Idolator

How could we allow this to happen in America? The Klaxons have been accused of keeping an award won by the Arctic Monkeys at the NME Awards USA last month. The Next Big Things behind "Fluorescent Adolescent" couldn't make it out to the LA event, so a Klaxon and Mark Ronson ambushed the stage when model Agyness Deyn announced the Monkeys had won Best "International" Album, swiping the trophy and shouting "We're up for it and we're having a laugh!" When I ask how could this happen in America, I'm not saying we don't allow people to jump the stage at award shows. I'm noting that an stateside award ceremony controversy involving Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys, Mark Ronson, and a model named Agyness Deyn obviously breaks the Third Amendment. Throw a Shawn Colvin or a Kanye in that mix, NME, or keep it on your damn island. More »

Jane's Addiction's reunion wasn't the only thing that happened at the NME Awards USA. They also gave out awards! That whole "Best International" thing is still in place, only now "International" means that the act isn't from America. Which explains how Albert Hammond Jr. is our best solo artist. And how the Kings Of Leon were nominated for three awards. And how It's A Shame About Ray is a "Classic LP" (I assume at least fifteen to thirty other albums from 1992 already got this trophy from the NME). And how a Killers B-side comp was nominated for Best Album. And how their Lou Reed collabo won Best Track. Wait, no, all of this makes no sense whatsoever unless you're familiar with British rock mag insanity. God, will these freaks please go across the pond and leave us with our Herbie Hancocks and Stadium Arcadiums? Winners and nominees after the jump. More »

Hot on the heels of its Alex Turner-loving, George Bush-hating awards show last week, the NME has decided that it's going to bring a version of the NME Awards to the United States, and that said awards will be "in recognition of great American alternative talent past, present and future." The voting process—which is going on right now, and which will allow the magazine to harvest even more e-mail addresses in its attempt to become a force in the American "alternative/independent" music scene, even though the precise definition of that slashed term is still a bit dodgy thanks in part to the past few years' watercolor-like runniness between "indie" and music that is actually, y'know, independent—will culminate in a private ceremony held in Los Angeles next month. (What, you thought that voting would get you in? Silly kids! That's not how pseudo-event-styled democracy works!) The full list of categories that you can nominate artists for, after you offer up your name, address, year of birth, and blood type to the mag's publishers, is after the jump. More »