The Amp (Australian Music Prize)

08/11/2024

The judges are hard at work! Over 600 albums have been listened to so far and you can see all nominations on our website. From these, 9 will make the Shortlist.

For a chance to win a $500 gift card, follow us and comment below with the album you think will be shortlisted and why. Six winners will be chosen! Entries close next Tuesday.

05/11/2024

One of the final album nominations for this 20th AMP.... Is.... 'Behold' by . Check it out!

5 X $600 gift vouchers are up for grabs from our music friends .... All you have to do is Follow The AMP here on IG then tell us about an album - from the list of nominees - that you think will make our 20th Shortlist! Think how many vinyl Aussie albums you can buy with that. Go Parsnip!

05/11/2024

Frantic judging week prior to our 20th Shortlist announcement. Many albums still being considered (over 600 reviewed by our judges). The albums being considered for the Shortlist are listed on our website..... From them, 9 are chosen.
We're pleased today to add 'Majordomo' by - check it out!

31/10/2024

Legendary Aussie band returned in 2024 to share 'Whatever, Whatever ' with us... Thanks , our judges have nominated it! A couple of the judges commented on the album...
"If anyone thought Grinspoon didn't still have it, they proved that they very much rock as hard as some of our finest young bands and their contemporaries. They've mastered the art of pop-rock and the heavy stuff, their songwriting as consistent and electrifying as ever. This is how you mount a comeback."
And...
"They’re not reinventing the wheel here, but sometimes you don’t need to. Music to mosh to, and a damn fine selection of rock tracks. An album to get the heart racing."

31/10/2024

31/10/2024

Get to know the nominated albums for the 20th AMP with the Official Playlist! 

Head to the link in bio to listen to all the contenders so far and see if you can guess which albums will make the final 9. Dive in and discover the sounds that could shape this year’s Shortlist!

30/10/2024

Today's album added to our list - the best of the year - is 'Stiletto' from . One of our judges commented: "With Stiletto, Gut Health have offered up a "melting pot" of post-punk, rock, and funk, making for an endlessly interesting debut LP. With these ten tracks, Gut Health could become your next favourite jam band, or punk band, or improv group. They tick all the boxes, no matter what they do, no matter what styles they try out."

29/10/2024

As we near the Shortlist announcement, there'll be a nomination almost everyday as judges wrap up listening to about 600 eligible albums.... Today we announce 'NARA', an album by Our judges commented: "A phenomenal combo of pop, R&B and blues from Wurramara—Midnight Blues could well be the song of the year couched in one of the year's best records." And...
"Longing for home and missing loved ones is a recurring theme throughout Emily Wurramara’s breathtaking second record, which embraces collaboration while celebrating community."

28/10/2024

has a new album 'About The Girl'... And our team of independent, expert judges have listened, loved and nominated it to be in the running to win the $50,000 cash courtesy of . One of the judges commented:
"Stunning semi-experimental bedroom synth-folk from Russack. She constructs a fuzzy, warm and shining world all of her own on this record and I have gotten lost in it many a time."

27/10/2024

Last Friday was the last day for eligible releases for this 20th AMP... But the judges will be busy for a while, sifting through the almost 600 eligible albums. They've just listened to, and nominated, this one: 'Zorb' by ... A judge commented: "Zorb is the long awaited debut record from Sycco, and I feel like the wait was well worth it. A great debut record from the songwriter and singer that has top class electornic music blending with elements of funk, rock, hyper-pop, and indie music. You can't help but actually feel the emotions that Sycco is sharing across a good number of these tracks, with their conviction audible across numerous tracks. A record that is both made for the dancefloor, and the introspective night in."

24/10/2024

The 17th Amp's Shortlist included their last album, 'Comfort To Me', now are looking to make our 20th Shortlist with 'Cartoon Darkness'. The album is released today and has been nominated by our panel of judges!
One judge commented:
"The lyrics may be coarse and the sentiments occasionally crass but nothing detracts from the unadulterated thrillingness and authenticity of the combined words and music which is so imperative in classic rock'n'roll"
And another....
"This record feels like it's gone up another gear from previous releases, even if you were just measuring intensity (the writing is both catchy and creative too). The energy throughout does not let up and it feels raw, bold and honest. I'm sweating just listening to it sitting down."

22/10/2024

Today's (and one of the last to be...) nomination is NGBE, an album by . One judge commented: "Naarm showing the world once again we can produce upfront dance music to entice and bewilder in equal measure. NGBE is the album that will push Big Yawn out of Brunswick East and onto Brooklyn, Berlin and Barcelona."

21/10/2024

This Friday is our cutoff for new album releases... Speaking of albums, the judges have nominated 'Time Is A Flower ' by . Judges said...
"Another one of Australia's most exciting new bands, Telenova effortlessly weave themselves through cinematic, huge-sounding tunes. An album that rewards listeners with more listens, Time Is A Flower can be fierce, tender, dramatic, and always fascinating."
And...
"Stunning record from Aussie trio, built upon folk, electronica, and elements of trip-hop. The songwriting is gorgeous, and you can hear the emotion in a palpable way coming through the speakers when singing of certain life experiences. Fantastic production on this as well, being both strange enough to grab the ears of the alternative scene, but not too strange that they'll still find many new ears with this record."

17/10/2024

are back with a nominated album "Stung!'... Our judges commented upon review:
"The Walyalup psychonauts have done it again, this record is epic. Stadium-sized production with all the intricacies of acid jazz and a dash of Fremantle weirdness."
And
"The gentle psych-rock at the core of the Pond aesthetic is pulled and stretched into some fascinating new aural vistas, the journey often strange but always sophisticated and alluring."
And
"Rubbery white-boy funk and strutting synth-pop that feels a long way removed from the band's earlier psych-rock origins (except on mid-album blazer "Black Lung"). Nick is in fine voice, wailing like a cool cat in the anthemic (almost) title track "(I'm) Stung" and heartbreak-crooning on closing showstopper "Fell From Grace With The Sea". Never phoning it in, never not trying something new, they're the bees' knees."

16/10/2024

Today's nominated album for The 20th SoundMerch AMP... 'Chorus' by one of the judges commented:
"World-class funk and debonair jazz fusion that's as much for the head as the feet. Plays with never revealing all its cards at once, which is a real treat - while the jamming is clever-clogs, its delivery is warm and inviting. And closer "Centaurus" is a slow-building trip, man. Don't bore us, get to the "Chorus"."

09/10/2024

To be announced.... 04.12.24.

06/10/2024

Let's start the week with another nomination.... 'Megaflower' from ! One of the judges on our review panel commented: "Megaflower is chock full of swagger and gravitas—really compelling bluesy rock and roll!"
And another said:"Megaflower makes good on Full Flower Moon Band’s sultry potential. Kate “Babyshakes” Dillon lets it all hang out on Cowboy when she urges her suitor: ‘Come around here and keep me awake.’ Elsewhere she’s ready to lay down the law on West Side, Man Hands and Alpha. The vibe is clear: Full Flower Moon Band are at large and in charge.”

04/10/2024

For your weekend of listening... The album 'Drama King' by - the latest to be chosen by our panel of judges as being one of the best new album releases. One judge commented upon review of the album: "Bibby at his freewheeling, heart on his sleeve best—an album this raw and honest has no reason to be this fun."
Another said: “Drama King” seizes you by the spinal column and then affably runs you around the room.
Produced by Dan Luscombe (The Drones, Amyl and the Sniffers, Jaala), mixed by White Denim’s Josh Block and featuring a band that knows when to lean all the way in, “Drama King” is guaranteed to s***k your ear-bones."