DRN FTW!

Agree with Paul McCloone, gobsmacked SEBP ain’t on the list!

Julie Feeney’s my favourite to win, lovely album.

ooooo that’s gonna start a debate..

I’d of thought David Kitt & Patrick Kelleher would of been possible favourites to win, as well as Delerentos even. I’d be happy to see Adrian Crowley take it though.

Adrian Crowley for the win!

Pretty disappointing list all round for my money but as Lauren said above, that’s the name of this particular game.

Sorry to see 8Ball and Holy Roman Army miss out…stunned to see Laura Izibor and Swell Season in there.

great to see ASIWYFA on the list, not for everyone what they do, but boy do they do it well!

In one sense, it’s a great shopping list for albums that one probably should have bought last year.

Tight competition – lot of talent there. No real surprises either.

Congratulations to the selected bands, it’s a rightfully special moment for them all. I actually felt sick with fear at the thought of ASIWYFA not getting through and was so relieved to hear that they were deemed suitably qualified for sole alternative rock spot amongst the critics circle. I’d be in pure, white-knuckle shock otherwise.
Again, I see the list as a boring reflection. Too much clutter, not enough sparkle. No Patrick Kelleher for crying out loud! No BATS, not surprised. No Hunter-Gatherer, disappointed. No TwinKranes, no Legion of Two, no Channel One. No Holy Roman Army, no Drunken Boat, no Groom. No imagination. No clue.

Le Catch – well, two people got it right so I need to toss a coin or something to decide

Naomi and kDAmo – I and everyone else would have been disappointed if you thought otherwise….

Who the Choice Music Prize was an alternative music award?

Pretty fair list in my estimation though naturally disappointed that David Kitt doesn’t get some recognition and SEBP for a better album than what actually won it two years ago but thems the breaks.

Delighted to see ASIWYFA, Valerie Francis and Julie Feeney on the list. Found the DRN album overall to be a disappointment.

Echoing Una’s comments earlier, I do not get the appeal of Duckworth Lewis Method either.

I’ll be tipping And So I Watch You From Afar for the win. Huge buzz about them.

Naomi sounds like she has just awoken to a bag of ashes on Christmas day.

Why does it bother people that Neil Hannon bought a kitchen?

Well, I’m certainly not giving out. As I said, I didn’t think there were enough strong albums that would produce a list as good as we’ve seen in previous years. I understand the need to balance the panel with people from different backgrounds. In that respect, it’s approximately 8 and a half millions times more accurate than the Meteors. I’d have faith in Cathal Funge, Padraic Halpin and Chris Wasser to fight the good fight. Then there’s a few I don’t know at all and a few… well…

It could have been better, could have been worse. I won’t be in a rush to buy a ticket to Vicar St though. My primary concern will be picking the winner again and getting on Paddy Power nice and quick. It’s the one time of year when I can gamble with any confidence!

@Ian because, although one is entitled to do whatever the fuck one wants with the money one wins, it would be nice if one spent it on something to do with one’s music / creative endeavors.

And also, it’s annoying.

Why do I think Bellx1 are going to win this now. Valerie Francis the dark horse.

Although Neil Hannon might have a tinge of disappointment if he wins again as he’ll only have half the prize money with which to make a start on his conservatory…

Ah here, whose business is it what the winner spends their money on, but their own? That’s a bit of a ridiculous argument. Whether they blow it on hookers and coke or spend it on their kids’ school fees, that’s nothing to do with anyone else. And you never know, Neil Hannon might have written the DLM album in his new kitchen.

Just put €50 on Tony Fenton to win.

the winner should spend it on crisps and comics

I don’t know what I love most about the Choice; the night itself, the relentless arguing online that precedes it, revisiting albums from the previous year, Naomi’s reactionary hand-wringing about things not being to her satisfaction, everyone still inexplicably freaking out about Super Extra Bonus Party winning it two years ago, counting the number of times the word “kitchen” is mentioned, people slagging Snow Patrol, Paddy Power getting the odds wildly wrong…

Ah, the Choice Music Prize, so much to love.

THIS WAS A PRO-CHOICE MESSAGE.

Your money – do what you want, obviously. But an admission like that deserves a mild slagging at the very least.

Actually I think cb might be on to something there…

The omission of Patrick Kelleher seems very ridiculous. I’m curious as to where he placed on the shortlist.

Dunno Wayne, builders these days would be happy for the work.

Depends on the size of the conservatory naturally. And your plumbing. If you wanted under-floor heating in that mother then you’d need to win the Choice, Metoers, Jacobs songwriters contest and all manner of awards before you could afford it.

MDR, thankee kindly.

Not a bad list at all. Almost a slightly conservative/mainstream list, no?

Disappointed for many – particularly Patrick Kelleher, Kittser and Holy Roman Army – but there are enough people on that list to make me happy (Valerie F, Adrian C, ASIWYFA, Julie Feeney and Duckworth Lewis).

Genuinely disappointed that neither Hunter-Gatherer nor Patrick Kelleher got nominated. Especially PK, hands-down the most original-sounding Irish album I heard all last year. And yes, I am aware my own gaffer is part of the judging panel! ASIWYFA or Crowley for the win. The former for an album that rocks out with its c**k out, the latter because he deserves recognition after a solid decade of quality.

MDR @ 19: If the panel were to discount any Irish act who Steve’s worked with/produced, then there’d be a hell of a lot fewer names to choose from! Anyway, don’t think Sinéad’s actively involved this year, is she?

Overall I feel it’s quite a tame list – could have been better. Damn you, democratic voting system!

Any list like this will reflect what the judges are listening to, so it’s no surprise in many ways who were picked – sure if it was a list of bloggers we’d all know who was going to be on it, ha!

Serioulsy though, people look on the Choice Music Awards as an alternative to the likes of the woeful Meteor Awards, so to see bands like Bellx1 (their lyrics, the blatant aping of Talking Heads, come on…..!) and the Swell Season (very good but have gotten plenty of press/awards/attention already) for example take up slots that could be home to two less-well known but extremely hardworking and talented acts just rankles with people. It rankles with me anyway.

It’s such a great opportunity for up and coming alternative Irish bands….it would be brilliant to see more of them on it. (BATS, P Kelleher, TwinKranes, etc etc)

On a more positive note, it’s fantastic to see an award for best Irish album of the year that isn’t the Meteor Award, and there are some truly excellent artists on the list. Am especially stoked for those who are currently making next to nothing from their music but who will now see a big boost in sales of their albums and attendances at their gigs in the coming months.

