The ARIAs - Shit As Usual

    My future husband Andy Bull - Robbed of ARIA glory!

    So this year's ARIA nominations (Australia's equivalent to the Grammies) have just been announced and all the usual suspects are heavily represented. Seriously, if you're the overhyped product of a major record label, specialise in indie rock or are simply a pretentious singer-songwriter with an alternative haircut then chances are you're going home with a swag of awards. Don't get me wrong. I'm not going to argue with The Temper Trap, Empire Of The Sun or even Kate Miller-Heidke snagging a bunch of nominations but Sarah Blasko, Eskimo Joe and AC/DC? Bitch, please. Why not just nominate Missy Higgins for whatever vomit inducing "masterpiece" she's currently working on/squeezing out of her arsehole? I guess pop music will never be recognised in this country so I've decided to come up with my own nominees. I know some of my choices are not eligible (due to release dates) but here goes:

    ALBUM OF THE YEAR

    AC/DC - Black Ice
    Sarah Blasko - As Day Follows Night
    Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream
    Eskimo Joe - Inshalla
    The Temper Trap - Conditions


    How depressing is this category? I have a sinking feeling that Sarah Blasko's cure for insomnia will win but I have my fingers crossed that Empire Of The Sun or The Temper Trap snatch it from her.

    MY PICKS

    Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke
    Shelley Harland - Red Leaf
    Sneaky Sound System - 2
    Andy Bull - We're Too Young
    Lisa Mitchell - Wonder
    Jessica Mauboy - Been Waiting

    Empire Of The Sun - Empire Of The Sun
    Bertie Blackman - Secrets And Lies
    Dash & Will - Up In Something

    NZ acts are clearly eligible, so where is Ladyhawke? People actually bought her album. Speaking of commercial success, why isn't Jessica Mauboy being rewarded for being the closest thing this country currently has to an authentic pop star? The lack of respect shown to Sneaky Sound System's stunning sophomore album is just rude, while Bertie Blackman has taken things to the next level with "Secrets And Lies". At least she snagged a best "Independent Album" nomination - poor Andy Bull's brilliant debut was completely ignored as was Shelley Harland's gorgeous "Red Leaf". That's not even touching on the injustice of Dash & Will's "Up In Something" being overlooked despite being the best teenage guitar-pop album released in recent memory.

    SINGLE OF THE YEAR

    Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream
    Hilltop Hoods - Chase That Feeling
    Ladyhawke - My Delirium
    Kate Miller-Heidke - The Last Day On Earth
    The Tempter Trap - Sweet Disposition

    This is one of the few categories I can't really criticise. "Walking On A Dream", "Sweet Disposition", "My Delirium" and "The Last Day On Earth" are all exquisite. "Chase That Feeling" isn't exactly my cup of tea but it's catchy as hell and perhaps the only example of local hip hop that broke through to the mainstream.


    OTHER WORTHY CANDIDATES

    Andy Bull - Small Town Girl
    Vanessa Amorosi - This Is Who I Am
    Zoë Badwi - Release Me
    Amy Pearson - Butterfingers
    Bertie Blackman - Byrds Of Prey
    Liena - Go Crazy
    Jessica Mauboy - Been Waiting
    Mandy Kane - 25 Seconds
    Ricki Lee - Don't Miss You
    Samantha Jade - Secret
    Lisa Mitchell - Coin Laundry
    @m8er - Kill That Bitch
    TV ROCK ft Rudy - In The Air
    Kylie - Chiggy Wiggy
    Evermore - Hey Boys And Girls (Truth Of The World)
    Lenka - The Show
    Natalie Imbruglia - Want
    Bluejuice - Broken Leg
    Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars
    Sneaky Sound System - I Will Be Here
    The Vanish - Heartbeat
    Nikki Webster - Devilicious

    This is such a tough category. I think the ARIA voters actually did a pretty good job - with the obvious exception of forgetting "Small Town Girl", which is one of my favourite Australian singles of all time. I also think Jessica Mauboy was hard done by seeing as she is the only local artist regularly scoring top ten hits and has delivered a couple of top notch singles in the form of "Burn" and "Been Waiting". Zoë Badwi's massive club hit "Release Me" deserved some recognition, while Bag Raiders' breakthrough single is a true thing of a beauty. Another glaring omission is Lisa Mitchell's "Coin Laundry", which remains one of 2009's quirkiest pop songs. With any luck Vanessa's amazing pop anthem (currently #1 on iTunes!) will get a nod next year.

    BEST FEMALE ARTIST

    Sarah Blasko - As Day Follows Night
    Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke
    Jessica Mauboy - Been Waiting
    Kate Miller-Heidke - Curiouser
    Lisa Mitchell - Wonder


    With the exception of Sarah Blasko, this is pretty spot on. I used to hate Kate Miller-Heidke but "The Last Day On Earth" has made me a late convert and Lisa Mitchell's album is as beautiful as it is odd. Both Ladyhawke and Jessica Mauboy both featured heavily in my best of 2008 countdown, so it's nice to see them getting some props.


