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  • irishtimes.com - Posted: November 24, 2008 @ 2:30 pm

    The return of the Choice Music Prize for the fourth year

    Jim Carroll

    Yes, it is happening again so here are the relevant dates for your diary.

    The shortlist for the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year 2008 will be announced on Wednesday January 14th and the live event will take place in Vicar Street, Dublin on Wednesday March 4th.

    The winning act will go home with a cheque for €10,000 (courtesy of the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) and the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO)) and a smashing piece of glassware (courtesy of industry body, Recorded Artists & Performers (RAAP)).

    The shortlist is selected by a panel of 12 men and women, good and true, drawn from the ranks of those who write about and/or talk about music for a living. They are currently hard at work working out which of the 180+ Irish albums released in 2008 will get on the shortlist. You’ll find out who the judges are when the shortlist is announced in January.

    Interestingly, when we announced this here last year, most of comments had Jape as the winner from the get-go. Wonder will people be on the money again this year?

    Declaration of interest: I’m the co-founder of this and am also the non-voting chairman of the judging panel.

    • 50 Comments

    1.
    November 24, 2008
    3:36 pm

    I really hope JAPE wins this. What a fabulous album

    Comment by Sammy
    2.
    November 24, 2008
    3:46 pm

    If we’re in declaring interest mode, then that rules me out from bigging up albums by the Spook, Michael Knight, Dudley Corporation (although I think the Spook stand a pretty good chance of being nominated).

    Jape would also be good.

    Actually the best Irish album I heard this year (and album I listened to most from anywhere) was Yellowback by captain a. I met captain a once or twice and he sent me a free copy (it’s free to upload from his website so anyone can google him to find it).

    I would describe it as like japanese folk music with Rowley Birkin QC (the drunken barrister from the Fast Show) singing along from inside a well. It has absolutely zero chance of being nominated but worth a mention all the same.

    Comment by Mumblin' Deaf Ro
    3.
    November 24, 2008
    3:50 pm

    Captain A’s website and album page below

    http://www.myspace.com/captainspace

    http://www.megaupload.com/?d=D01LMZMI

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    4.
    November 24, 2008
    4:15 pm

    Thanks Jim

    Comment by Mumblin' Deaf Ro
    5.
    November 24, 2008
    4:25 pm

    I hope Mjex get nominated. I honestly believe it’s a fantastic album and they would deserve at least that!
    Others I think deserve a nod would be Jape, Chequerboard and Barry Lynn aka Boxcutter’s album Balancing Lakes.

    Comment by Dani
    6.
    November 24, 2008
    4:45 pm

    Jape, MJEX, FLApes, RSAG and Lisa Hannigan are pretty much a given to be on the shortlist I reckon..all quality albums..As for the rest of the list God only knows who’ll get a nod..will shams like The Coronas and The Blizzards be thrown a bone?
    Blackbird by One Day International would be a worth a cheeky punt

    Comment by Pandemic
    7.
    November 24, 2008
    4:48 pm

    if my vote counted id make sure

    halves
    japes
    sweet jane
    fight like apes
    Katie-Kim
    Adebisi Shank

    got some kind of recognition for fantastic releases this year……

    Comment by eleanor
    8.
    November 24, 2008
    4:50 pm

    Eleanor – Neither Sweet Jane nor Halves have actually released an album in 2008 – Choice Music Prize is for albums only, I’m afraid

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    9.
    November 24, 2008
    4:53 pm

    Surely its between Jape and MJ&E…. I’m going for the latter.

    Comment by Marty
    10.
    November 24, 2008
    4:54 pm

    i have possibly listened to less irish albums this year than many of you… however, i think we sometimes get rose tinted glasses looking at how good some of those albums actually are…

    jape, however, released an album that could / should have been a surefire hit on shores other than our own…

    Comment by Ally
    11.
    November 24, 2008
    5:09 pm

    My favourite so far this year is the mind-bending debut album by Sunken Foal. Mixing neo-classical piano, Savath and Savalas-ish layered vocals, intricate eastern acoustic guitar and Aphex-y beats on some tracks, it caught me by surprise and offers something new on every listen. It’s a real work of art. I have no idea why so few people that I’ve talked to have even heard of him. Love the Halfset and RSAG albums too. It’s been a great year for Irish albums in a pretty average one for albums overall.

    Comment by Chris
    12.
    November 24, 2008
    5:10 pm

    Jape
    R.S.A.G.
    Chequreboard
    MJEX
    Ham Sandwich
    FLApes
    Lisa Hannigan
    Halfset
    Oppenheimer

    I would include all of the above. But Jape really should get it.

    Comment by Aero
    13.
    November 24, 2008
    5:25 pm

    crayonsmith album hasto be in with a shout great album.

    tbh i dont really care who wins just once its not a re run of the joke that was super extra bonus party

    Comment by derek
    14.
    November 24, 2008
    5:43 pm

    Jape, Halfset and the brilliant Katie-Kim spring to mind immediately. Will the judges throw another curveball in 2009 by awarding the prize to an album that doesn’t deserve the accolade?
    Last year it went to the ridiculous Super Extra Bonus Party who have since sunk without trace.

