The Amp Reveals A Further 21 Albums Up For Consideration

9 November 2012 | 11:48 am | Scott Fitzsimons

That's now 47 vying for the $30,000 prize

The Coopers Amp has today announced another 21 albums have been invited to enter this year's Australian Music Prize, which means that a total of 47 have made the long-list after an initial 26 were named.

This is the second of three announcements regarding albums that have been 'invited to enter' as, in its eighth year, the $30,000 prize rolls out its new nomination format. Dropping the entry price, they asked industry and fans to submit albums for consideration. With 230 identified, the judges – made up of industry, media and musicians – have listened to 130. From those sessions, 47 have now been invited to enter. After judges have listened to all the albums, they will determine a shortlist of nine finalists who will be in the running to win the $30,000 cash prize, donated by the PPCA.

The second round of albums includes:

Angus StoneBroken Brights
Archie RoachInto The Bloodstream
Ball Park MusicMuseum
Catherine BrittAlways Never Enough
Clairy Browne & The Bangin' RackettesBaby Caught The Bus
Clare BowditchThe Winter I Chose Happiness
CollarbonesDie Young
Daily Meds Happy Daze
Julia StoneBy The Horns
KnievelEmerald City
Max CrumbsMaidenhair
Oh MercyDeep Heat
SaskwatchLeave It All Behind
Steve Lane & The AutocratsThe Romance Of Communication
The PresetsPacifica
The RubensThe Rubens
Tim RogersRogers Sings Rogerstein
TZUMillions of Moments
UrthboySmokey's Haunt
We All Want ToCome Up Invisible
Winter People A Year At Sea

Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter

The second announcement of artists drew some questioning – something the prize is certainly used to – over the eligibility of some releases. Clairy Browne's Baby Caught The Bus was released 11 November last year, before the 30 November date that is stipulated as the start point for eligibility.

Today The Coopers Amp's founder and Prize Director Scott B. Murphy told theMusic.com.au, “Under previous Amp's when there was a short, specified period under which artists could enter, it was vital to have an entry cut-off date enforced. Under the system of The Coopers Amp where we review albums all year long and artists don't 'enter' as such, dates aren't as important – we'll still be accepting releases come December.

“Although early in the piece we set 30.11.11 as the earliest release date to be valid, we in fact were made aware of some albums that were released in November 2011 but were not entered into the previous Amp – as we like to be 'inclusive' all such albums were reviewed by our judges – no artist asked for nor received any special attention.”

Today's names join the previously announced:

Alpine A Is For Alpine
Bearhug Bill, Dance, Shiner
Bushwalking First Time
Catcall The Warmest Place
Charge Group Charge Group
Children Collide Monument
Deep Sea Arcade Outlands
Dirty Three Toward The Sun
DZ Deathrays Bloodstreams
Emma Russack Sounds Of Our City
Forty Thousand Sisters Goodbye Broken Sled
Grand Salvo Slay Me In My Sleep
Hermitude HyperParadise
Hilltop Hoods Drinking From The Sun
House Vs Hurricane Crooked Teeth
Jess Ribeiro & The Bone Collectors My Little River
Liz Stringer Warm In The Darkness
Made In Japan Sights & Sounds
Missy Higgins The Ol' Razzle Dazzle
Ollo Ape Delay
Pond Beard, Wives, Denim
The Bamboos Medicine Man
The Hello Morning The Hello Morning
The Maple Trail Cable Mount Warning
Tim Hart Milling The Wind
Xavier Rudd Spirit Bird

This year's judges include the returning Chris Berkley, Deborah Conway, Dave Faulkner, Tim Freedman, Mike Glynn, Chris Johnston, Shannon Logan, Christopher Powell and Bernard Zuel as well as first timer Sam Lockwood, from last year's winners The Jezabels.

Patrons of the Prize include Marianna Annas, Sebastian Chase, Michael Chugg, Bill Cullen, Colin Daniels, Patrick Donovan, Jessica Ducrou, Anne Haebich, Craig Hawker,Sally Howland, Ian James, Tim Janes, Philip Mortlock, John O'Donnell, Michael Parisi, Damian Trotter as well as new patrons singer Renee Geyer and artist manager Catherine Haridy.

Past winners include:

2005: The Drones - Wait Long By The River And The Bodies of You Enemies Will Float By
2006: Augie March - Moo, You Bloody Choir
2007: The Mess Hall - Devils Elbow
2008: Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours
2009: Lisa Mitchell - Wonder
2010: Cloud Control - Bliss Release
2011: The Jezabels - Prisoner