Hip-hop finally scales the Australian Music Prize mountain
Two of the biggest names in Australian music right now, along with a good slice of the alternative and underground scenes, have made it to the shortlist for the prestigious and lucrative Australian Music Prize.
Both Courtney Barnett and Tame Impala - recent ARIA winners, critics' favourites and internationally lauded - survived the voting process which reduced a candidate pool of more than 300 albums to the shortlist of 10 for the prize of $30000. 
For Perth's Tame Impala, with their third album Currents, this is a second appearance in the AMP shortlist, while Barnett has achieved her first nomination with her debut, Sometimes I Sit And Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit.
Tame Impala and Barnett, as the best known and biggest sellers, are obvious favourites for the 11th AMP. Still, this is no guarantee, as another shortlisted artist, Sarah Blasko, could tell them. Blasko, whose fifth album Eternal Return marks her third time in the AMP shortlist, was widely considered a lock for the fifth AMP with her multiple-award winning album As Day Follows Night. To much surprise the debut album from a former TV talent show contestant, Lisa Mitchell, took home the money and trophy that year, becoming along the way the first - and to date, only - solo woman to win.
Who could "do a Mitchell" this year? Apart from Blasko, Sydney's powerful and intense rock band Royal Headache (their album, High), Methyl Ethel, the home studio project of Perth's Jake Webb (Oh Inhuman Spectacle) and indie posters Dick Diver from Melbourne (Melbourne, Florida) might be considered most likely.
However, the quality of the nominees suggests many more options are available. In a break with tradition the shortlist was expanded by one to 10 albums to accommodate both a strong field and judges struggling to separate candidates.
Also in the pack with a strong chance are Gold Class with It's You, "nephew-of-Paul" Dan Kelly with Leisure Panic, another rare female appearance in Jess Ribeiro with Kill it Yourself and My Disco with Severe.
Noticeably absent this year, after strong showings in recent times, including winning two of the past three AMPs, are hip-hop and electronic acts. Boys and girls with guitars, and occasionally keyboards, still are heavily represented.
If the genres are narrower this time, geographically the nominees are possibly narrower still, even if you were to count Barnett's three "homes" (in Sydney where she was born, Hobart, where she spent her adolescence, and Melbourne, where she now lives) and Kelly's two (Brisbane and, more recently, Melbourne).
Two acts are from Perth, two from Sydney and six are based in Melbourne. It's worth noting that all previous AMP winners have come from either Sydney or Melbourne, each city boasting five wins so far.
The AMP winner will be announced on   March 9 at a ceremony featuring guest speaker, the raconteur, author, journalist and one-time hard punk singer Henry Rollins. A frequent visitor to Australia in the past 25 years, Rollins declared that "a large part of my listening comes from Australia". Given his fierce presence, few would dare question it either.
Bernard Zuel has been a judge in the Australian Music Prize for 11 years
11th Australian Music Prize Shortlist
Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit.
Dan Kelly - Leisure Panic
Dick Diver - Melbourne, Florida
Gold Class - It's You
Jess Ribeiro - Kill it Yourself
Methyl Ethel - Oh Inhuman Spectacle
My Disco - Severe
Royal Headache - High
Sarah Blasko - Eternal Return
Tame Impala - Currents
Previous winners of the Australian Music Prize
1st: The Drones
2nd: Augie   March
3rd: The Mess Hall
4th: Eddy Current Suppression Ring
5th: Lisa Mitchell
6th: Cloud Control
7th: The Jezabels
8th: Hermitude
9th: Big Scary
10th: Remi