Originally written by TheBoyDeadly · 13 September 2007
The nominations for this year's Q awards have been announced.
Usually notable only for their stubborn insistence that Oasis, Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2 still chart the uppermost reaches of modern rock'n'pop, things look distinctly fresher this year.
This year, there is no Oasis. There is no Red Hot Chili Peppers. There is U2. You should never ask for too much.
Even if the likes of Liars and Animal Collective remain firmly out of setstone minds, acts such as Arctic Monkeys - who tie the lead with three nominations - at least bring some fresh air to weary limbs.
Enough:
Best New Act The Enemy Klaxons Cherry Ghost The Pigeon Detectives The View
Best Track Manic Street Preachers - 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough' Kaiser Chiefs - 'Ruby' Hard-Fi - 'Suburban Knights' Athlete - 'Hurricane' Muse - 'Knights Of Cydonia'
Best Breakthrough Artist Kate Nash Mika Jack Penate Jamie T Calvin Harris
Best Video Lily Allen - 'Alfie' The White Stripes - 'Icky Thump' Kaiser Chiefs - 'Ruby' Bjork - 'Earth Intruders' The Killers - 'Bones'
Best Live Act Arcade Fire Muse The Killers Arctic Monkeys Kasabian
Best Album Arctic Monkeys - 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' Amy Winehouse - 'Back To Black' Kaiser Chiefs - 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob' Arcade Fire - 'Neon Bible' Manic Street Preachers - 'Send Away The Tigers'
Best Act In The World Today The Killers Arctic Monkeys Foo Fighters Muse U2
Penate, Klaxons, T - all acts that you couldn't have imagined featuring last year, even if the majority are still "gash". But how far are these nominations significant?
It's probably true that the increased presence of guitar-based indie on radios and charts is the only significant change here and, in fact, Q haven't moved the goalposts - rather the uprights have shifted to them.
Still, anything that brings Q and the NME closer together can't be a bad thing. DiScuss, if it isn't too banal...