Decent list. I do think HRA deserve to have a fuss made over them, but I guess their absence is not a surprise. Well done to all the bands!

i actually think that strict joy is the best album hansard has produced since 2001 and as such, deserves to be on the list… but the list is fairly bland i agree… hope AC wins it…

very conservative list, two previous winners, an oscar winning house hold name and a lady who’s been on every “this years next big thing” list since 2003

though the big give away was having the short list announced on Tony Fenton’s show… no exactly John Peel is he? Hardly even Ronan Collins…

Though beans for David Kitt, Delerentos and Legion of Two, all doing good work in their various fields imho!

WTF?
No delorentos or sanskrit.
Very surprising.

Naomi & Una – love and harmony please…..this is not Twitter

@Joe

You are right Joe. It does depend on the conservatory really. Do you insulate it well?
I mean in winter my one is like an ice box.But in summer it is an oven. Over the Christmas period we kept our turkey out in the conservatory cus it was so cold and sure turkeys are so big they take up most of the fridge. And that’s another thing, I mean fridges have gotten bigger but I dont feel space is utilized enough in them. Some of these all singing all dancing fridges are “ching ching” as well you know.

You could re-run the same comment debate on this awards list every year and just change the names of the acts.. As regards the presence of Bell X1, Swell Season and other more establshed names, my viewpoint would be that though they may arguably not need the money or exposure they do help to give the thing more weight with the press and public and thus draw more attention to the smaller acts on the bill. If you had a list of ten totally obscure acts it’d be hard to get anybody interested who isn’t already a pretty dedicated music fan. At least this way the more casual observers have a hook to draw them in.

@theharro – I wasn’t outing Sinead. It was (meant as) a joke as she mentioned in another post about the rigmarole of having to declare her interest any time Adrian Crowley (and his band) are mentioned.

I see there’s people planning/plotting an alternative Prize – Leagues onThumped and Nialler9 on Twitter

Swench – well, both were judges already so they know the score, they know what’s involved and, as long as the process is as fair, transparent, above-board and open to all as Choice, I wish them nothing but the very best with their plans. We don’t have a monopoly on this, you know – we’re just the ones who stopped talking and actually did something!

F-Man – that idea has been raised again and again and again but nothing ever happens. Anyway, you’d need The Jimmy Cake to bring out an album every year in that case. I mean, the Pantone album ain’t ever gonna appear, is it? Love your blog posts for The Dubliner, dude

Does anyone mind if I post my favourite picture of the Swell Season?

http://content1.catalog.photos.msn.com/ft/share0/c855/0/LucyMrTumnus_410.jpg

So there’ll be a chilli con carne cook-off in Hannon’s kitchen followed by a swim-wear round? And the winner gets a conservatory and a three piece suite?
Fair points Tallie, respect and love to Pugwash in particular.

This wouldn’t be my list at all at all at all. Some fine acts here but one or two, alright three, that I actively dislike. And they’re there at the expense of one or two more maverick acts that could really do with some press. But that’s lists innit? And fair enough you might want a competent “glamour act” or two on the bill to attract the optics and give the prize some heft. It’s sad how severely we lack internationally celebrated acts these days, as was pointed out in your own good Ticket recently regarding the lack of need for red carpets at the Meteors. Will any of these bands go out and conquer the world? I wouldn’t be putting much money on it. Bell X1 havehad some US telly sound-tracking success and The Swell Season have the little gold man but can we say that the other acts will do the business abroad? I could see Codes doing business in the UK but that’s it.

By Jimbo Irish music isn’t a very broad church either is it? I’m in a glum mood today. Go Crowley!

Choice music prize beats Thumped on Googlefight

http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=thumped&word2=choice+music+prize

F-Man @ 75 – sorry about that – which part do you want me to retract?

MDR @ 76 – we also win on Tiddlywinks, Ludo and Snakes & Ladders

John @ 77 – I am a music fan.

So I am! Well, fancy that! Nice to meet you.

Yet again what could have been a great annual benchmark for home grown ground breaking Irish talent had been ruined.

Where does it say that the Choice Music Prize is a “benchmark for home grown ground breaking Irish talent”?

Channel One should have been in there! The Indo’s top Irish album of the year. bah

Enough complaining and put your money where your mouth is! The Paddy Power odds for the Choice Music Price are now live onsite at http://www.paddypower.com or direct link here: http://www.littleurl.net/be92d2

DOI – I work for Paddy Power

The classic “you’re only angry because your mates aren’t on the list” line.
Touch of class.

re : judges I would have thought Paul McCloone would be a better choice to represent Today Fm over Tony Fenton.

The highest calling in life is to arrange an awards presentation.
The second highest calling is to prevent yourself from complaining about anything on the internet if you’re not deadly, deadly serious about doing something about it.

JC @ 86 – Paul presents the live show from the event hence he is otherwise occupied on the night.

naomi and una should have a televised arm-wrestling match

Here’s a name for the awards which Thumped and Leagues want to do – the Anti-Choice Awards. After all, that’s what they’ll be. The winner gets a week of gigs in Whelans. The runner-up gets two weeks. The third one gets a residency upstairs.

Is it any wonder David Kitt has joined Tindersticks when “The Nightsaver” – one of the finest, and certainly most adventurous albums of his career to date – fails to attain the rich recognition it dererved… Ah well. As someone said above, the Swell Season album is the best thing Glen Hansard has put his name to in years, a fine album which would be a worthy winner.

Duckworth Lewis Method, And So I Watch You From Afar, and Adrian Croweley all deserve it too. Three superb albums. Am very surprised that the worst album of Bellx1’s career made it; hopefully a sympathy/pat on the back vote won’t carry it too far on the night.

Anyway, looking forward to the big night, especially if all the acts play on the night.

@86 – re: Tony Fenton. If I were trying to promote something like the Choice, which is probably viewed by many in the mainstream media as a niché award, I’d take a massive mainstream, daytime plug on Tony Fenton’s widely-listened-to radio show over Paul McLoone’s evening slot any day!

The other day I had a spare 12 hours and painstakingly read over last year’s Choice Music Awards blog post. Sadly, that was my last 12 free hours this year, so can I assume Naomi and Una scrapping, people declaring “shame, SHAME JIM!” and a whole lorra bickering about Bell X1? Ah, January, how dull you would be without it…

Jay Reatard has died apparently. Bit mad.

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2010/01/rumors_of_jay_r.html

Ahh I love the annual Choice slagging post with all the coulda/shoulda/woulda comments before the personal slagging starts…although relatively mild on that front this year!

Then again it’s difficult to get too worked up by the list to be honest- some of my favs in there with ASIWYFA, DRN and Julie Feeny but no surprises with the rest and definitely playing it safe with the likes of Swell Season and Duckworth Lewis Method. Not that every genre has to be represented but it would have been more interesting to have some electro in the list with Twinkranes, Hunter Gatherer or Channel One.