    Comment by Quint
    15.
    November 24, 2008
    5:48 pm

    “sunk without trace”

    Sunk without trace?

    A remix album which came out in October

    Gigs in Barcelona and London. Barn-storming launch gig for the remix album in Dublin

    New album nearly recorded for 2009

    Not what I call “sunk without trace”. You just bitter cos you were in the one of the bands who didn’t win?

    Comment by Not A Member of Super Extra Bonus Party
    16.
    November 24, 2008
    6:38 pm

    RSAG and MJEX are the only bands that created something really groundbreaking this year. Jape is very good on his day but was a disappointment on record so he should not get in

    Comment by Thomas Caffrey
    17.
    November 24, 2008
    8:46 pm

    Yeah that Sunken Foal album is amazing. I’d love to see Katie Kim win it but realistically, I’d put my money on Jape.

    Comment by Bren
    18.
    November 24, 2008
    9:20 pm

    2008 was a notably bad year for Irish music and new music in general, imho… particularly bad since the spring actually.

    Comment by dealga
    19.
    November 24, 2008
    9:24 pm

    So Cow So Cow So Cow So Cow So Cow.

    This should definitely go to So Cow but it won’t. He won’t be given the respect he deserves until he’s dead, and that’ll probably be 60 or so years.

    Comment by Karl
    20.
    November 24, 2008
    9:49 pm

    I’d be really happy if some of the following made the cut.

    The Spook of the 13th Lock
    The Gorgeous Colours
    Fred
    Michael Knight
    Dublin Duck Dispensary

    Now that would be progress.

    Comment by hugger
    21.
    November 24, 2008
    10:51 pm

    Completely unrelated to this thread, but has anyone heard Cedric Daniels’s album, Contemplations & Remembrances, on his official website, http://www.lancereddick.com. Bloody hilarious. Stick with the acting, lad. I like the wanky title, however.

    Best lyric: “Walking like a zombie slave / through the little hole of my lonely cave / Where I fall with my head facing down in the bay [I think]…

    Comment by Kieran
    22.
    November 25, 2008
    12:19 am

    I suspect MJEX might get a make-up call since they (in my opinion) totally deserved the honour in ‘06, but the new one is probably the better of the two if I’m to be honest so I’d be delighted to see them get. Lovely blokes too.

    Elsewhere, I’d be delighted to see Adebisi Shank (my fave Irish album of 2008), RSAG and a bit of Infomatics in there. That Mark Geary album wouldn’t usually be my cup of tea, but I have to say I was blown away when I heard it and really should give it another blast.

    Comment by Dave
    23.
    November 25, 2008
    12:38 am

    David Holmes ‘The Holy Pictures’.

    Comment by Quint
    24.
    November 25, 2008
    10:09 am

    “2008 was a notably bad year for Irish music and new music in general, imho… particularly bad since the spring actually.”

    - I hate this kind of shit.

    There were some awesome Irish albums released this year.

    Comment by unarocks
    25.
    November 25, 2008
    10:17 am

    I have to say I agree with Una on this one.

    It’s the first year doing the Choice yoke that a cynical fuck like me finds it hard to limit my Irish album list to 10 – it has been a hell of a year for Irish album releases.

    Beyond Ireland, there’s enough great new music to have a champion new band for every single day of the year.

    But, as the internet proves every single minute of every single hour of every single day, it’s much easier to be negative than actually head off and find new music you might like.

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    26.
    November 25, 2008
    11:00 am

    Lovely blokes too.

    That may be the case, I’ve never met them but whenever I’m out and I see Messiah J such is his icey cold stare I always feel like he’s 5 seconds away from stomping me into the ground.

    Comment by Ian
    27.
    November 25, 2008
    11:44 am

    “That may be the case, I’ve never met them but whenever I’m out and I see Messiah J such is his icey cold stare I always feel like he’s 5 seconds away from stomping me into the ground.”

    You must get past the stare Ian..he is a gentleman really:)

    I think the standard of Irish releases in 2008 surpasses the past couple of years and it will make the Choice Awards a lot more interesting to say the least.

    Comment by Dani
    28.
    November 25, 2008
    11:52 am

    I like the Adebisi record; would be cool to see something like that get a nomination…The jape one is decent and will get a nomination and I’d imagine RSAG will too.

    I haven’t liked any of the albums that have won the award yet, so hopefully, this year will be different.

    There are one or two other things I’d love to see nominated, but it would be a complete conflict of interest to start hyping them up too much here!!

    Comment by Ciarán
    29.
    November 25, 2008
    11:56 am

    People will always bitch about the winner regardless of who wins.

    I like the Jape album but wouldn’t be as excited about it as others.

