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BRIT Awards Nominees Are Better This Year: Disclosure, Arctic Monkeys, Drake, and More

Brit Awards 2014, nominees, Disclosure, Arctic Monkeys, Rudimental, David Bowie

The BRIT Awards 2014 nominations are in, and the U.K. Grammy equivalent should have a fairly strong field to choose from this year.

Disclosure, the London dance duo whose Essential Settle was one of SPIN’s 50 Best Albums of 2013, is tied for the most nominations with four. Matching that nod count are Bastille, whose effervescent alt-rock is popular across the pond but, okay, sure, a bit tepid (despite their hit repurposing a beloved early-’90s hip-house track). But other acts with multiple nods include Arctic Monkeys, Rudimental, and Ellie Goulding. Also: David Bowie, whose return album The Next Day the awards organizers join with Trent Reznor in liking more than we did.

That’s a bit of an improvement from 2013’s BRIT nominating class, when Worst New Music recipients Mumford & Sons led the way, tied with Alt-J and Emeli Sandé. Then again, it was Sandé and Adele who ended up winning big that year from their home country, along with the awards’ “International” trophy recipients Frank Ocean and Lana Del Rey. The 2014 International categories are no less stacked, with Drake, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire, Katy Perry, and Bruno Mars all in the running for honors.

The BRIT Awards take place on February 19 at London’s O2 Arena. Arctic Monkeys, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Rudimental, Ellie Goulding, and Bastille are also set to perform. Check out the full list of nominees below, as announced on the BRIT Awards website (listen to the British singles contenders here).

Best Producer
Ethan Johns
Flood and Alan Moulder
Paul Epworth

British Breakthrough Act
Bastille
Disclosure
Laura Mvula
London Grammar
Tom Odell

British Female Solo Artist
Birdy
Ellie Goulding
Jessie J
Laura Marling
Laura Mvula

British Group
Arctic Monkeys
Bastille
Disclosure
One Direction
Rudimental

British Male Solo Artist
David Bowie
Jake Bugg
James Blake
John Newman
Tom Odell

British Single
Bastille, “Pompeii”
Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding, “I Need Your Love”
Disclosure, “White Noise”
Ellie Goulding, “Burn”
John Newman, “Love Me Again”
Naughty Boy, “La, La, La”
Olly Murs, “Dear Darlin'”
One Direction, “One Way or Another”
Passenger, “Let Her Go”
Rudimental, “Waiting All Night”

Critics’ Choice Award
Chlöe Howl
Ella Eyre
Sam Smith (winner)

International Female Solo Artist
Janelle Monáe
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Lorde
Pink

International Group
Arcade Fire
Daft Punk
Haim
Kings of Leon
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

International Male Solo Artist
Bruno Mars
Drake
Eminem
John Grant
Justin Timberlake

MasterCard British Album of the Year
Arctic Monkeys, AM
Bastille, All This Bad Blood
David Bowie, The Next Day
Disclosure, Settle
Rudimental, Home