    OTHER WORTHY CANDIDATES

    Shelley Harland
    Bertie Blackman
    Lenka
    Samantha Jade
    Kylie

    There should be legislation in place to ensure Kylie is nominated every year even when she doesn't release anything. On a more serious note, I think Shelley Harland and Bertie Blackman were robbed and Lenka should get some sort of recognition for her international success. As should Samantha Jade, who continues to proudly fly the flag in LA (despite never having had a hit!) and even appears as a featured vocalist (on an iTunes bonus track) on David Guetta's smash hit album. $ucce$$!!!

    BEST MALE ARTIST

    Paul Dempsey - Everything Is True
    Bob Evans - Goodnight, Bull Creek
    Daniel Merriweather - Love And War
    Josh Pyke - Chimney's Afire
    CW Stoneking - Jungle Blue

    Now this is completely fucking dire. I guess Daniel deserves some recognition for selling records in the UK but apart from being a hot piece he doesn't do much for me. No comment about the other nobodies.


    OTHER SUGGESTIONS

    Andy Bull
    Brecik
    Jason Singh

    Poor Andy Bull. Are you cunts telling me he doesn't have more to offer than Josh Pyke, Bob Evans and Paul Dempsey? I don't even know who C.W. Stoneking is and I really don't want to! The pickings for this category are pretty slim but I would have thrown a nomination Brecik's way for shits and giggles, while Jason Singh sounded pretty good on Todd Watson's "World As You Know It". Where's John Farnham when you need him?

    BEST GROUP

    AC/DC
    The Drones
    Empire Of The Sun
    Eskimo Joe
    Hilltop Hoods


    This line up represents everything wrong about the Australian music scene. Fingers crossed that sanity prevails and Empire Of The Sun win.


    MY PICKS

    Empire Of The Sun
    Bag Raiders
    The Temper Trap
    RAEN
    Dash & Will
    The Vanish

    With Australian electro currently making waves around the globe, it seems appropriate that some of our best proponents of that genre (such as Bag Raiders and The Vanish) get some recognition. The Temper Trap should get a nod for the brilliance of "Sweet Disposition" alone. As for the other nominees, I think Dash & Will are the unsung heroes of 2009. They have released an amazing album and a string of great singles and noone seems to give a shit. I just hope they hurry up and release "Too Young Too Dumb" and finally achieve the commerical success they so richly deserve. Oh and RAEN should get something for carrying on in the face of constant failure.

    BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - SINGLE

    Art Vs Science - Art Vs Science
    Bluejuice - Broken Leg
    Ladyhawke - My Delirium
    Jessica Mauboy - Running Back Feat. Flo Rida
    Lisa Mitchell - Coin Laundry

    I love all these songs. Congratulations to the ARIA committee for getting it right.


    OTHER WORTHY CONTENDERS

    Zoë Badwi - Release Me
    Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars
    Liena - Go Crazy
    @m8er - Kill That Bitch

    Dance music is always underappreciated but Australia's new Queen of dance should be applauded for spending 7 weeks at #1 on the club chart. Liena's "Go Crazy" is the closest an Australian will ever get to sounding like Rihanna and probably would have been a massive hit if it got any kind of promotion. The same goes for "Shooting Stars", which I'm pretty confident will get a much better reception in Europe than at home. As for @m8er, well I think she'll have the last laugh. Her album promises to be amazing.

    BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST - ALBUM

    Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke
    Jessica Mauboy - Been Waiting
    Lisa Mitchell - Wonder
    C.W. Stoneking - Jungle Blues
    The Temper Trap - Conditions

    Who the hell is C.W. Stoneking and how can it be a breakthrough album if NOONE has ever heard of him? The rest of the choices are pretty spot on.


    THESE POOR BITCHES WERE ROBBED

    Andy Bull - We're Too Young
    Shelley Harland - Red Leaf
    Dash & Will - Up In Something

    I know I sound like a broken record but these are three of my favourite albums of 2009. Andy captures the spirit of 70s soul in a way that Daniel Merriweather could only dream of and has pretty much come up with the soundtrack to (what remains of) my youth! Shelley's opus has provided me with so much comfort and joy this year. Her music is raw, honest and beautiful. "Panic To Control" is my new personal mantra, while I sent "Clouds Disappear" to a special someone because it said everything I was feeling but couldn't express in words. I've ranted enough about Dash & Will but it really is a great album. "Fighting Over Nothing", "Save Me" and "Some Like It Hot" are homegrown guitar pop at its finest.

    AWARD FOR SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN POP TRASH

    Amy Pearson - Butterfingers
    Nikki Webster - Devilicious
    @m8er - Kill That Bitch
    The Wiggles & Kylie - Monkey Man
    Samantha Jade - Secret

    I thought I'd finish up with a category of my own. I find it hard to define "pop trash" but all these amazing anthems convey the essence of this website. Amy because of her utter desperation and sleazy lyrics. Nikki because she's a child star turned FHM glamour model. @m8er because she doesn't give a shit. Kylie for having a sense of humour. And finally Samantha Jade for dressing like a porn star and spending her video clip (below) trying to turn an arrested homosexual. Respect ladies!

    Source URL: http://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/2009/10/arias-shit-as-usual.html
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