The great thing about the awards thought is that they are mostly independent acts/labels and are far removed from the Meteors- thankfully the only similarity is the shitstorm that happens when the shortlists are released!

FTW- ASIWYFA or DRN.

Am I too late to come on here. I can’t believe that th…..oh forget it.
I want to see the Una vs. Naomi arm-wrestle too.
It better be exactly like Stallone’s Over The Top
Paddy Power: are you taking odds on THAT?

jeez jim you should consider a career in politics the way you fend off the jibes; bamboozle them with mumbo jumbo about what the choice awards represents. do you even remember the initial brief of the award, it seems to have drifted quite a bit. a reminder: The Choice Music Prize was established in 2005 in Ireland. It is a music award given annually to the best full-length Irish album based on artistic merit, regardless of genre, sales or record label.

i think the shortlist falls way wide of the mark and i’m with john on this; you’ve got to take the lion’s share of the blame or shame for selecting a judging panel who rather than providing us with an alternative to the industry-driven meteor awards have in effect given us meteors lite.

i’ll admit i’m a bit disappointed i’m not on the list but in spite of my auspicious beginnings i’m well used to such minor disappointments at this stage and as long as the muse still visits on a regular basis i’m happy enough. even if beans on toast and porridge have been on the menu a bit too much recently.

i’m scratching this itch not out of frustration with my own progress career-wise but more as a music fan who’s lived in this country most of my life and someone who’s seen the inner workings of the music industry from the peaks(moneywise) of my early days on a major label to the more recent troughs of putting out records myself and making a loss. when you do something at such a cost it has to be a labour of love but it’s a curse too at times. i’m really happy to see valerie francis and adrian crowley included as i know how they’ve toiled to get the work to such a high standard but the glaring omissions on this list are really puzzling. in past years there were the likes of martin hayes and dennis cahill and mumblin deaf ro(who to my shame i’ve only recently discovered, no thanks to choice) but this year really shows an award drifting further and further from what it set out to be. 2009 was one of the best years for independent music i can remember in ireland and it’s such a shame the choice award has chosen not to celebrate this. the real howler for me is the omission of patrick kelleher but then again i doubt any of the judging panel have ever made it down to the box social to witness any of the excitement first-hand; it’s truly inspired and inspiring, and for the uninitiated readers it’s not some smug cliquey hangout, there’s a warm welcome for anyone who’s game. there were also great records from twin kranes, hunter-gatherer, david turpin, naphta and legion of two all of which deserved inclusion on artistic merit in my opinion and others i haven’t heard too i’m sure. i just don’t think your chosen panel is qualified to judge music based on artistic merit and it’s your job to select a panel that really knows their shit. why are there no musicians/producers on the panel? people who really know how this stuff is put together? it’s just a team of industry insiders trying to pick a list that’s supposed to include some of the outsiders that they clearly just don’t get.

all that regardless of label stuff is boll*cks too. more than half these acts have proper money behind them and that’s what gets them noticed. i thought this award was supposed to search between the cracks to find the real gold. as someone who runs a small label at a loss i can attest to the fact that if you don’t have money behind a record well you’re just not at the races.

there was a real chance to celebrate a great year for irish music, showcase some out-there stuff that deserves more attention and turn people on to some new music but it’s more of the same hack bullshit. it’s a real shame, i really didn’t think you were so much part of the system.

and while i’m at it is there really a need for all that ‘love your blog for the dubliner, dude’ stuff. blogger orgy stuff. i mean, it’s the irish times, please schtick – at least loosely – to the point…

d k

@107 Jim, and one of those acts, CODES, recorded the album before they got the backing of EMI.

Personally, I’m delighted both CODES and Dark Room Notes were included, both were amongst my favourite Irish records last year.

Sure there are records I would have liked to see included, but jaysus, it’s not the end of the world that they’re not.

And anyone else have images of Chris De Burgh hovering over the review section of the Irish Times while reading David Kitt’s comment?

Well done David kitt. A passionate response from a real
music fan.

The choice music award has drifted for sure. It’s increasingly irrelevant. Tony fenton for f**ks sake.???

I must say, watching this from the other side of the ocean, I’m fascinated by all the tweets around this raging battle.

- The “other” (not dead) Jim Carroll
http://www.jimcarroll.com

yeehaw… and were off.. let the moan/ fight / bitching began.. started early thi year.. i likey my cash is on valerie.. wont be putting it on with paddy power.. they are evil.. might have to start my own book on it.. will be taking cash down the flats behind vicar st on the night…

buzz

Would David Kitt have come up with this utter rubbish if he was on the shortlist himself? I think not.

As for the “poor mouth” and artists surviving on porridge and beans on toast, that’s what you get from 12 years of Fianna Fail government, David.

Stampy – you’ll find the Irish Recorded Music Association at http://www.irma.ie and the Irish Music Rights Organisation at http://www.imro.ie. They didn’t simply roll up with their chequebooks. We applied to them for funding in 2005 and again every single year since. Anyone can do the same provided they have an idea they think either organisation might support. If you need more contact info, check the websites or contact me for the addresses.

Have to step in here and say while I’m following the debate with great interest, I don’t think sly digs about Fianna Fáil have any bearing on the debate at hand. Last time I looked, David’s face wasn’t on any of their posters.

Not a bad list on the whole, like Bren Jacob, gutted about TwinKranes but then I didn’t really expect them to be on it. Patrick Kelleher is the most obvious omission but he’ll probably get quite a bit of attention over that omission and I’d say he probably doesn’t care all that much anyway. Too busy making deadly music.

My money is going on Valerie Francis, such a brilliant album though it faces tough competition from Season of the Sparks. Definitely my two favourite Irish albums of the year and totally deserving of their places.

Dark room notes. A new order tribute band. Am patiently waiting for them to write a song with a proper hook in it.

The way people are talking here you’d think that most of Davids post didnt focus on other artists not getting a nod..
And playing the FF card..well lads, i expected more, thats a tad predictable isnt it?
Oh..wait..

Mr Kitt is speaking the truth here in my opinion, and any comments i’ve seen disagreeing have been written by the usual bunch of sycophants that swarm this blog.
It seems to be status quo to throw a few more established ‘Today FM’ bands, shall we say, on this list to give the awards more exposure.
I’m not saying it’s a calculated move, but it certainly seems that way.
It may sound snobbish, but i think this list might benefit A LOT by ditching clueless commercial radio hosts from the panel, no? Having Tony Fenton and Spin Fm DJ’s on the list…i mean really.
This ridiculous belief that liking pop music is somehow acceptable again, in a post-ironic kind of sense… This notion that Girls Aloud and their Ilk are kitch and kooky, that you’re somehow throwing a spanner in the works by admitting you like their music.
Complete hipster bullshit.
Does not make putting a hack like Tony Fenton on the panel acceptable.

