The annual Nationwide Mercury Prize is almost upon us, with the shortlist of 12 albums that will contest 2008’s award revealed next week, on Tuesday (July 22). DiS will be at the announcement and will update readers as soon as we’re able, but for now, let’s have a little DiScussion.
And I really do mean little, like this is almost it. The rules for making the cut: the album must be produced by a British musician and have been released between last year’s awards announcement, in July, and this month. All genres of music are eligible.
Last year’s winner was (pictured, celebrating) Klaxons’ Myths Of The Near Future (review). And this year’s? Well, we’re open to your suggestions, but here are 12 albums from domestic acts that we think are pretty special, and should certainly be considered for shortlist-making.
Video: M.I.A., 'Paper Planes' from Kala
- - -
M.I.A., Kala (XL, read review here)
Future of the Left, Curses (Too Pure, read review here)
Burial, Untrue (Hyperdub, read review here)
British Sea Power, Do You Like Rock Music (Rough Trade, read review here)
Foals, Antidotes (Transgressive, read review here)
Elbow, The Seldom Seen Kid (Fiction, read review here)
Fuck Buttons, Street Horrrsing (ATP, read review here)
Johnny Foreigner, Waited Up ‘Til It Was Light (Best Before, read review here)
Mystery Jets, Twenty One (sixsevennine, read review here)
Portishead, Third (Island, read review here)
Frightened Rabbit, The Midnight Organ Fight (Fat Cat, read review here)
Wild Beasts, Limbo, Panto (Domino, read review here)
Video: Wild Beasts, 'The Devil's Crayon' from Limbo, Panto
- - -
Notice absence of jazz and classical suggestions, due to DiS’s complete lack of knowledge in said fields. And also a lack of a Youthmovies mention… if you want to suggest Good Nature should make the cut, do be our guest. No, really. It is a super, smashing, great album. And fully deserves its many plaudits (even though we couldn’t ‘officially’ review it, or that’d be construed as cheating).
DiScuss: Any dead-certs for the shortlist in the above 12 suggestions? What albums that DiS hasn’t mentioned are in with a decent look in? Who do you think will follow Klaxons and win this year’s Mercury Prize?
I reckon 2 or 3 from that list will make it to the shortlist.
Fuck Buttons, Portishead and Foals.
M.I.A surely -
I was so sure (£10 sure) she was going to get it that year Antony won. And if anything, Kala's even better that Arular. It's in good company though.
Ah yes, I was actually going to say her, but saw Foals so put them instead.
If Fuck Buttons get nominated we may never hear the last of it
My go at predicting the list: British Sea Power, Burial, Duffy, Edwyn Collins, Elbow, Foals, The Imagined Village, MIA, Mystery Jets, Portishead, Radiohead, Robert Wyatt.
Future Of The Left
would get my vote... but really, what IS the Mercury Prize? What does it mean? Who votes for it? Didn't M People win it once? So why should I care?
These are genuine questions, long pondered. Can anyone enlighten me?
James Blackshaw?
lol if only
I don't think his new one is all that actually, but my opinion might change
I really am horribly out of touch.
Thought he might be one of the token leftfield choices. I like the new one, stick with it.
I know that it's fun to talk
about music you love and would like to see succeed. But wouldn't a more interesting question be 'what is the point of the Mercury Music Prize?'?
Sorry to sound negative, but i've become a bit more disillusioned about this whole thing as time has gone on (and Jo Whiley and Jools Holland have become more and more embarrassing).
Should music be about a competition? Is it right that a record label has to pay money for an album to be nominated? Why the British and Irish angle? The tokenism? What is the thinking behind a panel deciding what the 'best' album of the year is? What is the thinking about Edith Bowman being on this panel?!
On a more positive note, i love Max Tundra, is it worth buying both of his albums?
Of course music is a competition.
It has been since the first chart/s were published, no?
Why the British angle? Why have different teams in the Olympics?
A panel allows a wide range of opinions to be taken into account, does it not?
Max Tundra? Go nuts, the little dude's a gem.
But it's not the Olympics!!
As Nick Cave once said...
My muse is not a racehorse.
Its incomparable to the Olympics. Athletes train to be better than everyone else in a specific field. Where is the finishing line to compare which album is better than any other from a wide variety of genres?
At the very least,
This is a widely publicised event, and so every band on the shortlist gets more attention from mainstream music fans, and their sales increase beyond just the faithful, underground contingent, like...well, this website, which is what they deserve.
If anything, I always think the music makes for a cracking evening too. It's a healthy response to pretty much every other British music award which is constantly polluted by mainstream bullshit. Whereas on the Mercuries, you are guarenteed to hear some truly great music.
