Saturday, April 05, 2008

CTV: The Canadian Juno Awards, April 6, 2008 By Christine Albrecht

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I was reading through all of the nominees this last week when I became 'aware' of what I was doing. I have never cared enough about the Juno Awards (Canada's equivalent of The United States' Grammy Awards) to fully read an article about nominations, let alone attempt to predict outcomes.


Either I am getting older, or Canadian talent is becoming better and more numerous; enough so that the Juno Awards have become an event that is actually anticipated and discussed among musicians. I became interested in the Juno's during the '90's, but only long enough to tune in and watch the Group of the Year or Album of the Year distributions. And to readers whom assume I watched American musical award (albeit suspicious) shows - not so. I disdained both countries' music awards' equally.


Fast forward to current Canadian talent and who isn't impressed with Canada's musical contributions over the years? Canada still behind when it comes to officially recognizing our own artistic merits, but it will happen, eventually. We are simply inept at recognizing homegrown talent until somebody (out of country) takes notice of our brood. If that 'somebody' happens to be The United States, Canada becomes alarmed and distraught with the idea that a Canadian artist would actually want to emigrate. Imagine, leaving a country filled with disdain, for one filled with adoration - who knew? If only some wonderful American (with both power and leadership) would finally declare The Tragically Hip to be Canada's version of R.E.M., but a thousand times better, TTH would be surfing cash waves alongside Nickelback.


An aside there - WHERE is The New Pornographers' nomination (along with a specific mention of Myriad Harbour - hands down a best music video nomination)? Did management forget to submit The New Pornographers' name for consideration? As well, may I receive an explanation as to why The Bedouin Soundclash is categorized as 'Pop' music?


I assume the Juno Award selection process works similar to the Academy Awards in that an artists' peers and associates within the music industry will be the ones to cast the ballots. Par usual, I have random thoughts and questions about The Juno's decisions. The peer voting appears to be a respectable enough process, but I often wonder why an individual, or a band, must first pay their dueswithin the music business before being nominated for, or receiving, a "Best of..." Juno? Can't a band be nominated if they are relative newcomers, say... only one to two years on the tour circuit before they get signed to a label? Why can't this new'ish band, especially if their album is undeniably outstanding, immediately pass all 'due process' lineups and head straight for Album of the Year, or Group of the Year? May a young band win both the Best Newcomer award as well as the Group of the Year award? Now there would make for an exciting show!


Why must a rock-styled band be recognized by labels, media and public before they are allowed the New Group of the Year tag? (Which is laughable at best as some of the nominees are decidedly not new looking.) Meanwhile, if you are nominated for the Jazz or International/ World category, you need only be recognized by a handful of people and you are as good as in. Why? Final question - Must a band be signed by some form of a label in order to be considered for a Juno? What's the difference between "Alternative" and "Adult Alternative"? These are the everyday, regular Christine's-too-lazy-to-research ponderances.


But, I digress... here are some of Juno's 2008 nominations in selected categories. The Junos will be presented tomorrow night, April 6th, in Calgary, Alberta. (Watch on TV on CTV) Christine's predictions? I am pretty sure that Feist will be taking home her weight in Juno awards, and deservedly so. (My goodness, I'm a Canadian who both acknowledges and admires her Canadian peers' talents...? Scandalous!


You may view all nominees:Here:


(All of the following nominees qualify as 'winners' in my eyes because it is impressive that they managed to get their names known enough to be nominated. It's well known that Canadian music lovers are loathe to acknowledge brilliance in their back yard. Rather, our music industry is notorious for ignoring, invalidating and negating its own talent). But as Bob Dylan once sang, "The times they are a'changin'."


