ARIA 2009 nominations are in

Thu 8th Oct, 2009 in Local News

It’s that time of year again, when music industry folks get fired up and the stars bring out their bronzer. Yep, it’s time for the ARIA Awards. Last year was a bumper year for the Australian music industry with the stranglehold of commercial pop and Oz rock at last giving way to the new breed. Modular’s electro pin-ups The Presets cleaned up the ceremony, taking home a bag of accolades.

While many wondered if this changing of the guard would be represented in this year’s awards, the nominees for the 2009 ARIA Awards are now in and the field actually looks pretty good, with indie-crossover heroes Empire Of The Sun, Ladyhawke and The Temper Trap nabbing a slew of nominations.

Best Rock Album sees AC/DC’s blockbusting return Black Ice casting an imposing shadow, while The Drones’ visceral Havilah is a welcome contender. The wildcard in that category is no doubt The Temper Trap’s high-reaching debut Conditions.

The golden child of Nick Littlemore and Luke Steele, Empire Of The Sun has had a huge twelve months, recently complementing their radio domination with a hugely successful Parklife debut, and their six nominations (including noms for Album Of The Year, Best Group, and Single Of The Year for Walking On A Dream) just top the whole package off. Indeed, their six potential gongs are only topped by the seven nominations for irksome Australian Idol alum, Jessica Mauboy.

Also with much to celebrate are local indie-crossover acts The Temper Trap and Ladyhawke, who’ve scored four and five nominations respectively (despite Ladyhawke actually being from New Zealand…?). Both acts are up for the coveted Single Of The Year award, as are triumphant Adelaide hip-hop crew The Hilltop Hoods, who’ve scored an impressive four nominations in this year’s tally.

This year’s ARIA Awards will go down on November 26th at Sydney’s Acer Arena whilst the televised broadcast of the ceremony will return to its original home on Channel 9, hopefully guaranteeing some tasteful hosting duties by Richard Wilkins in blackface.

Check out some of the major categories in the list below.

Best Dance Release
Hook N Sling – The Best Thing (2008) (Hussle/Universal Music Australia)
Sneaky Sound System – 2 (Whack Records/MGM)
The Presets – Talk Like That (Modular/Universal Music Australia)
Tommy Trash Feat. Mr Wilson – Need Me To Stay (Hussle/Universal Music Australia)
Zoe Badwi – Release Me (Warner Music Australia)

Best Rock Album
AC/DC – Black Ice (Albert Productions/Sony Music Entertainment)
Eskimo Joe – Inshalla (Mushroom Records/Warner Music Australia)
Jet – Shaka Rock (Virgin/EMI Music Australia)
The Drones – Havilah (ATP Recordings/MGM)
The Temper Trap – Conditions (Liberation/Universal Music Australia)

Album of the Year
AC/DC – Black Ice (Albert Productions/Sony Music Entertainment)
Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)
Eskimo Joe – Inshalla (Mushroom Records/Warner Music Australia)
Sarah Blasko – As Day Follows Night (Dew Process/Universal Music Australia)
The Temper Trap – Conditions (Liberation/Universal Music Australia)

Single of the Year
Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)
Hilltop Hoods – Chase That Feeling (Golden Era/Universal Music Australia)
Kate Miller-Heidke – The Last Day On Earth (Sony Music Entertainment)
Ladyhawke – My Delirium (Modular Records/Universal Music Australia)
The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition (Liberation/Universal Music Australia)

Breakthrough Artist – Single
Art Vs Science – Art Vs Science (Green/MGM)
Bluejuice – Broken Leg (Dew Process/Universal Music Australia)
Jessica Mauboy – Running Back Feat. Flo Rida (Sony Music Entertainment)
Ladyhawke – My Delirium (Modular Records/Universal Music Australia)
Lisa Mitchell – Coin Laundry (Scorpio Music/Warner Music Australia)

Breakthrough Artist – Album
C.W. Stoneking – Jungle Blues (King Hokum/Shock Entertainment)
Jessica Mauboy – Been Waiting (Sony Music Entertainment)
Ladyhawke – Ladyhawke (Modular Records/Universal Music Australia)
Lisa Mitchell – Wonder (Scorpio Music/Warner Music Australia)
The Temper Trap – Conditions (Liberation/Universal Music Australia)

Best Group
AC/DC – Black Ice (Albert Productions/Sony Music Entertainment)
Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)
Eskimo Joe – Inshalla (Mushroom Records/Warner Music Australia)
Hilltop Hoods – State Of The Art (Golden Era/Universal Music Australia)
The Drones – Havilah (ATP Recordings/MGM)

Best Pop Release
Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream (Capitol/EMI Music Australia)
Jessica Mauboy – Been Waiting (Sony Music Entertainment)
Kate Miller-Heidke – Curiouser (Sony Music Entertainment)
Ladyhawke – Ladyhawke (Modular Records/Universal Music Australia)
Sarah Blasko – As Day Follows Night (Dew Process/Universal Music Australia)

Best Independent Release
Bertie Blackman – Secrets and Lies (Forum 5/MGM)
C.W. Stoneking – Jungle Blues (King Hokum/Shock Entertainment)
Dappled Cities – Zounds (Speak N Spell/Inertia)
Sneaky Sound System – 2 (Whack Records/MGM)
The Drones – Havilah (ATP Recordings/MGM)

Best Urban Album
Astronomy Class – Pursuit Of Happiness (Elefant Traks/Inertia)
Hilltop Hoods – State Of The Art (Golden Era/Universal Music Australia)
Horrorshow – The Grey Space (Elefant Traks/Inertia)
Pez – A Mind Of My Own (Soulmate Records/Inertia)
Phrase – Clockwork (Universal Music Australia)