Aw… no delilyrhinos?

Go Izzy!

word count:

kittser 764 – 962 jim

question mark count:

kittser 2 – 16 jim

superfluous extra bonus party, JC?

Maybe the FAI could ask that Patrick Kelliher be added as the eleventh nominee..

Tony fenton wouldnt know good music if it fell out of some birds gee in Lillies

Bit out of touch with the music industry players but Tony Fenton’s name does stand out there in colossal, neon lights as a judge who wouldn’t inspire confidence for the likes of Mr. Kitt.

You possibly can’t answer this “on the record” but are some choices for the panel out of the CHOICE organisers’ hands? I mean due to sponsorship and the creation of the ‘fund’.

It is for me — and as others above already said — a “conservative list” but, well, as the label on the tin reads: CHOICE

I’ve already chosen David Kitt’s Nightsaver as my Irish album of the year — my iTunes Most Played songs says so.

Mind you haven’t checked out Dark Room Notes “We Love You Dark Matter”, Codes “Trees Dream in Algebra” or Valerie Francis’ “Slow Dynamo” yet. Will do now, so cheers for that Tony!

I can understand David K is a bit upset because of not being included on the list but I think he has a completely valid point RE the awards. From being a musician / music lover myself I don’t think the list really includes the most interesting, credible and imaginative bands in Ireland. I think there is definitely a ‘Clique’ of bands that get continuous mentions who are not particularly good – this list does the same. Phantom don’t help by constantly rotating the same tracklist day after day and basing themselves on some awful ‘FM104 with guitars’ template. Maybe i’m wrong but it’s just the laziness of reporters and the media who, instead of looking for pure talent, see what everybody else is saying and do the same. Phantom, Hot Press, Choice Awards…..same old same old. It’s just not interesting any more. I really think Twin Kranes should have been on it though, they really are one of the most interesting bands to have come out of here since Rollerskate Skinny. They will probably get the message and get out of Eire as soon as they get the chance to. Maybe go somewhere in mainland Europe where the media is a bit more open minded…

Re response @107 I think you nailed that one Jim.
The list seems pretty well fair enough.
Don’t know that much about the judges although I remember Tony Fenton from my days in a play pen on the kitchen floor, is he really up to the job?

My 5 cents – ASIWYFA adore these guys, really splendid live act too.
Dunno about swell season, but yeah, horses for courses etc.
Whats your label? I was involved in a “not for profit” label for a while, we would have liked to be “for profit” but shucks didn’t happen that way, and you are so right, its damn hard and mostly heartbreaking/thankless task.

So ASIWYFA for world domination it is then.

(re porridge and beansontoast, its not a good combo Jim, especially not when traveling in confined motorised vehicles with others, go with sherbet dib dabs and Activia!

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

Just a couple of points: I don’t think David Kitt would be on here criticising the award if he was nominated, I think that’s pretty obvious. If I were picking the list, his record would be on it, but that’s besides the point.

For whoever said that Jim should take criticism on the chin, why the hell should he? I always have to laugh at people who rant about the Choice for not fulfilling their own personal desires because they do so while sitting on their arses. By all means anyone who thinks the Choice isn’t doing its ‘job’ or what individuals perceive that job to be (and everyone seems to have their own ideas) then just set up your alternative award. There’s nothing stopping you.

For people giving out about the judges, especially Kitt’s line “i just don’t think your chosen panel is qualified to judge music based on artistic merit and it’s your job to select a panel that really knows their shit. why are there no musicians/producers on the panel?” – how do you know dude? Do you have a chart documenting each individual’s extent of music knowledge and critical prowess? That’s so insulting.

For those giving out about Tony Fenton, I think a lot of that is probably ageism, the fact is, Fenton is incredibly experienced and completely entitled to judge a music prize, probably far more entitled than most. Just because he may not be playing Hunter Gatherer on rotation doesn’t mean he should be excluded because of his lack of ‘indieness’.

That said, I’m finding all the bickering pretty fun, so please continue.

Lads the Fenton backlash is all too predictable – we’ve had it last year with Ian Dempsey.

Like all lists awards and whatever – music is subjective. Music also doesn’t ‘belong’ to anyone.

I’m a big fan of David Kitt’s latest LP – already said as much in my first post – but I have to disagree with his analysis of the voting panel.

I agree to a point that a musician/producer should be on the list. Perhaps if the winner of last year’s prize hasn’t released an album in the following year they could have a place on the panel? I know this compromises the anonymity of the panel but surely we could trust the integrity of the artist in question not to be influenced by PR peeps/labels/people they toured with?

I’m not particularly a fan of Tony Fenton’s show. However, who is to say Tony Fenton doesn’t deserve a say on music? The guy’s been playing music for years, he often has Irish bands in studio giving them exposure. Just because his predictable show consists of The Killers/ KOL /Snow Patrol/The Boss/Coldplay/Motown ad nausem doesn’t mean he’s not entitled – as we all are – to an opinion.

It smacks of a typical Irish music scene (here comes that word again) clique that reacts angrily to outsiders or those deemed unworthy of having a say. Everyone listens to music and everyone has – and is entitled to – an opinion.

But to pre-empt the all too predictable judge backlash next year let’s get to work on a barometer of cool that will qualify the judges in the eyes of the begrudgers. Rule of thumb seems to be no middle aged white men or regional dj’s who we don’t recognise immediatly.

I need to set the record straight. The comment @ 66 was not posted by me. I’m known as Swench, but I always post here under my full name.

Just to make it absolutely clear neither Foggy Notions, Nialler 9 or Thumped are plotting or planning any award ceremony whatsoever. Such rumours are complete and utter bollocks.

Peace, love and light,

The Real Swench (TM)

@114 Buzz, now you’re talking. You get the license. I’ll do the display boards. Show me the money!

honestly – why do people think JC or the choice organisers owe them or irish music anything? They set it up and have the right to set their mandate. I would much much prefer an award that reflects the wishes mentioned in david kitts post and many others, but who is to say the Choice should be this award?

Why dont you people set up your own award? Seriously? Apply for funding as jim did? Instead of sitting back and waiting for someone else to do it and then going mad when it doesnt match your desires

I’m just glad Michelle Doherty isn’t a judge… Now that would be (a wee bit) disappointing.

It’s impossible to select 10 albums from a list of 180 that will please everyone, but if it was then we wouldn’t have the debate that we have now…Nothing wrong with a good aul’ debate/bitch fight..

