I'm not annoyed, but I do disagree. It's not the nationality that's important, it's the attitude. If you can't pull that off then everything else is exposed as a novelty and if you can pull it off then the fake aspects become less important. We should never leave it to the Americans/English/Irish etc... though. Where would that get us.

ha ha

Point taken Peejay. I'm just saying, certain countries do certain genres better and, for me, ROL and MJEX didn't really pull it off. I couldn't see through the fake aspects, particularly the American twangs coming from Dubs. In fact, some of the backing music to ROL, particularly their guitar licks/hooks are pretty catchy. I didn't really mean to try and restrict hip-hop, rap etc to America. My articulation lets me down sometimes (

I think if everyone steps back from this you will see that the standard of competition wasn't that great. We've all let it get to our heads a bit here and as much as I admire Si Schroeder et al, the other acts (with the exception of David Kitt) are threading a very average path. Fionn Regan is not without charm, but not on the verge on greatness either. The Divine Comedy were being rewarded as much for their contrinution to music as the standard of the album itself.

I'm not a huge DC fan, but I've heard all the records (except Messiah J) and I really think it's the best of the bunch

Still, with €10,000 I really thought he should of got a round in at Dave Couse on Friday night..

Agreed - it was a Scorsese-esque 'Lifetime Achievement' award. The man has made plenty of fine albums but his latest was jut not one of them.

....but you didn't like Duke Special's album, Punchbowl? It's DC-esque in its way. I really love it and it was my favourite of the shortlist (though I'm still sulking that Simple Kid didn't get shortlisted).

I WORKED AT THE CHOICE MUSIC AWARDS THIS YEAR AND ALTHOUGH I WANTED SI SCH TO WIN I WAS HAPPY FOR NEIL HANNON. HES A TOP BLOKE AND DESERVES THE CREDIT WEATHER ITS FOR THIS ALBUM OR THE BODY OF WORK HES CREATED OVER THE YEARS. ITS A GREAT IDEA FOR SHEDDING SOME LIGHT ON IRISH MUSIC EVEN IF THE WINNER MIGHT BE NOT TO EVERY ONES TASTE. ROLL ON NEXT YEAR

A Lady of a Certain Age is a great little tune alright, he still knows how to write a perfect pop song.

The Choice Music Prize is a great idea in theory, but not in reality. Unfortunately it doesn't depend on which of those was actually a "better" album...but how do you judge what is the "best" album. To these twelve people, The Divine Comedy's was the best album of the year, so the prize was fairly given. With twelve different people, the title of best album would have gone to someone else. Unfortunately, as you said, a public vote wouldn't have worked either, cos that would be the most well marketed (and my god the cheapest, musically) album, ie Snow Patrol. Awards like this don't mean a damn, only to the people who get to use the money.

By the way I thought Duke Special should have won.

I still think one of the best things that will come from the Choice Music prize over the next few years will be the exposure all the nominated bands will get, not just the winner. Especially true for the less established bands..

Something like the Choice award was definitely needed!

Pity The Immediate didn't win! They might have stayed together for now!!

yep that might have happened