THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2011 PENGUIN AWARDS. Well, it's been a long, rough couple of years here at the Penguin Awards when it seemed like good music was few and far between. But could it be that music is back??? It's a little too early to tell but the amount of nominations this year is more like the level of years gone by; in fact, it's a little TOO much to choose from because this time around there is a baker's dozen of album nominees, a total of 44 songs with nominations and (get this) there are 28 nominees for Song of the Year alone! So strap yourself in, it's gonna be an epic ride!

+++

NOMINEES FOR SONG OF THE YEAR

• BOOTS - The Killers
• Calgary - Bon Iver
• Caravan - Rush
• Cold - Black Country Communion
• County Line - Cass McCombs
• Elizabeth - Ghost
• Heavy In Your Arms - Florence + the Machine
• Holocene - Bon Iver
• Howl - Florence + the Machine
• I'm Alive - Anthrax
• I Never Learnt To Share - James Blake
• In the End - Anthrax
• Leave My Body - Florence + the Machine
• Misty - Kate Bush
• Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex - CSS
• No Condition - Mary J. Blige
• Only If For A Night - Florence + the Machine
• Overlord - Black Label Society
• Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) - Florence + the Machine
• Ritual - Ghost
• Set Fire To the Rain - Adele
• Shallow Grave - Black Label Society
• Someone Like You - Adele
• Song of Yesterday - Black Country Communion
• Stand By Him - Ghost
• Turn It Around - Crowded House
• The Wilhelm Scream - James Blake
• The Words That Maketh Murder - PJ Harvey

NOMINEES FOR ALBUM OF THE YEAR

• 21 - Adele
• WORSHIP MUSIC - Anthrax
• BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION - Black Country Communion
• ORDER OF THE BLACK - Black Label Society
• JAMES BLAKE - James Blake
• BON IVER - Bon Iver
• 50 WORDS FOR SNOW - Kate Bush
• INTRIGUER - Crowded House
• CEREMONIALS - Florence + the Machine
• LUNGS - Florence + the Machine
• OPUS EPONYMOUS - Ghost
• LET ENGLAND SHAKE - PJ Harvey
• WIT'S END - Cass McCombs

NOMINEES FOR COVER SONG OF THE YEAR

• AIN'T NOBODY - Mary J. Blige
• BETTER BE HOME SOON - Busby Marou
• FALL AT Y OUR FEET - Boy & Bear
• LIMIT TO YOUR LOVE - James Blake
• LOVESONG - Adele
• NEED SOMEONE - Mary J. Blige
• NEVER BE MINE (DIRECTOR'S CUT VERSION) - Kate Bush
• WORDS OF LOVE - Patti Smith
• YOU'VE GOT THE LOVE - Florence + the Machine

NOMINEES FOR DUET OF THE YEAR

• FEEL INSIDE - Mary J. Blige & Nas
• LAKE TAHOE - Kate Bush & Stefan Roberts
• MR. WRONG - Mary J. Blige & Drake
• SNOWED IN AT WHEELER STREET - Kate Bush & Elton John
• SNOWFLAKE - Kate Bush & Albert McIntosh
• WILD MAN - Kate Bush & Andy Fairweather Low

NOMINEES FOR BEST ALBUM COVER (see above for photos)

• WORSHIP MUSIC - Anthrax
• JUGGERNAUT OF JUSTICE - Anvil
• BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION - Black Country Communion
• ORDER OF THE BLACK - Black Label Society
• BON IVER - Bon Iver
• 50 WORDS FOR SNOW - Kate Bush
• INTRIGUER - Crowded House
• LUNGS - Florence + the Machine
• OPUS EPONYMOUS - Ghost
• LET ENGLAND SHAKE - PJ Harvey