However, I personally would never read:

(1) The News of the world
(2) Hot Press
(3) The Evening Herald
(4) The Independent

Because they are all rags…

and never listen to:

(1) 2FM
(2) i102
(3) Beat FM
(4) Spin FM

for undeground or up and coming irish music because they are commercial stations..

So are the people employed by these the best suited for short listing nominees for such an award?

I’m not sure and would think other people more deeply involved in the industry might be better qualified and whose opinion and choice I might value more…

BlackyC

gotta say i agree with David Kitt.
the people who are mentioning his omission clearly have missed the point.
how does his omission actually detract from what he said? those whose posts (eg. maeve @ 135) are just stated that point are pretty daft. perhaps they could actually argue on the merits of the post?

as for you Jim, christ, “attacked”? grow up will you. this isn’t Ian Brown fans you’ve upset with your embarrassing worn-out britpop jibes.

i can see DK’s point, and JC’s is fairly valid too.
I suppose those of us who see the CMP as something that is supposed to be a little more leftfield are just annoyed that extremely well-received albums (like Kelleher, SEBP and indeed Kitt’s) have been left off, whereas nonsense like Izibor, Swell Season and BellX1 get nominated, by a bunch of media heads whose, in some cases, qualifications and motivations are rather questionable.

In response to David Kitt’s comments I just wonder if he had been on the shortlist would he be so pissed off – or would it depend on who he replaced?

I mean if he was in there instead of say Valerie Francis or Adrian Crowley would it have been “more of the same hack bullshit”.

Or would he have preferred if he was on in place of either of the major label acts (Codes & Laura Izobor). That probably would have been ok.

What about Swell Season or Bell X1, 2 of the bigger selling more ‘mainstream’ acts – a victory for the underdog.

Maybe Julie Feeney or Duckworth Lewis on the basis that both (well half of DLM) have already one.

The Choice prize has always been arrived at by the same method. The shortlist or the winner each year may not be to everyone’s taste but that’s the way it goes – it is not an exact science.

So 12 people pick 10 albums they like each, dont come up with the answers certain people want and suddenly its a disgrace! God forbid people have differing views to other people!

Its transparent and independent of each other. If you interview 12 random people working or not working in music I imagine youll come up with some of the same stuff and some different. Thats allowed. If it wasnt I think we would live in a very different country.

Also regardless of if the artist was signed, popular or whatever as far as I know its based purely on the 13 or whatever tracks of the album, and how they work together.

You can disagree with the decision and not go to the awards but theres no need to insult anyone for having a different view. Short of including it in a census we will never know fully what the nation thought was album of 09. (and oh yeah thats not the aim of this award anyway)

EK

Aaaaahhh i got that error to input all my details again after a nice big schpiel!

Gist of it was: all the people that are saying it’s too ‘mainstream’ – care to advise what ‘mainstream’ is?? Because, out of interest, i’ve asked a few mates that I know don’t pay much attention to music & they had only heard of about 3 on the list…they think.
Regardless, surely the whole idea of something being ‘mainstream’ is that it’s popular and known & isn’t that ultimately what every musician is striving to achieve?
And finally, it’s all down to taste. There are people that are saying they don’t like DLM, others saying they do – nobody’s wrong, nobody’s right, it’s down.to.taste.

As for the judges being criticised, well, that’s just petty. Who says someone is or isn’t ‘qualified’ enough to be on a panel? hmm? Seems like the way in which the list is compiled is as fair as it can be aswell.

What a kerfuffle over nothing! (and what a lot of inverted comma’s i’ve used! whoosh!)

This is crazy, people are getting FAR to worked up about this. Put it all in context here. Why does any musician feel they have some right to be on this list above others?

It really all boils down to musical taste and it is the culmination of the judges musical tastes. Does this mean band A is better than band B? No. Of course not. If you sit around waiting for your music to be validated by anyone you will have a very dissapointing musical career.

As far as the judges not being relavant, why aren’t they relavant. Should the judges be the same people every year? Because its a small country and if you can name me enough “champions of the indie scene” musical journalists to make up the judging panel year on year I’d love to hear them.

Musicians who feel they are owed something or feel their favourite band are owed something for their work are deluding themselves here.

At the end of the day the only unfairness would be if a band that clearly don’t need money would win the award.

As far as big money bands being on the list..

Why shouldn’t they be on the list?

What kind of competition is it when its a list of musical peers, It’s a more satisfying, interesting competition when It’s a David vs Goliath situation.

I can understand if some mega rich band were to win the money but to start complaining at nominations time is insanity.

If people really think its the “Best album of 2009″ that wins they are deluding themselves. Its a combination of different musical tastes and if they don’t match up with your musical taste thats all fine but don’t even think for a second that somehow your own tastes are more valid than another persons. That would just make you an insane egomaniac.

Name one act/band on this list that doesn’t deserve to be on the list based solely on their music, can anyone even recognise anymore that because someone likes something doesn’t make it better than something else.

Have people just turned crazy because there is so much unfocused anger going around that they need to focus it on an award cermony that INCLUDES underground bands?

I don’t know…all I can say is keep up the good work Choice.

Wowsers!!! None of the nominees are my bag but they rarely are.

I have to admit that when I read the list of judges I wasn’t overly impressed either and believe me I’m easily impressed. That said, it’s only awards, people don’t live and die by these things. It’s not the winning, its the taking part that counts, or something like that.

In relation to Kittsergate, people should remember that reactions to blog posts are rarely done in the same fashion as writing a thesis. You generally do it in one go and usually its heartfelt. That’s how Kittser’s posts read to me. His opinion is just one of many here but at least he took the time to articulate it in a reasonable fashion as opposed to a lot of the reactionary shite you get on blogs. Whether you agree with it or not is another thing.

Having listened to all of the albums on the list I have to say that I wouldn’t have nominated any of them, but that’s why I’m not asked to judge stuff like this (or even asked to open a supermarket, or run for public office etc.) Such appointments are made on the basis of public standing and I have little of that I’m afraid.

And so another Choice Music Prize stirs up some minor controversy. One day I might go to it and see what all the fuss is about.

Jim – you must be wondering why you bother.

At least we know blogging is not dead anyway.

Total respect to David kitt for actually expressing a passionate opinion instead of following the herd. Don’t understand the choice of judges, choice had lost all crd in my eyes now

David Kitt’s Nightsaver should definitely have shortlisted. I can’t believe he’s not nominated. What a swizz!

Doesn’t all of the above just illustrate how pointless lists and awards are in music, or art in general for that matter. Its all so subjective and it boils everything down to a silly competition. No one is entitled to judge one piece above another so it is not possible to come up with a list or winner that will please everyone.

