Mercury Music Prize 2010 - Some acts you've heard of for a change?

[Pip Madeley]

The shortlist for the 2007 Mercury Music Prize will be announced tomorrow - which album/s would you nominate for the prize, and why?

[Pip Madeley]

Well, I'll try and get us started...

I'd nominate Bloc Party's 'A Weekend In The City'. An impressive second album and a real progression from their first effort, 'Silent Alarm'. Thoughtful lyrics, Matt Tong's drums are as strong as ever, and overall there's a lot more depth and texture to most of the songs. They could've played safe, but they decided to go into new territory, and succeeded. They even added strings. Winner.

Best tracks: Hunting For Witches, Waiting For The 7.18, Where Is Home, I Still Remember, Sunday

[Rob McCow]

Gruff Rhys's Candylion. Stripped down of funny noises or gimmicks (apart from the 15 minute Skylon! epic) Gruff from the Super Furry Animals sits down and writes a whole bunch of simple, wonderful songs. From the deliciously cute title track, Candylion, to The Court of King Arthur, which is an archeological ode that could be an anthem for Time Team and loads more besides. Each tune is catchy and beautiful. For decent songwriting without shouting the same word over and over, you can't go wrong with it

Plus it's my most listened to album this year!

[Perry Vale]

I couldn't argue with 'Candylion', it's quite fab. Good for train journeys too!

I'd guess the nominations will be from some of the following.....

Art Brut
Lily Allen
Amy Winehouse
Bloc Party
Calvin Harris
Biffy Clyro
Kaiser Chiefs
This year's latest Damon Allbarn project
My Chemical Romance (if they're british???)
Klaxons
Mark Ronson (if he's british?)
Take That
A folk album no-one's heard of
A jazz album no-one's heard of
Seasick Steve

[SiHart]

You're not far off Steve:

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Dizzee Rascal - Maths and English
The View - Hats Off to the Buskers
Maps - We Can Create
Bat For Lashes - Fur and Gold
Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
Jamie T - Panic Prevention
The Young Knives - Voices of Animals and Men
Fionn Regan - The End of History
Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford - Basquiat Strings
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom

Out that lot I'd back The Klaxons, as it's the only one I've heard!

Si xx

[Perry Vale]

Fionn Regan - The End of History

I was going to put that down as the 'folk' album! It's a great album.

I only got two right. Still a predictable list though. 'Maps' would get my vote, but I doubt it'll win.

[Rob McCow]

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Overhyped drear.
Dizzee Rascal - Maths and English
Rubbish, really, really dreadful, spiteful garbage.
The View - Hats Off to the Buskers
OK. Some nice tunes.
Maps - We Can Create
What?
Bat For Lashes - Fur and Gold
Are they making these up?
Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
Hooray! Love this one.
Jamie T - Panic Prevention
I've heard of this one too.
The Young Knives - Voices of Animals and Men
Could do well.
Fionn Regan - The End of History
If it's folksy it's got to be good.
Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford - Basquiat Strings
Oooooooo kay.
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Fox sake, this piece of trash will win, won't it? She can sing, but her songs are drear.
New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom
You've got to be f'ing kidding me.


Candylion, however, is Welsh.

[Perry Vale]

Maps - We Can Create
What?

Somewhere between The Flaming Lips & My Bloody Valentine. Mute Record's first new signing for some time, iirc, so it get's kudos points for that.....it's good though.

[P-Bal]

Melanie C - This Time

Best tracks, This Time, Carolynna, Your Mistake.

If it was Take That there'd be cream pies nationwide.

[Si Hunt]

So who's won this year? Popular favourites like La Roux or Florence and the Machine perhaps? No, they lost.

Rapper Speech Debelle has landed the Mercury Prize for her album Speech Therapy, inspired by a spell of homelessness.

Dabelle. DABELLE.

WHO?!

Service as usual, then. Am I cynical in wondering if the purpose of this prize is not to reward merit or greatness, but to push some new act towards popularity (possibly once record company execs have lined judges pockets), hence why someone unknown always wins?

Si.

[Rob McCow]

But she is sooooo zeitgeisty and cool! She's been homeless! She's a rapper! She's got a name that's been mis-spelled by a five-year old!

Wiki says:

Debelle had a comfortable middle-class upbringing, describing herself as being a spoilt brat as a child. Her father walked out on the family when she was young, and she was frequently suspended from school. She began writing poetry aged nine and started rapping lyrics in the schoolyard aged 13. Back then, initial inspiration came courtesy of Michael Jackson, which quickly turned to Blackstreet, Mary J Blige, TLC and reggae music. She left home age 19 after a falling-out with her mother and lived in homeless hostels for four years.

So despite being 'comfortable' and 'middle class' (in other words, safe) she's also a bad girl. And she sites Michael Jackson as an influence, which would have been bold and daring last year but is predictable and cynical this year.

Of course, I haven't heard the album! But if she's anything like Dizzeeeee Razkal then I'm sure I'll hate it with a passion.

[Pip Madeley]

It's a curse anyway, most people who've won it have gone on to less successful things...

[Perry Vale]

Moreso for 'newcomers' who win. Hasn't done much harm to Elbow, or Arctic Monkeys. I didn't feel anyone stood out this year, or maybe I'm just getting old.

[Mr BHT]

Service as usual, then. Am I cynical in wondering if the purpose of this prize is not to reward merit or greatness, but to push some new act towards popularity (possibly once record company execs have lined judges pockets), hence why someone unknown always wins?

Si.

Aren't award shows just advanced forms of propaganda anyway? That's why the Brit Awards are in February isn't it? To give record sales a push during a quiet period.

[Rob McCow]

This year's propaganda-fest is underway! From the NME:

The shortlist for the 2010 Barclaycard Mercury Prize has been announced this morning (July 20).

The names of the 12-strong list were revealed this morning at a press conference at London's Hospital Club.

As widely predicted, The XX feature with their self-titled debut, while Wild Beasts, Mumford and Sons and Laura Marling have also been nominated by the prize's jury.

The 2010 Barclaycard Mercury Prize shortlist is:

Biffy Clyro – 'Only Revolutions'
Corinne Bailey Rae – 'The Sea'
Dizzee Rascal – 'Tongue N' Cheek'
Kit Downes Trio – 'Golden'
Foals – 'Total Life Forever'
I Am Kloot – 'Sky At Night'
Laura Marling – 'I Speak Because I Can'
Mumford And Sons – 'Sigh No More'
Paul Weller – 'Wake Up The Nation'
Villagers – 'Becoming A Jackal'
Wild Beasts – 'Two Dancers'
The XX – 'XX'
The winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on September 7.
You can buy all the albums from the Mercury Prize shortlist from Amazon.co.uk now.

I'm quite pleased, I have actually heard of most of these acts. The XX have been recommended by a friend, loads of people seem to like Mumford And Sons (but I think they're awful), Corrine Bailey Rae has probably been propping up the Jools Holland show for years now and how on earth did Paul Weller get on that list?

[Dino]

You are not alone in your Mumford & Sons dislike...

I hope it'll be Paul Weller just for the annoyance.