Random Thoughts: ARIA Award Nominations

The nominations for the 2010 ARIA Awards have been announced and are they interesting. The five acts nominated for Album of the Year are all new entrants to the category, guaranteeing us a first-time winner. Established, heavyweight acts like Kylie Minogue and Powderfinger were kept out of the running for the two biggest awards (Album and Song of the Year) which is a surprising but welcome move on the part of the ARIAs committee. Angus & Julia Stone, Sia, Birds of Tokyo, Washington and Guy Sebastian (Qua?) lead the pack, each scoring six nominations for the night. Here's who's up for the major awards, with my two cents thrown in... for free!



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


---> All worthy nominees for sure. It's nice to see Sia finally gain some recognition after over a decade of hard work. Her only previous nomination (and win) came last year for a DVD release. Washington is having a hell of a year, comfortably filling the role Lisa Mitchell had last year. While I see Tame Impala as the dark horse of the category we all know that this is Angus & Julia Stone's to lose. They've got the highest selling Australian album of the year and that does play a lot into who will get the win.


Who Will Win: Angus & Julia Stone
Who Should Win: Angus & Julia Stone

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'


---> I see this as Angus & Julia Stone vs The Temper Trap and since the ARIAs usually like to spread the love (aka give everyone an award) than I'll give it to The Temper Trap. Still, an Angus & Julia Stone sweep could be on the cards.

Who Will Win: The Temper Trap
Who Should Win: Sia

Best Group:

Angus & Julia Stone
Birds of Tokyo
Powderfinger
Tame Impala
The Temper Trap

---> It's the last time that Powderfinger's going to be nominated. If I were a betting man, I'd put money on them to walk away with something on the night and what better award to send them off than Best Group.

Who Will Win: Powderfinger
Who Should Win: Powderfinger

Best Dance Release:

Art vs Science - 'Magic Fountain'
Miami Horror - 'Sometimes'
Midnight Juggernauts - The Crystal Axis
Pendulum - Immersion
Yolanda Be Cool + D Cup - 'We No Speak Americano'

---> Will the ARIAs go for the commerical success of 'We No Speak Americano,' or the critically acclaimed releases from the other four entrants. Tough call.

Who Will Win: Yolanda Be Cool + D Cup
Who Should Win: Midnight Juggernauts

Best Female Artist:

Clare Bowditch
Kylie Minogue
Lisa Mitchell
Sia
Washington

---> Bowditch and Minogue are previous winners but unlikely to walk away with the ARIA this year. If Mitchell was going to win it she had a much better chance last year when she was nominated. So that leaves Sia and Washington. Two very talented and deserving women. I'd be happy for either to win but I see the award going to...

Who Will Win: Sia
Who Should Win: Sia

Best Male Artist:

Dan Kelly
Dan Sultan
Guy Sebastian
John Butler
Paul Dempsey

---> What a... nice... year for male artists in Australia.

Who Will Win: John Butler
Who Should Win: Anyone who isn't Guy Sebastian

So, what are your thoughts/predictions for the 2010 ARIA Awards? Anyone you think got overlooked? Now we've got to wait until November 7 to actually find out who wins!