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Posted on 22/07/08 at 01:25:20 pm
Another year, another set of Mercury Prize nominations to delight, amuse and enrage.
What's entertaining about the nominations is the way they always follow a rigid, box-ticking formula.
There's always the mainstream big-hitter (this year it's Adele), the bleeding-edge critics' choice (that'll be Burial), something involving Thom Yorke (this year he picks up his sixth nomination, if you include PJ Harvey's 'Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea', which he guested on), and a ludicrously niche curveball (you know the type of thing: Basquiat Strings/Portico Quartet/anyone fashioning oblique soundscapes with flugelhorns and a swanee whistle).
Such a formulaic list is never going to please everyone – in fact, kick-starting an impassioned debate about new music is sort of the point of the whole thing – but even so, this year's shortlist seems particularly riddled with bizarre omissions.
In fact, pretty much all the most exciting and innovative British albums of the last 12 months are absent. What about M.I.A.? Foals? Portishead? Mystery Jets? Hot Chip? Future Of The Left? Fuck Buttons? The Pigeon Detectives?
OK, maybe not that last one.
Here's the full list of nominees. Who else do you think has been unfairly overlooked by the Mercury judges?
Adele - '19'
British Sea Power - 'Do You Like Rock Music?'
Burial - 'Untrue'
Elbow - 'The Seldom Seen Kid'
Estelle - 'Shine'
The Last Shadow Puppets - 'The Age Of The Understatement'
Laura Marling - 'Alas I Cannot Swim'
Neon Neon - 'Stainless Style'
Portico Quartet - 'Knee-Deep In The North Sea'
Robert Plant And Alison Krauss - 'Raising Sand'
Radiohead - 'In Rainbows'
Rachel Unthank And The Winterset - 'The Bairns'
Permalink
Brian [Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 14:35
Spot on. The foals are wank by the way scenesters
[Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 15:36
Neon Neon, but no SFA is a bit odd.
Hey Venus is one of their best.
Paul [Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 16:26
I think it's a shame Lightspeed Champion didn't make it
Sam [Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 16:42
I think this is a good list with a variety of acts across all genres, the winner is always a zeitgeist of the industry. The nomination itself is an acknowledgment of achievement and I think it is important to have lesser appreciated genres such as Jazz and Folk covered rather than all indie bands playing guitars out there ears. I do agree that Portishead have been sorely overlooked as 'Third' is a fantastic, unique and original piece of work and also miss the presence of 'Songs in A&E' by Spiritualized .
The winner should either be Radiohead or Robert Plant.
Jack [Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 18:07
A splendid bunch of nominees. So glad they left out the usual 'NME nominees' (Ironic that I'm posting that on here, I know) such as Foals, Mystery Jets etc. And good to see that they haven't gone with popular stuff such as Coldplay and Duffy.
As far as the nominees go (I've listened to most of them) Laura Marling is my favourite followed by Radiohead, Robert Plant and Elbow respectively. I think Burial will win.
As far as the nominees go there were some shocks: Portishead, M.I.A (WTF?!?!?!), Frightened Rabbit. I also really wanted Guillemots to get their second nomination though I was dubious.
[Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 18:56
where's MIA? I thought she'd be there for definite but I want Neon Neon to win now. But it'll probably be Last Shadow Puppets or Radiohead...
[Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 19:00
lightspeed champion, black kids, santogold, crystal castles, foals, mgmt, health, hercules and love affair, vampire weekend, beck, sonny j, alphabeat, the ting tings, operator please
basically u missed a shitload nd the list is crap this year. nd adeles album was horrible nd boring- 4 gud songs: cold shoulder, chasing pavements, hometown glory nd tired. nd neon neon???
glad that estelle nd laura marling got a nomination tho. nd btw. age of the understatement isnt half as gud as every1s saying it is! alex turners voice is conceited nd patronising (basically: he has a stick shuvd up his ass)
[Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 19:02
ghtspeed champion, black kids, santogold, crystal castles, foals, mgmt, health, hercules and love affair, vampire weekend, beck, sonny j, m.i.a., alphabeat, the ting tings, operator please
basically u missed a shitload nd the list is crap this year. nd adeles album was horrible nd boring- 4 gud songs: cold shoulder, chasing pavements, hometown glory nd tired. nd neon neon???
