence could very well make as an popular impression with the public this year. Thank God someone's voting properly amidst this awards circle! And, for the record, Florence's fellow nominees Little Boots and White Lies will be primed for greater things too, so watch their space!

Outstanding Contribution To Music
Pet Shop Boys
Marvelous! Bring on the new album!!

And with that, I draw the line... how's everyone feeling, if they indeed are, about these nominations then? Give us a shout and let me know! I have to go wash myself in case I actually start listening to some of this stuff! XXX