Burial
He should be at least nominated. I would vote for him to win by miles and miles if it was up to me but it aint. Plus what would they do at the ceromony he aint gona go to that is he, only his mum and Kode 9 know who he is. Hyperdub is one of the best record label about and deserves some mad props.
I'm not that fussed about the murcury prize mind, at least not who wins, I usualy like to have a listen to stuff thats nominated though.
after last years day-glo
klaxon gubbins I want something dark and not as pop to win and I think Burial fits that perfectly. Plus the music has some big rootes in the UK music scene so its a good showcase for all that.
MIA, Foals, Burial, Portishead I reckon are all dead certs
I would go for MIA to win, but it will have been out for about a year by the time it is announced so will probably not be deemed 'now' enough by the judges. Reckon Portishead is the best album but can't see that winning.
Reckon Hot Chip may be in with a shout for a nomination.
I really think
Foals will win, unfortunately.
I think
Last Shadow Puppets will be nominated. And Radiohead.
^this
agree with both of those...
dunno how true this is but i know its a lot to do with the labels and funding and stuff...therefore i dont think JoFo or Fuck Buttons will be nominated even though they should be..
If Elbow and/or Frightened Rabbit make the shortlist
I'll be happy.
There should be more metal on the list
There's never any metal on it.
Blooddrunk definitely deserves to be on it.
man you are right I can't remember any metal
Down I Go for Murcury Music Prize FTW!
or
Burial
Guillemots
and Elbow, definitely.
I can't think of much else released this year by British artists.
Actually, yes I can
It's since last year, so Radiohead as well.
Haven't hard anything better than In Rainbows since it was released.
Although Elbow comes close.
The Enemy !11!!1!1
ftw
It's a nothing competition decided by wankers, but...
Frightened Rabbit, Elbow, Foals, Radiohead or Burial would all be worthy winners, and will all be on the list. Johnny Foreigner aswell, but that absolutely won't happen, ditto for Fuck Buttons. The Portishead & Wild Beasts records were shit. I don't really keep up with enough of the other genres to throw anyone else into the mix. Most of the albums below are shite, but i think the list will look something like this...
Coldplay - Viva la Vida
The Fall - Imperial Wax Solvent
Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree
M.I.A - Kala
Burial - Untrue
Foals - Antidotes
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Portishead - Third
Duffy - Rockferry or Laura Marling - Alas...
The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement
Stock Jazz or Classical record.
Stock Rap or World record.
If i was a betting man i'd back Portishead or Burial.
erm...
After all that i missed Radiohead off the list, and i kind of changed my mind on Frightened Rabbit's chance. My actual list...
Coldplay - Viva la Vida
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree
M.I.A - Kala
Burial - Untrue
Foals - Antidotes
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Portishead - Third
Duffy - Rockferry or Laura Marling - Alas...
The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement
Stock Jazz or Classical record.
Stock Rap or World record.
BS
The mere fact that radiohead havent won it yet, not to mention all the crap that's won in the past, is reason enough to declare the mercury unworthy of anyone's attention.
Will be very surprised if we see fuck buttons, theyre too out there for the mercury. I would personally vote for:
Radiohead
Portishead
Fuck Buttons
Burial
Future of the left
I think foals or MIA will be the favourites on the night. No reason to give it to burial, the fucker wouldnt even turn up.
Fuck Buttons=dire
If that represents the best of the UK's musical output this year I'd rather Duffy or something won it.
Portishead and MIA for sure.
Probably Elbow.
I would like to see Fuck Buttons on the list..
would probably say they have a better chance of getting on there than Johnny Foreigner or Frightened Rabbit tbh, thank god.
This:
1. Charlottefield - What Are Friends For
2. Aidan John Moffat - I Can Hear You Heart
3. D_Rradio - S/T
4. Last Harbour - Dead Fires And The Lonely Spark
5. Sian Alice Group - 59.59
6. The Shortwave Set - Replica Sun Machine
7. Errors - It's Not Something But It Is Like Whatever
8. The Sleeping Years - We're Becoming Islands One By One
9. The Accidental - There Were Wolves
10. Ruth Theodore - Worm Food
11. Cowtown - Pine Cone Express
12. Keyboard Choir - Mizen Head To Gascanane Sound
should be the shortlist, but it probably isn't
can i humbly suggest
leaving the house more often.
explain
?
