Alice Glass, frontwoman for Toronto band Crystal Castles, has topped this year’s NME Cool List.

Glass beat rapper Jay-Z and MGMT’s Andrew VanWyngarden to clinch the top spot in the influential ratings list. The rapper and the psychedelic pop star took second and third place respectively.

Also honoured are veterans Peter Gabriel and Liam Gallagher, actress Scarlett Johansson for her debut album of Tom Waits covers, Rage Against the Machine’s Zack de la Rocha and Kings of Leon’s Caleb Followill.

Since NME launched its annual poll in 2002, it has proved to be as much about star-making as talent-spotting. Two years ago, the magazine put an obscure overweight lesbian from Arkansas at number one. Today Gossip’s Beth Ditto is a household name.

Glass gave NME a tepid response to her new moniker “coolest person on the planet”.

“I’m flattered,” she said. “But back in school the people who held themselves in the same regard were the biggest waste of skin I’ve ever met.”

Glass and musical partner Ethan Kath earned rave reviews for Crystal Castles' self-titled album released in May. But their live performance at London’s Electric Ballroom in September, which featured Glass rolling around on stage, prompted more sober reactions.

David Sinclair wrote in The Times: “The visceral impact of the show was undeniable. But musically it was a pretty lame effort… random beyond words.”

Also on the list is last year’s musical king of cool, Frank Carter of Gallows, though he falls to number 36. Arctic Monkey’s Alex Turner appears again with a rise from sixth place to fourth. Notably absent in 2008, however, are Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty.

NME Cool List 2008: Top 20 entries

1. Alice Glass, Crystal Castles

2. Jay-Z

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