Final J Award nominations

Wed 9th Nov, 2011 in Local News

The Middle East, Ball Park Music, Big Scary and The Jezabels are the last four bands to be nominated for Album Of The Year in the 2011 J Awards. Just who will take out the coveted award – past recipients of which include Tame Impala and Sarah Blasko – will be revealed at the end of the month along with the winner of Unearthed Band Of The Year and Australia Video Of The Year.

J Award – Album Of The Year nominees:

Big Scary – Vacation
“[Big Scary] have produced an intricate and vital debut that is extremely accessible and melodic and will prove itself in time to be the gift that keeps on giving.”

Papa vs Pretty – United in Isolation
“Papa Vs Pretty have pulled off an astonishing debut album and have really proved themselves worthy of our listening attention.”

Kimbra – Vows
“Whichever way you look at it, Kimbra looks set to melt hearts with Vows, a consistently entertaining and enchanting debut album.”

Gotye – Making Mirrors
“Making Mirrors is an intensely interesting body of work, De Backer running riot with his masterful brand of electronic wizardry.”

Art vs Science – The Experiment
“Their infectious enthusiasm has not so much cemented their status as a killer live act within Australia as created a giant concrete statue in the city centre.Although they haven’t quite mastered the art of capturing that lightning in a bottle for their recorded material, let it be said that The Experiment, the band’s debut album, is surely their best attempt thus far.”

The Middle East – I Want That You Are Always Happy
“This is a collection of emotionally cumbersome, overwrought indie folk that really requires some vitriol. The sprightly moments provide the highlights, with some genuine gems that bear investigation, but they’re weighed down.”

Ball Park Music – Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs
“All in all, this is vibrant, uplifting and ultimately happy music. Each song seems to be infused with the band’s own quirky character and irrepressible spirit, to produce a varied yet compelling album.“

The Jezabels – Prisoner
“Showcases the band’s knack at writing triumphant and emotional sing-alongs… and lead singer Hayley Mary’s captivating voice [which] is nothing short of incredible.”

Architecture In Helsinki – Moment Bends
“The new sounds and ideas at play on this year’s Moment Bends made for a potential ‘Australian album of the year’.“

Drapht – Life of Riley
He has been absolutely dominating the Australian hip-hop scene of late and is showing no signs of stopping any time soon so it is with no uncertainty that I say rest in peace Jimmy Recard, long live Drapht.