Portico Quartet for the jazz entry
KTHX
its all about money..
the mercury prize is an utter sham, pretending to be all holy and above-board but it isn't/ it's only one step along from an ant and dec phone-in...they'll tell you otherwise but its all about money with tokenism thrown in to sustain a modicum of credibility. Lists are generally quite silly and this one is no different. i mean how can radiohead not have won it, and how can the klaxons have won it...and why would the young knives even be on a shortlist? i am afraid its like the old public school thing of jobs for the boys..they should have an equivalent of the PFA award. Musicians and record labels should vote for their favourite band, not a bunch of dj's and journalists...we get their stupid prejudices and editorial guff shoved down our throats 365 anyway, we dont need it any more...
It's marketing
It's record company marketing just like the Brits. They just market it a little differently and put it on a different tv channel to try and make us think it's more "serious". It isn't, it exists to sell product.
but
if you don't want the opinion of djs and journalists, whose opinion do you want? your own? someone else on drownedinsound with very tasteful and esoteric music tastes? unfortunately the the award attempts to appeal to more than 10 people. somewhere around 1 million people, i'd imagine. that means searching for the middle ground that offers both artistically interesting and popular records. the middle ground: a surprisingly difficult place to find.
I'm fearful, very fearful that...
the Last Shadow Puppets will not only get a nomination but also win :-( .
If this happens, I will give up on music all together. Seriously.
Richard Hawley
Edwyn Collins
Kevin Ayers
As outside bets to get nominated.
the actual:
Foals vs Portishead vs Burial vs Duffy / Laura Marling vs Radiohead vs MIA vs token 'other records'
how it should be:
MIA
definitely not Foals. I heard 'Antidotes' yesterday - my sister bought it - and compared to the two songs I have on my iPod ('Astronauts And All', 'Try This On Your Piano') it is completely void of complexity or fun. much worse than the Klaxons album - 'Cassius' is the only song I've heard that fits in on this album.
Good suggestions so far
Now I'm from Leeds, so it's true that I'm biased, but I feel that the following two records are also worthy of consideration:
!Forward, Russia! - Life Processes
Duels - The Barbarians Move In
and surely Hot Chip - Made In The Dark and High Contrast - Tough Guys Don't Dance are worth a shout?
And it's a shame they've been dropped by Virgin with their album still awaiting release, but Palladium's "The Way It's Not" is really rather excellent.
Frightened Rabbit deserve it.
MIA should win, but also:
The judges would be loath to omit (in alphabetical order):British Sea Power, Do You Like Rock Music?Burial, UntrueElbow, The Seldom Seen KidFoals, AntidotesJonny Greenwood, There Will Be BloodHot Chip, Made In The DarkThe Last Shadow Puppets, The Age of the UnderstatementM.I.A., KalaRobert Plant & Alison Krauss, Raising SandPortishead, ThirdRadiohead, In RainbowsSpiritualized, Songs in A&E My pick of the bunch would be either MIA or Portishead, but it's remotely possible that they could plump for Radiohead, which I think would be a deserved victory "after years of waiting".
I also wrote this piece: http://ovrdrv.wordpress.com/2008/06/21/mercury-prize/
For the office sweepy...
1 Adele
2 Coldplay
3 Radiohead
4 Duffy
5 Robert Wyatt
6 Elbow
7 Last Shadow Puppets
8 David Jordan
9 Paul Weller
10 Burial
11 M.I.A.
12 Token Jazz/Folk
Radiohead to win
I reckon
Johnny Flynn might get a mention. He won't win though... it'll be Burial or possibly MIA.
Adele and Duffy?
One or the other?
Adey and Duffle?
That's like saying there can only be one black artist on the list no? Don't make me have to get all Hebden on y'ass...
I meant in a sexy way
LOL, etc.
I'm too old for messageboard funnies.
Not named yet
Neon Neon, Róisín Murphy, Rachel Unthank & The Winterset, Wombats, Lightspeed Champion, Super Furry Animals, Elvis Costello, Kate Nash, Jack Penate, Boxcutter, Pete and The Pirates, Blood Red Shoes, These New Puritans, Kooks, One Night Early, Scouting For Girls, Ting Tings, Los Campesinos!
Many of those are cackwizards but I'm sure one might sneak in.
I'll go with:
The Last Shadow Puppets
Radiohead
Portishead
Duffy
Laura Marling
Robert Wyatt
British Sea Power
Elbow
Burial
Mystery Jets
MIA
Foals
My humble..
Neon Neon will def get a nomination I would have though.
I don't get all the Untrue hype - I thought the album was very patchy.
I'd like to see MIA get it but would love The Accidental album to get a nom.
Come on MIA!
I would love for Laura Marling to get in. A chance for Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip as a respectable NME band (there's usually 3-4 on the list)?
I definitely see Elbow getting in, so yeah...
