ARIA Awards 2010 - Round Up

    Yawn. The Australian music industry's night of nights is almost upon us and it's going to be as boring as usual if the recently announced nominations are any indication. Don't get me wrong. I actually like most of the nominees but the bias towards indie rock/alternative pop is as strong as ever. Kylie was largely overlooked despite releasing an album that actually sold more than 10 copies internationally, Vanessa Amorosi's domination of the singles chart was roundly ignored and CC Martini was robbed of ARIA glory yet again for her belated #93 smash "Double Dutch". Haters! The big winners were Sia, Washington, Julia & Angus Stone, Birds of Tokyo and Guy Sebastian (seriously?) - who received 6 nominations each. I think Sia's half dozen are well deserved. After being all but written off in Australia for the past decade, some recognition for her achievements is long overdue. I hope she scoops the pool and throws her pile of ARIAs at Delta Goodrem's head. Here are my 2 cents on the 2010 nominees. Please note I've highlighted who I think should win in red. Not who I necessarily think will win.

    Album of the Year
    Angus & Julia Stone - Down The Way
    Birds of Tokyo - Birds Of Tokyo

    Sia - We Are Born
    Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
    Washington - I Believe You Liar


    I know it's hard to believe given the content of this blog but my taste in music is actually quite diverse and I'm only slightly embarrassed to admit that I purchased all these albums. Not only that but I'm also rather partial to them. While "We Are Born" doesn't quite match the heights of "Some People Have Real Problems", it's rich and interesting. And most importantly, it's fucking fun! Angus & Julia (who I actually went to school with - fun fact!) used to annoy the hell out of me but "Down The Way" is gorgeous, sunny Sunday afternoon of an album. And probably deserves to be here. Same goes for Washington's quirky "I Believe You Liar". The indie pop princess could have gone down the Missy Higgins route of mind numbing pretense but carves out her own little idiosyncratic niche. As for Tame Impala and Birds of Tokyo, they are probably the two least annoying rock bands in the country and almost live up to the hype. So what could have improved this line up:

    Aphrodite - Kylie (Sublime from beginning to end)
    The Lighter Side Of... - Laura Imbruglia (Funny, sad, heartbreaking)
    Hazardous - Vanessa Amorosi (A consistently brilliant pop album)
    Calling All Magicians - Danielle Spencer (So incredibly underrated)
    Ten - Gabriella Cilmi (Desperate but surprisingly lovely and fun)

    Single of the Year
    Angus & Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane

    Birds of Tokyo - Plans
    Sia - Clap Your Hands
    The Temper Trap - Love Lost
    Washington - How To Tame Lions


    How incredibly lame is this line up? Again, a bunch of great songs but (with perhaps the exception of the strikingly beautiful "Plans") are all brilliant album tracks - not killer singles. Even personal faves like "Clap Your Hands" and "How To Tame Lions" don't really cut the cocaine. Seriously, this shit is a 45 year old lesbian's wet dream. I know many of these will be eligible for next year's awards but I'm bitter about the omission of the following triumphs (in no particular order):

    So Lonely - Chris Sorbello
    All The Lovers - Kylie
    In The Moment - Zoë Badwi
    We Speak No Americano - Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP
    Dog - Andy Bull and Lisa Mitchell
    10 Date Commandments - Am8er
    This Is Who I Am - Ness Ness
    Isn't It Strange - Parralox
    Ching Ching Ching - Nikka Costa
    Kingdom - Erika
    Sometimes We Fall - Vera Fernandez
    Welcome To Disgraceland - Courtney Act
    Big, Beautiful & Sexy - Casey Donovan
    Spin - Casette Kids
    Sometimes - Miami Horror
    Filter Freak - Denzal Park
    Changes - Emma Donovan
    Shooting Star - Bag Raiders
    And The Boys - Julia & Angus Stone
    According To You - Orianthi
    On Your Side - Danielle Spencer
    Peek-A-Boo - Bertie Blackman

    ROBBED!

