Strokes top NME's shortlist

The Strokes' retro sounds have been a hit with critics

New York band The Strokes are leading the field for this year's NME Awards, with five nominations.

The five-piece are ahead of Radiohead and Gorillaz - who have four nominations each - in the weekly magazine's awards, billed as a more credible alternative to the Brits.

U2 are nominated for three prizes after failing to make it into the Brits shortlist, which was announced last month.

Formerly known as the Brats, the awards ceremony will be held in London on 25 February - five days after the Brits.

'Exciting'

The Strokes found success in the UK before their home country after signing with London's Rough Trade records last year.

Their nominations include best group, in which they are up against U2, The Charlatans, Radiohead and fellow US act White Stripes.

The nominees for the best album are The Strokes (Is This It), Muse (Origin of Symmetry), Radiohead (Amnesiac), Slipknot (Iowa) and The Charlatans (Wonderland).

NME editor Ben Knowles said: "These nominations underline just how much the young record-buying public in Britain is more in touch with what's exciting and what's great than the music industry.

"These are the kids who make the effort to go to the gigs, to buy the records, to fill in the voting forms just because they love music."