And the nominees are...

[Chubbhead EFM]

(Taken from the Telegraph website)

 

 

This year's contenders for the top award in British pop. Jamie Dickson reports

 

 

The shortlist for the Panasonic Mercury Music Prize for album of the year has been announced and the contenders make an intriguingly eclectic bunch. The list, which pits chart heavyweights against recent upstarts from rock, rap and jazz, looks set to be a closely-fought contest. Eight of the twelve shortlisted albums are debuts, the highest number since the Prize was first awarded in 1992.

 

However, with hugely popular acts like Coldplay and Radiohead in the running, the newcomers have their work cut out.

 

The shortlist in full

 

 

Athlete - Vehicles and Animals

 

 

 

Quirky north London band, with a bantering style overlaid with lush harmonies and retro-electronica. Pub knees-up meets ELO.

 

 

Coldplay - Rush of Blood to the Head

 

 

 

With this massive-selling album Coldplay became the undisputed kings of alternative pop. Departing from the introspection of their previous work, Coldplay show their talents on a broader canvas with an album that features stirring, anthemic tracks.

 

 

The Darkness - Permission to Land

 

 

 

East Anglian rockers currently riding a wave of popularity. Though much has been made of their references to rock clichés, including screeching falsetto vocals, their work is underpinned by imaginative, exciting songwriting and killer riffs.

 

 

Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner

 

 

 

Precocious teenage MC with a gift for evoking the sonic landscape of urban life. On Boy In Da Corner, he plays off grinding, anxious beats against a deft lyrical style.

 

 

Eliza Carthy - Anglicana

 

 

 

A sombre and affecting entry from the elfin folk revivalist. Threaded through with a dark, austere edge, Anglicana is one of Carthy's most powerful albums to date.

 

 

Floetry - Floetic

 

 

 

A London duo who combine sweet, soulful vibes with insightful vocal dexterity. Floetics is their debut album and should prove a strong contender.

 

 

Lemon Jelly - Lost Horizons

 

 

 

Laid-back lounge music with an undercurrent of eccentricity. A perfect soundtrack for Sunday afternoons, Lost Horizons represents the more relaxed side of this year's nominations.

 

 

Martina Topley-Bird - Quixotic

 

 

 

Already feted for her work on Tricky's 1995 debut Maxinquaye, Martina Topley-Bird has softened her tone on this compelling solo work, which shows off her stunning voice to full effect.

 

 

Radiohead - Hail to the Thief

 

 

 

The latest album from Oxford's finest is an adventurous art-rock excursion that has divided critics. Laden with coarse guitar textures and bold ideas, it has undeniable power and a fine, progressive sensibility.

 

 

Soweto Kinch - Conversations with the Unseen

 

 

 

An inventive alto-saxophonist from Birmingham, Soweto Kinch has won plaudits for his blend of bop and smoky swing. In Conversations With the Unseen he articulates the language of post-war jazz with a voice uniquely his own.

 

 

Terri Walker - Untitled

 

 

 

A powerful singer, Terri Walker's music is soulful, emotive and uplifting. Though her style is serious and mature, she brings a fresh, easy grace to Urban and R 'n' B styles that has won her much critical acclaim.

 

 

The Thrills - So Much for the City

 

 

 

Although the Thrills come from Dublin, their sound comes straight from the surf scene that flourished on America's west coast in the Seventies. Shot through with sunlight and humour, So Much for the City is a dreamy paean to that era.

 

 

So, who do you think is going to win then? In fact, does anyone really care anymore?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Quote:

"This year's contenders for the top award in British pop"

It may be the 'top award in British pop' as far as Jamie Dickson is concerned, but believe me, I don't consider the Mercury Prize to be of any relevance to the music scene.

[Chubbhead EFM]

Yes, especially when you consider that when Oasis were nominated for it with Definitley Maybe, they were pipped to the post by a band called 'Blessed Ethel' who I'd never heard of before and haven't heard of since.

[EFM's Librarian]

I would be quite happy for Athlete, The Darkness, or Radiohead to win (and I'm sure some of the others I haven't heard are good too).Zeal - I don't think its as unrepresentative as it could have been although I can't see why Coldplay are included, I thought it was supposed to champion new and original music?

[Colin Zeal EFM]

I'm not saying it's unrepresentative - just completely irrelevant. They try and be 'cool' with their nominations too, always chucking in a couple that no-one's ever heard of.

 

 

[EFM's Librarian]

Apparently the judges get a delivery of around 200 CD's and are supposed to listen to them all before making their decision. I think thats why you often get the couple no-ones heard of. And I suspect officionados of jazz, or whichever other genre the unheard of ones come from, would probably claim that they haven't heard of most of the others. Anyway, its not just supposed to be about whats popular at the moment.

[Colin Zeal EFM]

You're missing the point, Libro. Don't worry.

 

 

[EFM's Librarian]

I don't want to sound like GHA, but what was your point? How about giving us your alternative mercury nominees as well? - if you're not too busy.

[GHA EFM]

Quote:

I don't want to sound like GHA

Yes you do.

<img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Colin Zeal EFM]

I could give you a list of alternative nominees, but I'd only be told that that's just the music I like.

 

The Mercury Prize is the most pointless award in the music business. It's worthless. Damon Albarn had the right idea when he refused Think Tank to be nominated.

 

 

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Now that is being pretentious.

 

I say a Belgium Scat Punk Band should win it.

[SteveP]

I want to be pretentious, get rid of all the albums and just leave Hail T'Thief there so it wins.

 

Is that pretentious or bias?

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

It's just Madness!

After sending me to sleep at Glastonbury, I'm even more anti-radiohead now <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Still haven't listened to H.T.T.T. yet.

 

I want to have a proper listen to it, ie not here at work, so I'll wait til Mrs Zeal goes out one night, turn off the lights, light some joss-sticks, and whack it up nice and loud!!

 

 

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Why don't you just take it to music and video exchange while they are still buying them for a decent price!

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Have you heard it? Is it not very good??

 

 

[Little Miss Urchin]

<img src="/images/graemlins/djsmile.gif" alt="" />

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

No, I haven't .... to be fair, i'm just guessing <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Little Miss Urchin]

Rarely a safe thing to do.

[ESG]

Izzee wizzee dizzee Rascal, has he shot anyone this week?