And lo, the Mercury Prize nominations have been both nominated and announced, and the Lord looked down on his dominion and thought it good. So, yeah, this year’s Mercury Music Prize shortlist has been announced, and it’s quite a list to drink in. Unlike the most recent of previous years, and perhaps a reaction to, the nominees for the most part steer clear of the big name and the overly familiar.
Whether it’s a casual difference, or an intended/reactionary one doesn’t really matter, because what counts is that it is a change, and one for the better. In my eyes the Mercury Prize should be for the new and the innovative artists who would really benefit from that prize money, as opposed to solid and reliable big name acts who already have albums sales and a well paying label behind them. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like some of the big name previous winners haven’t been some damn fine albums, but that’s not what this prize is about to me.
In my eyes it should be about spectacular albums, there’s no denying that, but it should be a boost and a reward for newcomers and underdogs – the people who will really benefit from the money and the coverage that a nomination would guarantee them, let alone a win. Anyhow, this year’s shortlist features 7 debut albums. Now that’s what I’m talking about. The closest to big name are Damon Albarn’s debut solo album and the latest Bombay Bicycle Club album, both of which are departures from the norm of each other anyway.
As follows are the shortlist artists and their appropriate albums, all of which you should go and have a smell of, and a video example to exemplify (as most examples do) each. Enjoy, there’s some fucking corkers in there, ranging from indie through rock across house via R&B via poetry by way of folk along with electronica and jazz and more. PLACE YOUR BETS!
Anna Calvi – One Breath
Bombay Bicycle Club – So Long, See You Tomorrow
Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots
East India Youth – Total Strife Forever
FKA twigs – LP1
Jungle – Jungle
Young Fathers – Dead
Kate Tempest – Everybody Down
GoGo Penguin – v2.0
Nick Mulvey – First Mind
Polar Bear – In Each and Every One
Royal Blood – Royal Blood
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