Other / Maxliu / 18 January 2012 /

It's early days - the Brit Awards markets don't close until February 19 - but one woman already looks set to dominate in at least three categories. So is it worth betting on anyone else?

Has anyone ever been as far ahead of the competition as Adele [1.11] is to win Best Album? Bookies would have had Blur and Oasis way out front back in the heady, laddish mid-90s but the 2012 Brits are likely to be dominated by a single white female.

Adele's nearest rivals are Florence and the Machine [9.2] and Coldplay [8.8] but neither made much impact with Ceremonials and Mylo Xyloto respectively. If you're considering putting small stakes on an outsider try PJ Harvey's Mercury-winning Let England Shake [17.5]. But it's hard to see beyond Adele.

Coldplay should have more luck in British Group where they trade at [1.1]. Their Glastonbury performance was exuberant and engaging - or was it just that they were the passable tofu in the bland U2/Beyonce sandwich? - and the Clubcard carrying/Q reading contingent's favs may carry the day. Elbow [12.5] cleaned up in 2009 and they recently recorded an official anthem for the Olympics, but Build A Rocket, Boys! is their least interesting album. It failed to land them another Mercury and it should fall short here too. Kasabian [10.0] are nicely poised.

Aren't children nice these days? Maybe on his next record Ed Sheeran will show us the sound of rioting, futureless youth but for now he specialises in saccharine platitudes which is probably why he's expected to carry off British Breakthrough Act [1.4] and British Male [1.55]. Wasn't it Noel Gallagher [4.8] who said we shouldn't vote Tory because it might mean Phil Collins would come back to live in the UK? I vow to emigrate if the ex-Oasis man, who deserves a s**t award for his high-flying t**ds, wins this. Jessie J [2.32] could give Sheeran a run for his money in the breakthrough category.

Adele [1.1] is expected to add Best British Female to her haul but if the critics had their way Kate Bush [14.0] would pip her. Fifty Words for Snow is her patchiest album - not a patch on 2005's Aerial - with exquisite moments interspersed with embarrassing departures into made up words and a bloated collaboration with Elton John.

After all that, there's the international markets. It's a surprise to see Beyonce at [9.4] behind Rhianna [1.1] for International Female. I was on the tube train RiRi got on last autumn, I didn't see her but I stood close to her male dancers who were impossibly cool and smelled of fizzy cola bottles. Feist [44.0] probably smells nice too and Metals is a terrific album so it's a shame she won't win. Bon Iver [2.5] sounded good for about two months in 2008 so he'll probably be Best International Breakthrough. He's likely to miss out to Bruno Mars [1.35] for International Male.

That's yer lot for now but we'll be back with a more detailed look at the markets near to the awards on Feb 21.

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