Kylie looks happy about her nomination. (Below) Savage Garden and Coldplay

Kylie and the Garden nominated

By MIKE GEE

The 2001 Brit Awards look like being one of most interesting in years after nominees were announced this week. While the rather dull and listless new Garage rapper Craig David lead the way with at least four nominations (two categories, Best British Single and Best British Video, have yet to be announced), the various categories offer some intriguing showdowns. And there are two Australian nominees - Kylie Minogue and Savage Garden.

Critical darlings Coldplay (already winners of several major awards) and the highly-celebrated Radiohead come against each other in both the British Group and Best British Album categories.

Kylie, Madonna and Britney Spears face off in the Best International Female Solo Category - an intriguing one given Madonna's recent wearing of t-shirts with Minogue and Spears' name emblazoned on them at separate gigs.

The Best British Female Solo Artist pits the stunning talented newcomer Dido (sister of Faithless' Rollo) against the great PJ Harvey while Savage Garden come up against The Corrs, Santana, U2 and boy group Westlife.

U2 will receive a special award, Outstanding Contribution to Music, at the February 26 Awards show in London.

David, who is also performing on show, will be vying for Best British Album (Born To Do It), Best British Male, Best British Dance Act, and Best British Newcomer. Coldplay, as well as Sonique and Westlife, have got three nominations each, so far. Coldplay is up for Best British Group, Best British Album (Parachutes), and Best British Newcomer. Sonique is up for Best British Female Solo Artist, Best British Dance Act, and Best British Newcomer. And, Westlife, the most-nominated international acts, is up for Best International Group, Best International Newcomer, and Best Pop Act.

Other acts with two nominations include Ronan Keating, Spears, Jill Scott, Pink, Moloko, Radiohead, Toploader, Badly Drawn Boy, Fatboy Slim, Robbie Williams, David Gray, and Artful Dodger.

The show will also have performances by U2, Westlife, and Robbie Williams.

The 2001 Brit Awards Nominees are:

Best British Group: All Saints, Coldplay, Moloko, Radiohead, Toploader
Best British Male Solo Artist: Badly Drawn Boy, Craig David, David Gray, Fatboy Slim, Robbie Williams
Best British Female Solo Artist: Dido, Sade, PJ Harvey, Jamelia, Sonique
Best International Group: The Corrs, Santana, Savage Garden, U2, Westlife
Best International Male Solo Artist: Eminem, Ricky Martin, Ronan Keating, Sisqo, Wyclef Jean
Best International Female Solo Artist: Britney Spears, Jill Scott, Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Pink
Best International Newcomer: Jill Scott, Kelis, Lene Marlin, Pink, Westlife
MasterCard Best British Album: Coldplay, Parachutes; Craig David, Born To Do It; David Gray, Lost Songs; Radiohead, Kid A; Robbie Williams, Sing When You're Winning
Best British Dance Act: Artful Dodger, Craig David, Fatboy Slim, Moloko, Sonique
Best Pop Act (Voted for by CD:UK viewers and The Sun Bizarre column readers): Britney Spears, Ronan Keating, S Club 7, Steps, Westlife
Best Soundtrack/ Cast Recording: Air, The Virgin Suicides; American Beauty; Billy Elliot; Bjork, Selmasongs (Music from the Motion Picture Dancer in the Dark); Shaft (Music From and Inspired By); The Beach
Best British Newcomer (Voted for by BBC Radio 1 listeners): A1, Atomic Kitten, Lolly, Point Break, Richard Blackwood, Coldplay, Toploader, Muse, Badly Drawn Boy, Death in Vegas, Craig David, DJ Luck & MC Neat, Sweet Female Attitude, Architechs, MJ Cole, Artful Dodger, Sonique, Shaft, Oxide & Neutrino, Chicane
The nominees for Best British Single (voted on by independent commercial radio listeners) and Best British Video (voted on by The Box viewers) will be announced on January 23.
That's Entertainment will give you the chance to have your say in most of the categories in a specal online poll prior to the Awards - and we'll see just what kind of judges you really are.