The 2nd annual Taite Music Prize nominations were announced earlier this month. The Prize was established to champion the finest release by a New Zealand artist or group, specifically focusing on the artistic merit and creative excellence of one album released in the previous calendar year. The award acknowledges creativity and musicianship regardless of sales figures or genre.

The eight New Zealand albums in the running for the $10,000 award have been announced with The Naked and Famous, Die! Die! Die! and Street Chant in the running to become the second Taite winner. Last year’s inaugural winner was Lawrence Arabia with his Chant Darling album.

The 2011 finalists are:
Dudley Benson – Forest: Songs by Hirini Melbourne
Connan Mockasin – Please Turn Me Into the Snat
Julia Deans – Modern Fables
Die! Die! Die! – Form
Ladi6 – The Liberation Of
The Naked and Famous – Passive Me, Aggressive You
The Phoenix Foundation – Buffalo
Street Chant – Means

The winner will be announced on Wednesday 20th April in Auckland. Doubtful Sounds puts its hand up for a vote for Die! Die! Die (if we were able to vote!).