Tis a crying shame that they don’t have the balls to shine a light into the darker corners and give exposure to those that would normally go unnoticed…

@147 you should be a diplomat..way to get digs and backslaps to both sides of the argument..maybe ya should come down off that fence

Has anyone mentioned the omission of Wallis Bird or bleedin wha?

@Ian

You’re surely talking about me with that adolescent behaviour thing, right? The point of the alternative list was not to say “this is what should have been on the list”, it was just to list some stuff that got overlooked. I did own the fact that it was completely a taste thing. About the inherent merit in innovation thing, we’ve disagreed about that before and we’re probably not going to agree any time soon.

But the entire purpose of the post was essentially to highlight just what you said, that there’s a disconnect between what the Choice is and what some people want it to be. It started as a comment here and I decided to post it there instead to contextualise it a little.

Glad I found this at least.

Wouldn’t everyone on this page TOTALLY agree that there should be a Music award for Irish album of the year voted for by Irish music fans!!!

@166: Cue bands texting me and annoying the shit out of me to vote for their shitty band. That’s what happens with the Meteors.

@157 posted by Donal Scannell

Well said

PS-This is gonna dwarf the albums of the decade debate

Popcorn is running low here

Honestly Jim, I am beginning to wonder why you bother, its like politics, lots of opposition, but no solutions. Until someone comes up with a better or different prize then this is the Choice.
Okay, I can name 100 bands I would love to see on the list (please don’t test me on this) but that’s not the issue, the list is the list, and if we want another list, then lets all put our greasy paws in our pockets and pay!
Otherwise, Jim, your not doing that bad a job, really, for a hack, so feck the begrudgers and keep on at it!

Says 166 : “Wouldn’t everyone on this page TOTALLY agree that there should be a Music award for Irish album of the year voted for by Irish music fans!!!”

westlife would win that one.

Patrick Kelleher is definitely very talented, there’s no doubt in my mind we’ll see him on this list in future. Not sure if he’s quite there yet but the non-nomination brouhaha is great publicity.

Agreed with whoever has mentioned Twinkranes and Legion of Two.

@John Mc

“Wouldn’t everyone on this page TOTALLY agree that there should be a Music award for Irish album of the year voted for by Irish music fans!!!”

You mean the album that sells the most copies?

“Hi IMRO, I’d like €10K and your full support please.”
“Ooh-kay, have a seat. Why?”
“I’d like to set up an independent music award to highlight the best Irish music. Great albums go unrecognised every year and I’d like to change that.”
“The Choice Prize does that. You obviously don’t have a clue about good music. Go away and do your homework instead of bothering me, there’s a recession on and I have to sell lots of pop music to keep my job.”
The money is a nice gesture but it’s not the point at all. So I could in fact print off Nialler’s 100% transparent public poll, go to the Exchange project and ask for a lend of their hall, email every blog/tv/journo/radio/friend/band/label/promoter I know, set up a Facebook page, ask a local artist to create a sculpture, raise awareness for the Simon Community by getting their lads in to serve buns and orange squash, do a charity arm wrestle with Una and generally throw the best damn gig/independent award ceremony the country’s ever seen and it would mean nothing. It’s not about what if there was another award, it’s about THIS award, the only one we have to recognise 2009, the one that actually means something to everyone because it got our attention by promising to to highlight the albums deserving of more time in the spotlight which effectively represent the year in Irish music. It’s the framework in place and we have a right to feel disillusioned when that system fails our music scene again. I’m fed up of having to find fault with things all the time, time is wasting and there’s so much more to life than complaining but it has to be done.

John’s point @77 was that this could be the best cultural event for music in Ireland. It could be the one instance where barriers that hinder the release and reception of all music fall away and the singular matter of merit remains. I love the idea of the Choice and want to embrace it because in theory it’s just what we need. There is no quality control at the Meteors but we accept that because we know the true extent of music far exceeds the sanctioned airplay, the compromised advertising and the crap served by transvestite airhostesses in magazines. However the the Choice is the refinement to the whole icky business, the one instance in the year when the river is panned for the real gold. The prospectors are expected to go deep in their search, sift every nugget from the midstream to the silt. We do expect the Choice to do a good job but instead it’s a half-assed, lazy effort that missed a lot of gold. Morto for you.

So yeah, that’s what’s insulting, when the well-received albums that made a huge difference to the spectrum of the year are wilfully ignored, especially if they did so with little or no help from the hands that guide the industry levers like those on the panel. Their professionalism is obviously deeply ingrained as once again they have relegated original music in favour of friendly, commercial choices. The whole thing seems as alternative as a crock of stew followed to a traditional recipe…lots of fluffy potatoes, a few carrot-tops, some meaty bones and just one grain of anything spicy or exciting. All the concerns and prejudice towards “underground” vs “mainstream” is supposed to fall away during the selection process of this award, leaving aside the deeply professional preferences and obligations which normally force Irish music into the correct channels of categorised music exposure. But instead this post on the 2009 Choice panel reads like a case study of the very real problems involved in releasing albums independently.

As I said, not surprised BATS [too visceral] and Hunter-Gatherer [too late] were overlooked but I’ll be blunt in saying I cannot take that panel seriously. CMP09 List FAIL. I have not yet been to the Box Social and have only spoken to the man twice but still think the omission of Patrick Kelleher’s album is CMP09’s biggest loss. It’s just a beautiful, flawless thing. I follow @legionoftwo on Twitter but that has no bearing on the fact their stunning Riffs album was good enough for Planet Mu. I think I got really drunk and waffled on to one of the TwinKranes lads for aaaages one night, but that has no relevance whatsoever to the fact that I have never heard an Irish album the like of SpektrumTheatreSnakes, so darkly cosmic that it might prick the ears of music fans thousands of miles away, maybe more so if it had the support of its cultural critics. I have lived and dreamed by ASIWYFA’s music for years now so…yeah, my mates are on the list, wooo! It’s GREAT to see Irish music has finally grown the balls to recognise them as an asset rather than a risk and I hope they win. 
Finally, I know some judges, worked with one for over three years and indirectly, 9/10 of the selected bands. This is all about the music so quit with the trite about mates or who knows who. It’s worse than a psycho boyfriend demanding to read my texts.

I’d just like to thank paddy @87 for

“What will we get with Thumped? 10 bands who all sound the same with feck-all relevance outside a street in Dublin.”

that’s my new signature that is

Wow, just listened to TwinKranes myspace. Brilliant. This barney is actually good exposure for the ignored bands ironically.

This has just gotten stupid! there have always been mainstream acts in this yoke of a competition – I never heard any complaints about them?
The script
Snow patrol
roisin murphy
God its sad really – this is the jackpot for irish music these days – 10 measly K —’bono’s lunch bill? – – sorry bono had to drag you into this:)
anyways – adrian crowley and valerie francis great albums – the later is a masterpiece and possible one of the best irish albums in years.

tis all good

Steve c @185 – not much good for p Kelleher this year though is it? And 2nd albums are usually shite. He’s signed already anyway.

