British magazine NME released its sixth annual “Cool List.” NME staff compiled a list of fifty artists they considered the coolest music-makers of 2008. Indie and hip-hop artists dominated the list, but a few vets, including Led Zepplin’s Robert Plant and former Smith’s guitarist Johnny Marr, grabbed impressive spots.

Notably missing from the list is Amy Winehouse, who placed eight in 2007. NME claimed “there’s really nothing cool about the grim acceleration into addiction and squalor we all witnessed in 2008.” It’s hard to disagree with that logic.

So who came out on top? Alice Glass from new-ish electro-punk band Crystal Castles. Although Crystal Castles only has one studio disc under its belt (2008’s self-titled disc), the band’s music and Alice’s bold stage presence earned the number one spot. They’re in good company with past winners Jack White of the White Stripes, Pete Doherty, and Arctic Monkey’s frontman Alex Turner.

When asked how she felt about the honor, Alice said she was “flattered, but back in school the people who held themselves in the same regard were also the biggest waste of skin I’ve ever met.”

Check out “Untrust Us” from Crystal Castles in the player below, and look for NME’s complete 2008 Cool List after the cut.

[NME]

50 Jon McClure, Reverend And The Makers (new entry)
49 Carl Barat, Dirty Pretty Things (new entry)
48 Lethal Bizzle (last year: 5)
47 Eva Spence, Rollo Tomassi (new entry)
46 Matt Bellamy, Muse (last year: 19)
45 Brian Fallon, Gaslight Anthem (new entry)
44 Gruff Rhys, Neon Neon (new entry)
43 Karen O, Yeah Yeah Yeahs (last year: 28)
42 Tom Vain, SCUM (new entry)
41 Shunda K, Yo Majesty (new entry)
40 Robert Plant (new entry)
39 Robbie Furze, The Big Pink (new entry)
38 Jason Pierce, Spiritualized (new entry)
37 Brandon Flowers, The Killers (last year: 44)
36 Frank Carter, Gallows (last year: 1)
35 Little Boots (new entry)
34 DJ Muhava -(new entry)
33 Josh Homme, Queens Of The Stone Age (last year: 34)
32 Lovefoxxx, CSS (last year: 3)
31 Rivers Cuomo, Weezer (new entry)
30 Will Roan, Amazing Baby (new entry)
29 Scarlett Johanssen (new entry)
28 Miles Kane, The Rascals/The Last Shadow Puppets (new entry)
27 Yannis Philippakis, Foals (last year: 45)
26 Nick McCabe, The Verve (new entry)
25 Peter Gabriel (new entry)
24 Zack de la Rocha, Rage Against The Machine (new entry)
23 Jamie Reynolds, Klaxons (last year: 2)
22 Jay Reatard (new entry)
21 Damon Albarn (new entry)
20 Dev Hynes, Test Icicles (last year: 49)
19 Florence Welch, Florence And The Machine (new entry)
18 Ed MacFarlane, Friendly Fires (new entry)
17 Santogold (last year: 48)
16 Ezra Koenig, Vampire Weekend (new entry)
15 Johnny Marr (new entry)
14 Dave Sitek, TV On The Radio (new entry)
13 Lil Wayne (new entry)
12 Guy Garvey, Elbow (new entry)
11 Pink Eyes, Fucked Up (new entry)
10 Caroline Mackay, Glasvegas (new entry)
09 Liam Gallagher, Oasis (new entry)
08 M.I.A. (last year: 11)
07 Caleb Followill, Kings Of Leon (last year: 21)
06 Ladyhawke (new entry)
05 Sam Dust, Late Of The Pier (new entry)
04 Alex Turner, Arctic Monkeys/The Last Shadow Puppets (last year: 6)
03 Andrew VanWyngarden, MGMT (new entry)
02 Jay-Z (new entry)
01 Alice Glass, Crystal Castles (new entry)