The votes are in for next week's NZ Music Awards, but Herald entertainment writers are still arguing about who the night's winners will or should be.
To paraphrase Charles Dickens: it was the best of times and it was the even betterer of times. New Zealand's music scene has seldom seemed
more diverse - it's a long way from TrinityRoots to 8 Foot Sativa - and as vibrant.
How many dudes? Just heaps, mate.
New stars have appeared in the sky - this time last year only family and a few friends really knew of Brooke Fraser - and old hands like Greg Johnson have come back with their best material in, like, ever.
We, here in the office, have argued over whether someone is "pop" or "rock" - which means they aren't scraping for candidates in any category. We can't even get close on who should win for best urban/hip-hop.
We seriously wondered whether Concord Dawn shouldn't be in the rock category because ... well, they rock. But so did Scribe.
Ask around the music industry and people will stand proud and say, yes we actually do have a music industry now. We have managers and promo people, record companies and producers, engineers and video makers, and people who make a living out of just doing album cover artwork.
That's an industry by any measure, but it couldn't exist without all those who get up and make a noise that attracts our attention. It's a diverse and gratifying sound, doesn't need any cheerleaders (although has plenty) and commands radio and television time on its own merits.
A few made it to the shortlist below and on Wednesday night, at the Tui Awards, we'll know the winners. This year more than any other, "You've got to hear the music".
So here are our picks of who we think should win - and who probably will ...
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Brooke Fraser - What To Do With Daylight
Dimmer - You've Got To Hear The Music
goodshirt - Fiji Baby
Phoenix Foundation - Horsepower
Scribe - The Crusader
PICKS
Russell Baillie: Horsepower
Graham Reid: You've Got To Hear The Music
Rebecca Barry: You've Got To Hear The Music
Predicted winner: Scribe - The Crusader
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Brooke Fraser - Lifeline
Dimmer - Getting What You Give
Goldenhorse - Maybe Tomorrow
goodshirt - Buck It Up
Scribe - Stand Up
PICKS
Baillie: Scribe (but for Not Many, the Remix)
Reid: Scribe
Barry: Scribe
Predicted winner: Scribe
BEST GROUP
Dimmer - You've Got To Hear The Music
Elemeno P - Love & Disrespect
goodshirt - Fiji Baby
PICKS
Baillie: goodshirt
Reid: Dimmer
Barry: goodshirt
Predicted winner: goodshirt
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
Adeaze - Always And For Real
Brooke Fraser - What To Do With Daylight
Minuit - The 88
PICKS
Baillie: Brooke Fraser
Reid: The Have
Barry: Brooke Fraser
Predicted winner: Brooke Fraser
BEST MALE SOLO
Greg Johnson - Here Comes The Caviar
Nathan Haines - Squire For Hire
Scribe - The Crusader
PICKS
Baillie: Greg Johnson
Reid: Mareko
Barry: Scribe
Predicted winner: Scribe
BEST FEMALE SOLO
Bic Runga - Live In Concert
Brooke Fraser - What To Do With Daylight
Hayley Westenra - Pure
PICKS
Baillie: Bic Runga
Reid: Brooke Fraser
Barry: Brooke Fraser
Predicted winner: Brooke Fraser
BEST SONGWRITER
Brooke Fraser - Lifeline
Greg Johnson - Save Yourself
Scribe, P-Money, Con Psy & Savage - Not Many: The Remix
PICKS
Baillie: Greg Johnson
Reid: Greg Johnson
Barry: Scribe, P-Money, Con Psy & Savage
Predicted winner: Brooke Fraser
BEST ROCK ALBUM
Dimmer - You've Got To Hear The Music
Elemeno P - Love & Disrespect
goodshirt - Fiji Baby
PICKS
Baillie: PanAm (PanAm)
Reid: PanAm
Barry: Paselode (The Taming of the Wasps)
Predicted winner: Dimmer - You've Got To Hear The Music
BEST URBAN ALBUM
King Kapisi - 2nd Round Testament
Mareko - White Sunday
Scribe - The Crusader
PICKS
Baillie: King Kapisi
Reid: Mareko
Barry: Scribe
Predicted winner: Scribe
BEST DANCE ALBUM
Concord Dawn - Uprising
Salmonella Dub - One Drop East
Shapeshifter - The Riddim Wise LP
PICKS
Baillie: Concord Dawn
Reid: Concord Dawn
Barry: Concord Dawn
Predicted winner: Concord Dawn
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Chris Graham - Stand Up (Scribe)
Gary Sullivan - Getting What You Give (Dimmer)
Mark Trethewey & Shane Mason - Fools Love (Misfits Of Science)
PICKS
Baillie: Chris Graham
Reid: Chris Graham
Barry: Chris Graham
Predicted winner: Chris Graham
INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
Bic Runga
Hayley Westenra
Scribe
PICKS
Baillie: Hayley Westenra
Barry: Hayley Westenra
Reid: Hayley Westenra
Predicted winner: Hayley Westenra
PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Brooke Fraser
Elemeno P
goodshirt
Scribe
Steriogram
Zed
Predicted winner: Scribe
The votes are in for next week's NZ Music Awards, but Herald entertainment writers are still arguing about who the night's winners will or should be.
To paraphrase Charles Dickens: it was the best of times and it was the even betterer of times. New Zealand's music scene has seldom seemed
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