    Best Female Artist
    Clare Bowditch - Modern Day Addiction
    Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite
    Lisa Mitchell - Oh! Hark!
    Sia - We Are Born
    Washington - I Believe You Liar


    The omission of Am8er makes this category redundant!

    Best Male Artist
    Dan Kelly - Dan Kelly's Dream
    Dan Sultan - Get Out While You Can
    Guy Sebastian - Like It Like That

    John Butler - April Uprising
    Paul Dempsey - Fast Friends

    Admittedly there's not much to chose from but this is ridiculous! Go John.

    Best Group
    Angus & Julia Stone - Down The Way
    Birds of Tokyo - Birds Of Tokyo
    Powderfinger - Golden Rule
    Tame Impala - Innerspeaker

    The Temper Trap - Love Lost

    Scarlett Belle?

    Best Dance Release
    Art vs Science - Magic Fountain

    Miami Horror - Sometimes
    Midnight Juggernauts - The Crystal Axis
    Pendulum - Immersion
    Yolanda Be Cool and Dcup - We No Speak Americano


    So predictable. I'm glad Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP finally get some respect and I LOVE "Sometimes" but where is Zoë Badwi's stunning club smash "In The Moment" or Kylie's "Get Outta My Way"? And how about Denzal Park's "Filter Freak"? You know, music that people can actually dance to....

    Best Pop Release
    Bluejuice - Head of the Hawk
    Empire of the Sun - Half Mast
    Guy Sebastian - Like It Like That

    Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite
    Sia - We Are Born

    Replace Guy Sebastian with Vanessa Amorosi's "Hazardous" and I can sign off on this. Kind of. Kylie had better win or I'll curse the ARIA voters to walk around smelling of Pink Sparkle for the rest of eternity.

    2010 ARIA Award Public Voted Nominees:

    And here are the awards voted by the public. They are a mixed bag but a big improvement on the categories decided on by industry members. Note the inclusion of Ness Ness. Bless you, Australia.

    Most Popular Australian Album
    Angus & Julia Stone - Down The Way
    Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream
    Guy Sebastian - Like It Like That
    Jimmy Barnes - The Rhythm and the Blues
    John Butler Trio - April Uprising
    Kate Miller-Heidke - Curiouser
    Powderfinger - Golden Rule
    Stan Walker - Introducing
    The Temper Trap - Conditions

    Vanessa Amorosi - Hazardous

    Fair enough but where the fuck is "Hermaphrodite"?!

    Most Popular Australian Single
    Brian McFadden - Just Say So
    Gabriella Cilmi - On A Mission
    Guy Sebastian - Like It Like That
    Guy Sebastian - Art of Love (featuring Jordin Sparks)
    Kate Miller-Heidke - The Last Day on Earth
    Stan Walker - Black Box
    The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition

    Vanessa Amorosi - This Is Who I am
    Vanessa Amorosi - Mr. Mysterious
    Yolanda Be Cool & DCup - We Speak No Americano


    I refuse to acknowledge the first name on this list but a double shot of Vanessa, "Sweet Disposition" and finally some props for Gabriella. How delicious!

    Most Popular International Artist
    Beyonce
    Black Eyed Peas
    David Guetta
    Eminem
    Jason Derulo
    Katy Perry
    Ke$ha
    Lady Gaga
    Michael Buble
    Mumford & Sons
    Owl City
    Rod Stewart
    Susan Boyle
    Taylor Swift
    Train


    Rod Stewart? Seriously. What the fuck? Fingers crossed that Beyjesus wins (or at least Queen Ke$ha) but I fear it will be someone vile and revolting like Taylor Swift or Train. Gross. Ok, enough bitching. The ARIAs aren't usually my cup of tea but I look forward to the award ceremony every year. If nothing else in the vain hope of catching another career ending performance like Madison Avenue's legendarily tragic rendition of "Who The Hell Are You?" from 2000. Cheyne's mid-song break to have a glass of water is positively iconic. Comeback, bitch. We miss you!


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