…..

1. This might be obvious but I don’t think anyone has said it – I don’t think Kittser was giving out about the right of any one of the selected judges’ right to be on the list individually, more the lack of representation of less mainstream media. A fair point, I’d argue.

2. A Fans Award?? Seriously do any of the people that suggested a fans award think they’d be any happier with the nominees in one of those awards?

3. Every nominee on this year’s list is worthy of their nomination, regardless of you (all of you maybe) might think.

4. I had more points, which could have been much better than those previously mentioned (see points 1-3), but I got sidetracked by South Park as gaeilge on TG4.

PS: I can’t believe it took this web page for Patrick Kelleher to reach my ears for the first time, shame on me…

PPS: Sorry Naomi your paragraphs had way too many words for me to read after all the stuff before, I hope we weren’t making the same points (for fear of causing repetition in this thread).

Other PS’s: I wasn’t sure if I was sober enough to post under my real name so I chickened out.

I’m really pissed off that a friend of mine who recorded an obscure new genre-less sound from his dogs kennel using only his big toe was not nominated. How dare you Jim!

I’ve got a decent interest in Irish music and never heard Twinkranes before or even read about them! Last year I didn’t know who ‘The Shank’ were! If the majority of people know nothing about the guy in a kennel is it really culture and should they be recognised in any culturally important event?

Keep up the good work Jim!

All the concerns and prejudice towards “underground” vs “mainstream” is supposed to fall away during the selection process of this award

And yet it seems to be perfectly acceptable to the moaners here to prejudice against albums and judges that are deemed to be ‘mainstream’?

captain a @ 197 – it most certainly was. It was Neil Hannon

dave @ 199 – nope. Check him out – jimcarroll.com

matt @ 205 – i think we might be

Valerie Francis album is just beautiful, and should win – Twinkranes should have been nominated as well as Patrick Kellagher…
swell season should be put-down!

@Peter Nagle Bit disappointed at your comment there Pete. As someone who runs a Irish music blog I presume to support new Irish music I hoped you’d see the reasons why it’s important that such an award doesn’t drift into ‘Meteors Lite’ territory. Do the Swell Season, The Script or BellX1 really need this nomination? I have the Swell Season and BellX1 albums and both are ok but in the top 10 albums of 2009? Give me a break. RTE posted an article on their website in 2005 on the establishment of the award. The second paragraph of the article is the one that nails the award for the sham it’s become…I presume it came from the press release at the time but I’m sure I’ll be corrected on that…”The Choice Music Prize aims to highlight albums from a variety of genres – from indie, trad and pop to electronic and jazz – which deserve more attention.”

So do BellX1, The Swell Season, Laura Izabor or The Script deserve more attention? Really? More than David Kitt or Patrick Kellegher?

Keep up the good work Jim my a**e…seriously.

Fair play to Kittser for speaking up. I’ve not been much of a fan of your music over the years but I really enjoyed the departure that The Nightsaver represented for you and I can scarcely believe that it didn’t make it on.

Its always a laugh seeing music fans taking themselves too seriously-all this whinging and hand wringing because Their exact taste in music isn’t totally represented by the list. Its as if someone not entirely agreeing with your choices is a personal affront.

Was it just me or was 2009 a fairly weak year for music anyway (and not just in Ireland)? There’s nothing on or off the list that set my world alight. Valerie Francis the most interesting of whats there probably.

When are the tests going to be administered to find out who has the correct opinions to compile next years list (a la David Kitts “I just don’t think your chosen panel is qualified to judge music based on artistic merit”)? We need the indie-est people we can find for this judging gig.
That is if there is a next year and the Choice Music Prize hasn’t been brought down by “The System”!!

@P 198 – Fair enough, I was under the assumption he put it out himself. It’s a great album but feels a bit like a collection of demos, a guy finding his voice. I can’t see any way but up for him.

Dear David Kitt and other omittees,

Please spend less time writing arse on blogs and Thumped.com and more time writing songs that the media will, “highlight as deserving of some extra time in the spotlight and, ultimately, to select the album which best sums up the year in Irish music”.

Simple as.

Mark G

Seriously lads, what is Tony Fenton doing on the judging panel??

Have to agree with a lot of what David Kitt said. The judging panel should contain at least some well established musicians from different fields: Paul Brady, David Holmes etc

I’ll say it again though, how is Wallis Bird’s album ‘New Boots’ ommited? It’s a cracking album.

Hoping Julie Feeney gets it but probably won’t as she’s not deemed ‘indie’ enough. Failing that, I wouldnt mind if the Duckworth Lewis Method got it…new kitchens all round

@Mark_G

What, you reckon people should write music specifically to impress the media representatives on the Choice panel? That’s a bit mad.

@ Mark_G 216

Probably the most inaccurate message on this entire thread (which is no mean feat) so well done sir.

What the crap sticks?? Hail to the Thief didn’t make the albums of the decade? Somebody call an ambulance, I think my liver’s just jumped on my kidney in a huff. Ah wait, this is a different one of those what-a-shite-decision rackets…

Lists don’t please everyone, I doubt there’s any one person who’d agree with those exact ten albums. What matters here is the cost of kitchens in the current climate. A national disgrace. This could only be the work of that dastardly Biffo.

Mullofkintyredoolally, the Tribune should cost less on account of your drivel, one doesn’t care if one yacks bile, rah rah roysh loike y’know.

Naomi, g’wan ya legend.

Kittser for President.

This nialler9 end of year poll below is more representative of what people are listening to and want-

http://www.nialler9.com/2009/12/23/nialler9-irish-albums-2009-poll-results/3/

Fist up Jim, fair play to you for putting on the awards, its work that anyone can do but few actually do so props for that.

I personally think awards are flawed from the get go but the money thats goes to the winner is always going to be welcome and Jape being the winner last year was brilliant, a worth owner of the cash.

Kittser is right about the omission of certain artists and you have to take responsibility for that. You pick the judges, buck stops with you. If they cant see past your Snow patrols and Glen Hansards down to the likes of Twinkranes and Naphta then your onto a loser straight away. No disrespect to Glen et al, just making the point. You could maybe tweak the way you select judges as in not just invite, in your words “Media folk”. You have been dealing with producers and label owners for years, are these not your ‘folk’ aswell, I thought they would have been.

As to the muppets (Sweaty) who think Kittser is sore about not being on this list, your Muppets, read what the man said.

Paul Mulligan

Ireland is a small country and thus the number of people who actively search out music – as opposed to just consuming what they’re fed – is correspondingly small.