Here are my favoured categories with their nominees:


JUNO FAN CHOICE AWARD


Avril Lavigne J/RCA * SONY BMG


Celine Dion SONY BMG


Claude Dubois Zone 3 * Select


Michael Bublé Reprise * Warner


Nelly Furtado Geffen * Universal


SINGLE OF THE YEAR


Girlfriend Avril Lavigne J/RCA * SONY BMG


1234 Feist Arts&Crafts * EMI


Paralyzer Finger Eleven Wind-Up * Warner


Seven Day Fool Jully Black Jully Black Entertainment * Universal


Everything Michael Bublé Reprise * Warner


INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR


Lost Highway Bon Jovi Island * Universal


The Dutchess Fergie Interscope * Universal


Noël Josh Groban Reprise * Warner


Good Girl Gone Bad Rihanna Def Jam * Universal


Timbaland Presents Shock Value Timbaland Def Jam * Universal


ALBUM OF THE YEAR


Duets: Friends and Legends Anne Murray EMI


The Best Damn Thing Avril Lavigne J/RCA * SONY BMG

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D’elles Céline Dion SONY BMG


Taking Chances Celine Dion SONY BMG


The Reminder Feist Arts&Crafts * EMI


Call Me Irresponsible Michael Bublé Reprise * Warner


ARTIST OF THE YEAR


Avril Lavigne J/RCA * SONY BMG


Celine Dion SONY BMG


Feist Arts&Crafts * EMI


Michael Bublé Reprise * Warner


Pascale Picard Zone 3 * DEP/Universal


GROUP OF THE YEAR


Arcade Fire Merge * FAB


Blue Rodeo WEA * Warner


Finger Eleven Wind-Up * Warner


Hedley Universal


KaïnDisques Passeport * DEP


NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR


Belly CP * Fontana North


Jeremy Fisher Aquarius * EMI

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Jill Barber Baudelaire * Outside


Justin NozukaCoalition * Warner


Serena Ryder EMI


Suzie McNeil Curve * Universal


NEW GROUP OF THE YEAR


Dragonette Mercury * Universal


Faber Drive 604 * Universal


ill Scarlett SONY BMG


State of Shock Cordova Bay * Fontana North


Wintersleep Labwork * Sonic Unyon/EMI


SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR


Avril Lavigne


Daniel Bélanger


Feist


Joel Plaskett


Rufus Wainwright


COUNTRY RECORDING OF THE YEAR


Moments That Matter Aaron Lines Outside The Lines * Fontana North


Honkytonks And Heartaches Gord Bamford Royalty Records

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Kicking Stones Johnny Reid Open Road * Universal