glad that estelle nd laura marling got a nomination tho. nd btw. age of the understatement isnt half as gud as every1s saying it is! alex turners voice is conceited nd patronising (basically: he has a stick shuvd up his ass)
[Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 19:03
lightspeed champion, black kids, santogold, crystal castles, foals, mgmt, health, hercules and love affair, vampire weekend, beck, sonny j, alphabeat, the ting tings, operator please
[Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 19:16
lightspeed champion, black kids, santogold, crystal castles, foals, mgmt, health, hercules and love affair, M.I.A., holy fuck, vampire weekend, beck, sonny j, alphabeat, the ting tings, operator please, even the juno soundtrack! just put sumthing gud on this list PLZ!!
glad that estelle nd laura marling got a nomination tho. nd btw. age of the understatement isnt half as gud as every1s saying it is! alex turners voice is conceited nd patronising (basically: he has a stick shuvd up his ass)
Harriett [Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 19:25
Pigeon Detectives? You have got to be joking.
Will Downes [Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 19:29
Not bad. Adele better not win, nor should the Last Shadow Puppets for that matter. Id like to see Marling win it but im not sure she will, nothing has really stood out this year in my opinion, no one has made anything that has been very different. Foals are not 'Wank' and would have liked to see them up there, but as a whole record i don't think they did enough.
Cajun Dance Party would have been a nice surprise...
mtvoko [Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 22:17
black horse - Burial
favorite - Radiohead
if a new band will win - The Last Shadow Puppets
if any of them will win, I hope NEON NEON gets the Mercury!!!
weirdswallow [Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 22:22
The winners should be Radiohead
jimbo [Visitor] //July 22 2008 at 23:48
I think kala (by MIA) is one of the greatest albums ever, but was released a little too early to be nominated, out of those nominated radiohead (greatest band ever) or burial should win, although i think that british sea power ones quality too
wit [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 02:24
Shotters Nation - Babyshambles
That should have definetly been on the list.
[Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 02:54
i'm really surprised that Portishead and MIA aren't there, and i loved PJ Harvey's 'White Chalk' too, which is another one i think could have crept in there...and i thought the Foals were almost dead cert for a nomination, but there you go :) i'm rooting for Laura Marling now tho:)
Stuio [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 08:02
Where the heck are the Mystery Jets? 21 definitely deserved a nomination - cracking album. It's all a bit dull isn't it? I'm hoping for a Neon Neon or Laura Marling win. Radiohead really don't need the attention. Or the money. Good to see Elbow recognised for yet another class album mind.
Little Miss G. [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 08:32
My money's on Neon Neon (Gruff for Jesus) but will probably have a back up flutter on Last Shadow Puppets....
jimbo [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 10:19
frightened rabbit are a massive oversight, mystery jets would have been nice.....i actually cannot BELIEVE the view were ever nominated...that's a joke. i'd like to see elbow win this one.
Someone Else [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 10:27
Portishead, Portishead and Portishead!
What the F***!
British Sea Power as Dull as shit!
Kowalski [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 10:40
Why is somebody suggesting MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Beck, Hercules & Love Affair etc..?
They're not even British!
Lee [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 10:59
How on Earth was Portishead not nominated?
It's another generic shortlist as per usual but glad to see a nomination for Laura Marling. Give it to her, and if not; Radiohead or Shadow Puppets for the win.
Robert Plant's album was far too overrated
:) [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 11:02
as long are the last shadow puppets are up there its all good because whatever people say the age of th understatement is an amzing song that desrves to win but the mystery jets should definately been up.
Paul [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 12:12
Leaving out Lightspeed Champion's Lavender Bridge and Spiritualized's Songs in A&E is absolutely criminal. Portishead should be there too,as should MIA. I'm cheering for Burial now; although i do like the BSP and Neon Neon albums; don't know if they're winners though. Robert Plant had better not win it with his esoteric wanky covers album, which would be better suited as background music in a shop that sells moonstones and ginseng than as a Mercury winner (now, that told ya! ;) ). I'm guessing radiohead will take it, which i guess is alright, but in rainbows hardly sets my world alight the way it does others'. Go Burial.