Despite their professed love for it, most Irish people treat music as no more than a lubricating backdrop to their socialising – the notion that it might challenge them in any way is usually dismissed as ‘pretentious’….. hence this allegiance to ‘perfect pop’, with its attendant get-out clause of ironic appreciation. Anything that pushes that envelope is almost inevitably ignored.

Respect to David Kitt for letting rip, and for the nod, but personally, I spent years arguing for the relative merits of this-music-over-that, and eventually gave up, as I came to the conclusion that it’s a complete waste of time. No-one likes being told that their choices are poor (especially those whose careers are founded on their supposed discerning critical abilities), so all that usually results in scenarios like this one here is a tiresome slogging-match i.e. “my music is better than yours”… which really only serves to deepen the notion that music is a competition that can somehow be “won”.

Anyway, I’ve only heard of two of the nominees – and one of the judges named in this competition, so I guess I’m living in an alternative musical universe to this one.

@ 219 & 222 there is part of my post in inverted commas (” ” in case you need some help). It comes from http://www.choicemusicprize.com.

To clarify, if an artist comes here to whinge about not making the short list, they feel hard done by.

By doing so, the artist(s) become(s) fair game for reminder that, while their labour of love my be a personal venture, the assembled judges from Irish music media deem it not worthy of a nod for 10K.

Specifically @ 216, yes Karl if an artist really wants to win 10k, they should give due consideration to the music award equivalent of how to win friends and influence people. Hell, it is more money then they will make from album sales in Ireland.

If an artist does not agree with the above, they need to reconsider what their commercial musical motivations are.

It is, after all, the music industry not the music charity.

Specifically @ 222 Bren Jacob, you’ll do well to remind yourself frequently of my penultimate sentence.

On a completely unrelated note to all of the above, I’ve just tried to buy tickets for this on ticketmaster only to be told that they want to fleece me with a whopping €3.40 PER TICKET service charge.

I don’t know how these things work, or how ticketmaster is selected as a booking agent for these events – I’m sure it’s been covered elsewhere – but I need to rant about how that is extortionate in the extreme!! I’m not near an outlet, and wanted to get 5 tickets for this today…. not too impressed.

Rant of the day over

Have Kittser and Kanye West ever been seen in the same room?

Thanks for the reply Jim. Just to clarify, I know this has always been a great night out and let’s face it, €27 IS pretty spanking good value for money for (what I’m sure will be!) a great line-up. Not disputing this in the slightest and I’m certainly looking forward to the occasion! No issue whatsoever with the ticket pricing. It’s almost worth it for the debate here alone, in fact…!

However it just really, really annoys me to see these cowboys taking advantage – I drove to the nearest outlet at lunchtime only to still have to cough up €2.25 per ticket even though I paid cash – a total of €11.25 for five tickets. I can tell you, I would damn rather see that €11.25 going to the artists, or indeed sitting in my own back pocket than going where it is, but it doesn’t seem like there’s much choice in this regard!

Incidentally, is there an alternative way of purchasing tickets that doesn’t involve Ticketmaster?

Rant of the day *definitely* over this time – not the time or place but perhaps I shall channel my energy into writing a Strongly Worded Letter.. for the craic, like.

sneezy – if you are in Dublin, try City Discs or Sound Cellar who I think – and I stress I think – have a much better deal on transaction fees.

mitch – we’re waiting to hear about one or two acts before we announce anything. They’re trying to sort out tour and travelling schedules before saying yes or no so we’ll hold off on the announcement until they know for sure.

Jimmy – thanks for taking the time to post that comment. I respect what you have said and especially how you have made your points. It is possible to do so with personalising the issue or insulting anyone.

I’ll address one issue you raise because it has been brought up here again and again and again so I think I need to clarify it once and for all. It’s the one about the judges.

To explain this, let’s start with the Choice Music Prize itself. It is open to ALL Irish acts regardless of genre, size, success or sales. It is NOT a prize about the underground and it is NOT a Prize about the overground. It is a Prize about IRISH music regardless of every category going. It is a Prize which is a broad church because Irish music is a broad church.

Therefore we choose our 12 judges to match that broad church. We need judges who cover national and local radio, national and local press, males and females, young and old, online and offline, Dublin and beyond. We also only use judges once so we have a fresh panel every year.

It’s a MEDIA prize which is why we don’t have producers and musicians on the panel. If we had producers or musicians, it would be a much different Prize. Media write about and talk about music every day of the week so I do think they have “a good knowledge/understanding of the process of music-making”, to quote yourself. After all, many of the acts who have been nominated and many of the acts who didn’t make the list exert much effort in trying to get this same media to write about or play their music so surely they wouldn’t be doing that if that wasn’t the case.

Again, Jimmy, thanks for taking the time to comment here. As you know, I personally think “The Echo Garden” is superb and your comment reminds me to pull it out to play on the Far Side tomorrow night. As you know, I don’t have a vote or a say in the Choice shortlist – but I do have a radio show which is happy to play beautiful minimal music by mods for mods.

Carlow abu (except in the hurling)

Hi Jim,

Some fair points there and thanks for your clarifications.

I think I was just trying to get across how hard it is for more niche sounds to simply get on the radar of said media due to financial restraints, which is why it would be nice to see one or two judges with say, an ear to the ground for such genres such as yourself, which I think was what Dave was getting at. It does seem like a fairly narrow selection in that regard (the judges, not the nominees) rather than one which represents the broad church of Irish music like you say, but that’s your call and I suppose you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. I should say I’m referring more to the papers/radio stations in the list rather than the individuals and I don’t mean to be doing them a disservice, but it would be nice to see someone from say, the JMI, Lyric FM or XFM in there too as the mainstream media seem fairly overtly represented.

Normally I wouldn’t feel the need to engage with this side of the media, as us nerdy types have our own little community across the world which serves our needs admirably, but occasionally we must stick our heads over the bunker and make our presence felt and I suppose it’s sometimes tempting to hope that something like the Choice Award offers us a rare opportunity to get some recognition for our humble efforts in our own country.

As I was saying, trying to blanket bomb all the writers/radio stations out there with promos just isn’t an option, so us experimental types have to be picky with where to send our CDs. Judging by some of the comments made, it seems some people aren’t really that familiar with the harsh realities of music promotion these days. Also it’s too much to expect the same media folk to be able to listen to the multitude of releases being put out, there’s only so many hours in the day after all, especially if they’re not so open to niche styles. Obviously music such as my own isn’t going to be to everyone’s taste, nor is it intended to be, so I’m always grateful to anyone in the media who can give it a listen/spin, so cheers for that. This cat is always glad of any scraps from the table!

All the best,

Jimmy.