The 11th Australian Music Prize (AMP) shortlist has been announced with the two big international successes of 2015 Courtney Barnett and Tame Impala obvious inclusions but not necessarily obvious frontrunners.
The AMP is chosen by an industry judging panel who do not consider commercial success a box to tick. Barnett and Tame Impala stand as much chance to win as Dan Kelly, Sarah Blasko and My Disco.
Chairperson of the judging committee Dave Faulkner of Hoodoo Gurus says, . “Artists like Tame Impala and Courtney Barnett have won recognition around the world for their work but there were countless other excellent albums released across a whole range of genres last year.”
The 11th AMP Shortlist
Courtney Barnett ‘Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit’
Dan Kelly ‘Leisure Panic’
Dick Diver ‘Melbourne, Florida’
Gold Class ‘It’s You’
Jess Ribeiro ‘Kill It Yourself’
Methyl Ethel ‘Oh Inhuman Spectacle’
My Disco ‘Severe’
Royal Headache ‘High’
Sarah Blasko ‘Eternal Return’
Tame Impala ‘Currents’
“No list of ten albums could ever capture the diversity of music that was produced in the country over the last year and many great albums only narrowly missed making the Shortlist, breaking some AMP judges’ hearts in the process, however these were the ten albums that the sixteen judges agreed were the best of the year. Any one of them will make a worthy winner,” Faulkner added.
The AMP will be announced on March 9. Henry Rollins, a huge fan of alternative Australian rock, has been confirmed as guest speaker.
“In my opinion, there are so many great bands making great albums in Australia, you would be spoiled for choice to pick out a single best album but it will be interesting to see what happens. A large part of my listening comes from Australia. This has been the case for many years and of course being such a fan, I’m quite honored and excited to be a part of the Australian Music Prize,” Rollins said.
The 11th AMP winner will receive $30,000 in prize money, courtesy of PPCA.
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