Nom nom nom: 2011 Boston Music Award nominees announced

The nominations for the 2011 BOSTON MUSIC AWARDS are out, giving us several weeks to speculate, predict, and cry foul before the glitzy bash at the Libery Hotel on November 20.

Leading the charge for Artist of the Year are David Wax Museum, Dropkick Murphys, Lady Lamb The Beekeeper, Mean Creek, and Slaine. Good luck putting money on that one; but it's probably the Dropkicks to lose, right? 

The Album/EP of the Year category looks just as tough to peg, with two heavyweight hip-hop records, R.E.K.S. by REKS and Slaine's A World With No Skies 2.0, going against potential favorite Hemophiliac by indie risers Mean Creek, as well as current NPR darling Roy Sludge (for his wonderfully-titled Too Drunk To Truck) and the recent Album/EP of the Year in the Boston Phoenix 2011 Best Music Poll, Imaginary Friends by synthpop veterans Freezepop.

Our pick for best new band in Massachusetts in our summer 50 Bands/50 States feature is represented in the New Artist of the Year category, as noisy punk trio Earthquake Party goes in hard against fast-talkin' Karmin (did they move yet?!?!), hip-hop sparkplug Moufy, the ageless Spirit Kid, and motor-revving indie co-eds Streight Angular.  

A full list of the noms can be found on the link below. 

VOTE NOW! 2011 Boston Music Award nominee list

The action-packed evening will also feature live performances by Viva Viva, Moufy, Roy Sludge, Razormaze, Freezepop, Stereo Telescope, Dead Cats Dead Rats, Bloco Afrobrazil, MMOSS, The Wandas, Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band, Casey Desmond, Shea Rose, Gentlemen Hall, and others. 

That's one hell of a party. Cancel all plans for the following Monday morning.