It looks suspiciously like the nominating panel is the Spiral Earth editor, a chap called Ian Hazlewood according to the web site. Still, it says that the public get to vote on his nominations, unlike the Mojo Folk Album of the Year where its all decided by one person, Colin Irwin, and the Songlines Albums of the Year where its all down to two editors - no public in either case. Against all these, the BBC's 100+ and fRoots 300+ all sound like models of democracy and respectability. Its a mystery to me, decent bloke though Irwin seems to be, why the Mojo one in particular gets so much kudos given to it each year. In the end I suppose its whether your favourite gets nominated or wins. Some of those Spiral ones seem a bit odd, especially "group".
|