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NME Awards 2005 - The Winners – Various Artists




Year Released: 2005

Label: NME

Year Bought: 2005

Released to coincide with the 2005 NME Awards, this compilation focuses on the big acts from the previous year. Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand, the Killers, the Libertines are all represented, as are Bloc Party, Babyshambles and Graham Coxon.

Actually, that's a pretty good line up, isn't it?

There's a mixture of album tracks and b-sides, and as such there's some great glimpses into bands at the beginning of their career. Bloc Party's 'Tulips' is not one of their best but you can hear elements of other songs from them in there, the same with 'Missing You' from Franz Ferdinand. Both tracks are decent little b-sides.

'Change Your Mind' by the Killers wasn't on the UK release of Hot Fuss so is here for those who didn't buy the 'Mr Brightside' single where it found a home.

Pete Doherty is represented twice - first on the Libertines' 'Can't Stand Me Now' and then on Babyshambles' 'The Man Who Came To Stay' - a tune originally the b-side to 'Killamangiro'. Seeing as at the time no one was really sure how long dear old Doherty would be able to make music - due to incarceration or expiration - getting as much of his output as possible into the world seemed like a worthy mission.

It's not all good though. The NME really wanted the Others to be something, but 'In The Background' shows why they weren't. The Mitchell Bros remix of the Streets 'Blinded By The Lights' strips away all the slow-burn tension of the original.

The pop punk in me appreciates the appearance of Green Day via a live version of 'She's a Rebel'. It's an uncomfortable truth for many but 2004's 'American Idiot' is one of the great punk albums and it was a huge hit. (Will justify more when we get to that record).

There's also a flick of Graham Coxon's power-pop solo career with 'Spectacular'. Pretty sure only he can get away with the opening lyrics of "Saw you in my computer/Never seen no one cuter".

As time capsules go, this is pretty good. Not quite full of lost gems, but certainly some forgotten shiny stones.

6/10

Full Track Listing

1. Kaiser Chiefs – Na Na Na Na Naa

2. Franz Ferdinand – Missing You

3. The Libertines – Can't Stand Me Now

4. Muse – The Small Print

5. The Killers – Change Your Mind

6. Bloc Party – Tulips

7. The Futureheads – Alms

8. The Others – In The Background

9. The Streets – Blinded By The Lights (Mitchell Bros Remix)

10. Graham Coxon - Spectacular

11. Green Day – She's A Rebel (Live)

12. Babyshambles – The Man Who Came To Stay

13. New Order – I Told You So

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