    I’d give it to RSAG for pure inventivness sake

    Comment by Sean D
    30.
    November 25, 2008
    12:26 pm

    Adebisi Shank
    Jape
    David Holmes
    R.S.A.G
    FLApes
    Lisa Hannigan
    Sunken Foal
    Spook of the 13th Lock
    Chequerboard
    The Vinny Club

    Let them all win.

    Comment by Street Banana
    31.
    November 25, 2008
    12:35 pm

    I agree, it’s been a great year for Irish albums.

    In terms of the winner, it has to Chequerboard or Jape.
    Would also be happy to see Jimmy Cake, RSAG, Halfset, Colm Mac an Iomaire, Katie Kim, Crayonsmith, Adebisi Shank and MJEX on there.

    Also liked the Hulk, Armoured Bear and Story of Hair albums.

    Comment by Sinéad
    32.
    November 25, 2008
    12:36 pm

    Lovely blokes too

    When I see a band described as such, I always remember what the head of a label I used to work with would say when I pitched a band to him and said they were also lovely fellas. He’d go over to a window in the office, point to a pub below and say “that boozer is full of lovely fellas, but I’m not going to fucking spend a couple of grand recording their album”. Record Business 1.0 never had much use for lovely blokes

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    33.
    November 25, 2008
    12:37 pm

    Oh, and David Holmes really surprised me too after putting out some disappointing stuff over the last few years…

    Comment by Sinéad
    34.
    November 25, 2008
    12:40 pm

    …. and Heathers

    Comment by Street Banana
    35.
    November 25, 2008
    12:41 pm

    … and Jimmy cake.

    Comment by Street Banana
    36.
    November 25, 2008
    12:57 pm

    I’ve just read all the above posts – I’ve not heard half of the acts mentioned but, hey, I’m willing to give them all a spin.

    QED – result straight away for the Choice Music Awards. It’s spreading music which is, officially, A Good Thing.

    It is my patriotic duty to now splash the cash and buy lots of these CDs …..

    Comment by Colette
    37.
    November 25, 2008
    2:32 pm

    “Record Business 1.0 never had much use for lovely blokes”

    Well thankfully in this instance the Mjex lads have the tunes to back up their lovely blokes tag:)

    Comment by Dani
    38.
    November 25, 2008
    4:07 pm

    24. “2008 was a notably bad year for Irish music and new music in general, imho… particularly bad since the spring actually.”

    “- I hate this kind of shit. ”

    What, the kind of shit where some people have a different opinion to yours? Life must be a constant chore…

    Comment by Kieran
    39.
    November 25, 2008
    4:46 pm

    I too would like to see the Adebisi Shank and Crayonsmith albums get a nod.
    Both fantastic and very individual.
    What i’ve heard of Sunken Foal sounds great but have yet to hear the album.
    I love Jape but was honestly disappointed in the album.

    Comment by Pee
    40.
    November 25, 2008
    7:07 pm

    So Cow is my Barack Obama for the Choice. If anyone else wins, it’s a McCain/Palin victory and I’m fucking off to Canada.

    Comment by bobby
    41.
    November 25, 2008
    9:43 pm

    I almost forgot, Burning Codes from Belfast released an amazing album a couple of months back. Above everything else I hope that makes the cut.

    Comment by hugger
    42.
    November 25, 2008
    9:47 pm

    Enya is going to win.

    Comment by markg
    43.
    November 26, 2008
    12:18 pm

    *grumbles* Too many good EPs I want to mention. Can you not accomodate these and call it the Second Choice Prize?

    Comment by Naomi
    44.
    November 26, 2008
    12:21 pm

    Naomi – Nialler9 is the man who rounds up the EPs every year.

    http://www.nialler9.com/blog/2007/12/04/vote-top-irish-albums-eps-2007/

    Comment by Jim Carroll
    45.
    November 26, 2008
    12:42 pm

    Oh, deadly blog, thanks!

    Comment by Naomi
    46.
    November 27, 2008
    10:35 am

    Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill – Welcome Here Again. Should win, but won’t cos it’s trad.

    Comment by kommienezuspadt
    47.
    November 27, 2008
    5:40 pm

    will throw my vote (if I had one) in for Jape. Also liking Fight Like Apes and One Day International.

    Comment by fionaoc
    48.
    November 28, 2008
    3:32 pm

    My favourites have been by The Spook of the 13th Lock, So Cow and Michael Knight. I wasn’t particularly impressed by the Jape album, I think it lacks a bit of substance, though it does have the odd gem.

    Comment by Pádraig
    49.
    November 30, 2008
    9:09 pm

    I dont think the winner will be obvious. Thats what these ceremonies are about.It gets peoples reactions which in turn makes it bigger than it actually is.
    Ham Sandwich, Flapes or Jape. One of these should win it. Each having a brilliant year from 3 well created albums.

    Comment by Mr Meow
    50.
    December 1, 2008
    11:52 pm

    The new God Is An Astronaut album, just released, is incredible.

    Comment by Quint

    Comments on this article are now closed.


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