Ben Bowman gives you an insight into how he’ll be casting his votes in this years NME awards. 

The preliminary stages of voting for the 2017 NME Awards has opened today. In this stage of voting, readers give their open suggestion for each category while in the next round there will be a shortlist for each section. I thought I would give you the rundown on who I voted for in a few of the categories; while I’m not one for controversy please don’t be offended – especially if you like The Sherlocks.

Best British Band – Two Door Cinema Club

Two Door Cinema Club made a triumphant return in 2016 with album ‘Gameshow’. A fun, pop-fuelled and energetic album which arguably reinstated their status as cult heroes of the alternative scene. They were just pipped by Slaves to my vote for Best Live Band but given the shared love of the Irish band by much of the Indie community it felt right to award my vote to them for Best British Band.

Best British Female Artist – Charli XCX

Winner of last year’s Best British Solo Artist, I’ve backed Charli XCX to bag an award for the third successive ceremony in a row. The 24 year old singer-songwriter from Cambridge has been busy writing songs for her upcoming third album, but new single ‘after the afterparty’ was released this autumn and seems to be making everyone a fan of her music once again. Many people’s guilty pleasure and one of those who seems to make everything catchy, Charli XCX gets my vote for Best British Female Artist.

Best International Band – Tame Impala

This one was a no-brainer. Tame Impala are arguably one of the best bands in the world and although their latest offering ‘Currents’ was released in 2015, the Australian psychedelic rockers have had quite the year. The band played to a huge crowd at Glastonbury this year, providing the sound to the fading sun on the Saturday night. Winners of the same award at this years Brit Awards Ceremony, they have been on tour for a large portion of this year and are now set to go on a hiatus for some time according to Kevin Parker. Hopefully, a win at next year’s NME Awards will bring Tame Impala back into the limelight and back into our lives.

Best New Artist – Blossoms

Blossoms have had an outstanding 2016 and their debut number one album capped it all off. The Stockport band has been on tour for the majority of the year and has gained quite some following over that time. 2015 was arguably the band’s breakthrough year, but this year has seen their meteoric rise to the top through playing Glastonbury, being featured on Jools Holland and of course their number one album. Blossoms are a shoe-in for nominations across many categories at the NME’s and this is an award that they will be many peoples bet to take home.

 

Best Album – Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression

Without doubt the most complete, slick and best produced album of the year, Iggy Pop’s Post Pop Depression is in my opinion the best album of the year. A few weeks ago, I looked back at the album for LFM and I waxed lyrical about Homme’s snarling guitar and Iggy’s vicious vocals. A stunning return for the rock icon, Iggy Pop’s Post Pop Depression is in a class of its own.

Best Track – Alexandra Savior – Shades

When your production and songwriting team consists of Alex Turner and James Ford, there was always going to be an element of class surrounding Alexandra Savior. Her much-anticipated debut album Belladonna of Sadness is set for release in 2017 and will feature her debut single ‘Shades’. Featured a while ago on my ‘6 songs to add to your playlist’, Savior’s vocals are beautifully haunting and her music really creates a sense of atmosphere. Her album is destined for critical approval and Shade’s is without doubt my favourite song of this year.

Best Music Video – The Last Shadow Puppets – Miracle Aligner

I don’t even need to say anything for this one. Just watch. I don’t really get it, but I don’t think anyone does.

Music Moment of the Year – Pete Doherty’s gig at the Bataclan

There were many touching moments in music this year, such as Coldplay’s tribute to the late Viola Beach and The Last Shadow Puppets’ mesmerising Bowie cover at Glastonbury. However, Pete Doherty’s gig at the Bataclan in Paris to mark the one year anniversary since the shocking attacks has to be my pick. The poetic genius was one of the acts to play at the venue to mark its reopening but his rendition of the French National anthem as a symbol of solidarity was visually moving. I don’t think anyone would be more perfect for such an occasion than The Libertines frontman given his charm and clear sensitivity for the most vulnerable given his past.

Worst Band – The Sherlocks

Given their Sheffield origin, and the attention they receive on social media, the comparisons to Arctic Monkeys were always going to be there. But hiding behind the mask of ‘working class heroes’, their songs are ultimately boring and predictable to the point that even if you have never listened to them, you would know immediately what they sound like. It’s a no from me unfortunately.

You can have your say in the first round of voting for the NME Awards here and could bag yourself a pair of tickets for the ceremony – https://awards.nme.com/

Written by Ben Bowman, you can follow him on twitter here.