Risk Paul Brandt Brand-T * Universal


Life Is Calling My Name Shane Yellowbird 306 Records * KOCH


ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR


Small Miracles Blue Rodeo WEA * Warner


Goodbye Blue Monday Jeremy Fisher Aquarius * EMI


Chrome Dreams II Neil Young Reprise * Warner


Release The Stars Rufus Wainwright Geffen * Universal


No Stranger Tom Cochrane Sky Is Falling * Universal


ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR


Neon BibleArcade Fire Merge * FAB


LP Holy Fuck Young Turks * Select


Close To Paradise Patrick Watson Secret City * Fusion III


The Con Tegan and Sara MapleMusic * Fontana North


Welcome To The Night Sky Wintersleep Labwork * Sonic Unyon/EMI


POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR


Duets: Friends & Legends Anne Murray EMI


Street Gospels Bedouin Soundclash Dine Alone * Universal


Taking Chances Celine Dion SONY BMG


The Reminder Feist Arts&Crafts * EMI


Call Me Irresponsible Michael Bublé Reprise * Warner


ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR


Them Vs. You Vs. Me Finger Eleven Wind-Up * Warner


Hospital Music Matthew Good Universal


The Lucky Ones Pride Tiger EMI


Underclass Hero Sum 41 Aquarius * EMI


The Saint Alvia Cartel The Saint Alvia Cartel Stomp * Warner


VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR


Destination Moon Deborah Cox Decca * Universal


The Very Thought of You Emilie-Claire Barlow Empress * Fusion III


Holly Cole Holly Cole Alert * Universal


Days Like These Michael Kaeshammer Alert * Univeral


Make Someone Happy Sophie Milman Linus * Universal


FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR


D’elles Céline Dion SONY BMG


L’homme qui me ressemble Damien Robitaille Audiogram * Select


L’échec du matériel Daniel Bélanger Audiogram * Select


De retour à la source Isabelle Boulay Audiogram * Select


Vers à soi Jorane Tacca * Select


CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR


This is Daniel Cook. Here We Are! Daniel Cook and Friends * KOCH


Gonna Keep Dancing Eddie Douglas Fat Flea Music * CD Baby


Music Soup Jen Gould Independent


Superstars The Doodlebops Cookie Jar Ent. * Universal


Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf Windsor Symphony Orchestra Independent


CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO OR CHAMBER ENSEMBLE


Rameau Keyboard Suites Angela Hewitt Hyperion * SRI


Bach Cello Suites Jean-Guihen Queyras Harmonia Mundi * SRI


Alkan Concerto for Solo Piano Marc-André Hamelin Hyperion * SRI


After Reading Shakespeare Matt Haimovitz Oxingale * KOCH


Shostakovich: Complete Works for Piano Trio/Silvestrov: Postlude DSCH The Gryphon Trio Analekta * Select


RAP RECORDING OF THE YEAR


The Revolution Belly CP * Fontana North


The FEWturistic Brassmunk EMI


Memoirs Of A Playboy JDiggz Maxamus * KOCH


Port Authority Marco Polo Soulspazm/Rawkus * red ink


The Old Prince Shad Black Box * Fontana North


BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR


Building Full Of Blues FATHEAD Electro-Fi * Festival


High Country Blues Harrison Kennedy Electro-Fi * Festival


Blues Thing Jack de Keyzer blue star * Festival


Junction City Little Miss Higgins Independent * Festival


A Lesson I’ve Learned The Johnny Max Band Pour Soul * CD Baby


WORLD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR


Agua Del Pozo Alex Cuba Caracol * Festival


So The Journey Goes Autorickshaw Tala-Wallah Festival


Jogo Da Vida Celso Machado CBC Records * Universal


Frontiers Jesse Cook EMI


Wanderlust Kiran Ahluwalia Time Square * Fusion III


JACK RICHARDSON PRODUCER OF THE YEAR


Bob Rock CALL ME IRRESPONSIBLE – Michael Bublé Reprise


LANGFORD – PART ONE Payola$ EMI


Joni Mitchell SHINE – Joni Mitchell Hear Music/Concord * Universal


Kevin Churko (co-producer Ozzy Osbourne) BLACK RAIN Ozzy Osbourne Epic * SONY BMG


Rhys Fulber IF YOUR MEMORY SERVES YOU WELL – Serena Ryder EMI


Skratch Bastid SITUATION – Buck 65 WEA * Warner


CD ARTWORK DESIGN OF THE YEAR


Felix Wittholz (Director/Designer/Illustrator) BUCK 65 WEA * Warner


Jeff Harrison (Director/Designer/Illustrator); Clinton Hussey (Photographer)VONNEGUT DOLLHOUSE Independent


John Cook (Director/Photographer); Mark Buchner (Director/Designer); Greg Bennett (Photographer) PAUL REDDICK NorthernBlues * Festival


Mathieu Houde (Director); Simon Rivest (Designer); Catherine Lepage (Designer/Illustrator); Mathieu Doyon (Photographer) 2X2 PIERRE LAPOINTE Audiogram * Select

Tracy Maurice (Director/Designer); François Miron (Photographer)
ARCADE FIRE Merge * FAB


VIDEO OF THE YEAR


Neon Bible Vincent Morriset ARCADE FIRE Merge * FAB

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Walls Fall Down Marc Ricciardelli BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH Dine Alone * Universal


C’mon Christopher Mills BLUE RODEO Warner


Shaketramp Kyle Davison MARIANAS TRENCH 604 * Universal


Cheer It On Sean Wainsteim TOKYO POLICE CLUB Paper Bag * Universal

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