2013 JUNO Award Nominees Announced – My Picks

     As with everything I always like to do things my way, this will be no different. The Nominees for the 2013 JUNO Awards were announced this morning in Toronto, instead of boring everyone with all of the categories I'm only posting the ones that I have any interest in…I think Carly Rae, Céline and Bieber have had enough ink (and just typing their names has really hurt my brain), so without further ado here we go:

Breakthrough Artist of the Year

Cold Specks (My choice to win)

Elisapie (Played the 2011 Mariposa Folk Festival)

Grimes

Kira Isabella (country music artist)

The Weeknd 

Breakthrough Group of the Year

Hey Ocean!

Monster Truck

The Pack a.d.

Walk Off the Earth

Yukon Blonde (My choice)

Songwriter of the Year

Afie Jurvanen

“Be My Witness”, “Caught Me Thinkin”, “Lost in the Light” BARCHORDS – Bahamas

(My Choice)

Arkells

“Michigan Left”, “On Paper”, “Whistleblower" MICHIGAN LEFT – Arkells

Hannah Georgas

“Enemies”, “Robotic” – co-songwriter Ryan Guldemond, “Somebody” – HANNAH GEORGAS – Hannah Georgas

Kathleen Edwards

“A Soft Place to Land”– co-songwriter John Roderick, “Chameleon/Comedian”, “Change the Sheets” VOYAGEUR – Kathleen Edwards

Leonard Cohen

“Amen”, “Going Home”– co-songwriter Patrick Leonard, “Show Me the Place” – co-songwriter Patrick Leonard OLD IDEAS – Leonard Cohen

Adult Alternative Album of the Year

Bahamas Brushfire – Barchords (My Choice)

Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur

Royal Wood - We Were Born To Glory

Serena Ryder - Harmony

The Barr Brothers - The Barr Brothers

Alternative Album of the Year 

Hannah Georgas - Hannah Georgas

Japandroids - Celebration Rock (My Choice)

Metric - Synthetica

Said The Whale - Little Mountain

Stars - The North

Rap Recording of the Year

Classified - Inner Ninja ft. David Myles (My Choice)

JD ERA - No Handouts

Madchild - Dope Sick

Maestro Fresh Wes - Black Tuxedo

Rich Kidd/SonReal - The Closers

Aboriginal Album of the Year 

BURNT-Project 1 - The Black List

Crystal Shawanda - Just Like You

Don Amero - Heart On My Sleeve

Donny Parenteau - Bring It On

Janet Panic - Samples

Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Solo

Amelia Curran - Spectators

Annabelle Chvostek - Rise

Corb Lund - Cabin Fever

Old Man Luedecke - Tender Is The Night (My choice to win)

Rose Cousins - We Have Made A Spark

Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Group

Elliott BROOD - Days Into Years (My Choice)

Great Lake Swimmers - New Wild Everywhere

Le Vent du Nord - Tromper le temps

The Strumbellas - My Father and The Hunter

The Wooden Sky - Every Child A Daughter, Every Moon A Sun

    Also this year the Great k.d. Lang will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, below is one of my most favorite songs and videos from her...she was (and still is) just so cool. 

The 2013 JUNO AWARDS will be handed out on Sunday, April 21 from Regina’s Brandt Centre. 

Joe Cornelisse-SMM