The American Music Awards announced their nominees for the year, and, well, they're predictably boring and pedestrian. The AMAs suck. Truly. At no point in their entire existence have they ever produced anything other than an unsurprisingly stupid result. This is the ceremony that's given Alabama more awards than any other artist. Sure, it's voted on by "the people" via an online tally after nominations (mapped out by sales figures) are sorted though, but that doesn't account for voting errors, anomalies, or ... oh, what the hell? The voice of The People is the voice of God. These bands are great, sure, but there's no accounting for taste beyond them? Phoenix recorded one of the best albums of the year, and instead of getting people to listen to them, the AMAs will rely on the Grammys to get that done. They couldn't have mixed one less-represented act in there?

Here are the AMA nominees below. These guys have plenty of exposure. The only thing I learned from this list is that Nickelback is still torturing Canada, and Darius Rucker from Hootie and the Blowfish is recording new material. I'm sorry AMAs, but the Grammys are the best music awards show of all time because Radiohead stands a chance against cannibalistic Miley Cyrus fans. You might as well spend three hours with well-produced car commercials.

Complete Nominations for the 2009 American Music Awards

ARTIST OF THE YEAR Kings of Leon Taylor Swift Lady Gaga Eminem Michael Jackson

POP/ROCK - Favorite Male Artist Eminem Michael Jackson T.I.

POP/ROCK - Favorite Female Artist Beyonce Lady Gaga Taylor Swift

POP/ROCK - Favorite Band, Duo or Group The Black Eyed Peas Kings of Leon Nickelback

POP/ROCK - Favorite Album Fame - Lady Gaga Number Ones - Michael Jackson Fearless - Taylor Swift

COUNTRY - Favorite Male Artist Jason Aldean Darius Rucker Keith Urban

COUNTRY - Favorite Female Artist Reba McEntire Taylor Swift Carrie Underwood

COUNTRY - Favorite Band, Duo or Group Rascal Flatts Sugarland Zac Brown Band

COUNTRY - Favorite Album Unstoppable - Rascal Flatts Fearless - Taylor Swift Foundation - Zac Brown Band

RAP/HIP-HOP - Favorite Male Artist Eminem Jay-Z T.I.

RAP/HIP-HOP - Favorite Album Relapse - Eminem Blueprint 3 - Jay-Z Paper Trail - T.I.

SOUL/R&B - Favorite Male Artist Jamie Foxx Michael Jackson Maxwell

SOUL/R&B - Favorite Female Artist Beyonce Keyshia Cole Keri Hilson

SOUL/R&B - Favorite Band, Duo or Group The Black Eyed Peas Day26 Mary Mary

SOUL/R&B - Favorite Album I Am...Sasha Fierce - Beyonce The E.N.D. - The Black Eyed Peas Number Ones - Michael Jackson

SOUNDTRACKS - Favorite Album Hannah Montana: The Movie Hannah Montana 3 Twilight Soundtrack

ALTERNATIVE ROCK - Favorite Artist Green Day Kings of Leon Shinedown

ADULT CONTEMPORARY - Favorite Artist Daughtry Jason Mraz Taylor Swift

LATIN - Favorite Artist Aventura Luis Fonsi Wisin Y Yandel

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL - Favorite Artist Jeremy Camp Brandon Heath Mary Mary