Burial
Elbow
Radiohead
MIA
Portishead
Foals (heaven forbid)
Duffy (ditto)
Laura Marling
Robert Wyatt
Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip
*Token Jazz
*Token World
Maybe some more popular stuff like Coldplay, Paul Weller etc... It would be really nice for Frightened Rabbit to get in
School of Language
Sea From Shore. Best album released this year, but will be ignored. The Mercury completely ignored both Field Music albums too.
I'm preferring the
The Week That Was album actually to that.
Burial, Radiohead or Portishead
Those are the main contenders in my opinion.
Mercury Music Prize is a joke
Format needs to change. Only artists that have sold under 100,000 records should be eligible, and only people with proper specialist music knowledge (not Radio 1 DJs, general journo's) should be on the voting panel.
It's blueprint is for originality and music excellence, but how have Aphex Twin, Autechre and 65daysofstatic never made the list if that's the case?
Would be nice
if School Of Language was recognised, i mean it sounds huge just for one man! I just hope someone of true grit gets it. I wouldnt mind Portishead, but remember The Klaxons won it last year!! Boo.
xx
the prize
lost some of it's edge when middle-class-mummys-boy-wankers-who-can't-sing-live "klaxons" won last year...although Portishead won it the year after M People, so maybe it'll bounce back with something credible this year?
hmm
Would love to see The Wave Pics on the list but I kno that's unrealistic. My vote would go for Laura Marling, in their absence. Portishead will probably win.
.
Not sure if they'd give it to Portishead again. If I can get good win odds tonight (and any are available before the announcements) Radiohead, Elbow and Laura Marling may see some £ out of my wallet.
Robert Wyatt
Is a great shout, but probably wont get nominated. Is Conor McNichols still on the panel?
Jazz-wise either The Blessing or Neil Cowley Trio may get nominated; I'd love to see Polar Bear nominated again as their new one is better than the one that did get nominated, but chances are slim. There'll be a token folk / classical / etc nomination tat no one's heard of. Radiohead to win it finally.
the Polar Bear
album isn't out until next week is it? July albums aren't eligible unless you are Thom Yorke or Muse.
Polar Bear
I'm not sure; that release date is down on Amazon, but I bought it direct from the record label a week ago; up until last Monday, Amazon's release date WAS last Monday!
Not a great year
Wave Pictures, Laura Marling and Johnny Flynn would get my votes, but none will make the shortlist, although Laura may sneak in and worth an outside bet for a nomination.
You just reminded me
to go and grab it from the record label thanx :)
I love this band.
does any band actually want to win this anymore?
The curse of the Mercury still seems to apply, with the exception of the Arctic Monkeys.
World Music Album
should be Dengue Fever (Real World) although they are way more indie rock / 50s psyche than world
folk wise - Rachel Unthank & The Winterset or Seth Lakeman.
all have had brilliant press.
Wild Beasts please, but
I think Portishead actually have a really good chance unless it is meant to be for new music (nah, M People won it)...
klaxons
were good winners last year, its an ace record. but this year they'll choose something that won't piss off indie snobs. they'll want something that'll appease (spelling?) those who consider that victory too pop.
Burial makes sense because the mercury is run by the kind of people who reckon Banksy is the only artist on earth and see the same one dimentional gimmic in Burial's anonymity.
Radiohead or MIA is the best record though.
burial's anonymity
aint a gimick people in dance music have been doin it for freakin years. They just want the tunes to speak for them selves, and hell they do with him. He is nowt like Banksy in anyway...
I have heard word
that Charlottefield may be in the running. Crappy prize, especially considering they're now defunct, but the album is superb.
This is an article about who may make it .!
The 12 nominees for this year's Mercury Prize will be announced later.
All albums made by UK and Irish acts are eligible for the award, won last year by the Klaxons with their release Myths of the Near Future.
Big-selling acts who are in contention for the 2008 shortlist include Radiohead, Coldplay and Duffy.
The prize and the accompanying £20,000 cheque have been presented annually since 1992, when they were given to Primal Scream for Screamadelica.
Radiohead gained considerable attention last year by announcing their album, In Rainbows, would be available initially online, with fans paying what they wanted to download the MP3 files.
Coldplay topped the UK and US charts with their latest release, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.
Robert Plant (right) is a contender for his album with Alison Krauss (left)
And Welsh soul star Duffy became the first artist to sell a million copies of an album in 2008, with her debut Rockferry.
If the judges were to favour pop acts on this year's shortlist, Leona Lewis - who spent seven weeks at number one - James Blunt or Adele could be included.
Singer-songwriter Kate Nash may also feature, along with ex-Led Zeppelin star Robert Plant, whose album with country musician Alison Krauss - Raising Sand - was also released in the past 12 months.
The nominations are announc