GBarry - Liverpool [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 12:18
I'm so glad those wankers Coldplay didn't make the list. They just have to face it that nobody likes them.
They're so unoriginal it bugs me. Elbow will win.
airbag [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 13:15
radiohead will win,mercury needs a big name this year,would be right choice though.
Martin [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 13:49
does nobody realise that the acts have to be british based! so stop talking about mgmt, crystal castles, vampire weekend, beck, hercules etc. they are not eligable. portishead should be there though.
Yourmum [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 14:08
THIS LIST IS A BAG OF WANK. OFFICIALY. LAST SHADOW PUPPETS? GO HOME. ESTELLE? FUCK OFF. ADELE. YAWN. RADIOHEAD. WHAT A SURPRISE GOTTA LICK THERE REPETITIVE ASS. OH LETS NOT PUT COLDPLAY IN CAUSE WE'RE COOL. MERCURY MUSIC PRIZE UR A JOKE I MEAN KLAXONS WON IT LAST YEAR! THE PROPER TALENT NEVER WINS. I MEAN HOW DID GUILLEMOTS NOT WIN THE OTHER YEAR? HOW DID PARACUTES NOT WIN IN 2000? HOW THE FUCK DIDINT URBAN HYMNS EVER WIN IT! FUCK OFF. COLDPLAY SHOULD OF WON IT THIS YEAR.
Onny [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 14:30
Why weren't The Music nominated
Smimrod [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 14:46
Hey Guys,
Just to let you know 7Digital are offering special deals on all albums nominated for this year Mercury's. They're also doing a pretty cool competition - click below if you fancy it…
http://www.7digital.com/cms/mercury08/mercurymusic08.aspx?FeaturedMercuryprize08
Carlos [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 15:36
Neon Neon or Last Shadow Puppets but courteeners should definitely have been nominated
James [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 15:46
What the hell is Adele doing anywhere near these awards??? And the same goes for Estelle. Foals should probably be in with a shout. Same for Spiritualized.
Thom yorky [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 16:31
glad to see chris'(yourmum) martin on here to reply to "coldplay should of won it this year" erm no your albums shite, in rainbows it isn't,which should win but won't .......getting to my point Coldplay are shit yourmum
Cate [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 17:28
Elbow's album has to be the best of this year's list. As a band, they are generally sadly overlooked, although their songs are thoughtful, clever and moving. And Guy has an amazing voice. Pity the Guillemots and Portsihead weren't there. Both Good albums. Radiohead's album is beautiful also, and unusual (for them). I think that Coldplay's album was boring and was rightly left off. This should be about the best or most innovative, not hype!
Danny [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 19:33
why does nobody mention Ting Tings? they're getting a lot of airplay over here in the Netherlands at the moment and I think the album's great!
No Hot Chip or Mystery Jets nomination is puzzling me too.
Wright [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 20:26
A good list this year- it's annoying how they always have to have one pop album, one jazz album, etc etc, but I guess it means they represent a wide range of people. There's nothing here which doesn't deserve it (that I can see).
It's a pity Foals didn't get a nomination, but I'm not hugely bummed. Radiohead deserve to win, definitely- hell, they should have won in 1997 and 2001. Give them what they're due!
GB [Visitor] //July 23 2008 at 22:09
All british bands are shite....none of them deserve to win anything.
You want to see a good band, go to a U2 gig....
Matty [Visitor] //July 24 2008 at 16:21
What about Siouxsie?!? Her solo debut was brilliant and marked the first time it was truly her as a song writer. They Follow You is one of the best things she's ever done.
jools86 [Visitor] //July 25 2008 at 11:31
MIA, LightSpeed Champion, Crystal Castles, ps Neon Neon
are a poor man's Zoot Woman!
[Visitor] //July 25 2008 at 14:38
I vote for Laura Marling, too. And I think it would do a hell of a lot more for her than Radiohead. If you consider age and amount of talent, she is simply incredible. Only 18!
[Visitor] //July 25 2008 at 20:49
dan le sac vs scroobius pip
does it offend you, yeah?
blood red shoes
but seriously? estelle? who's only big hit was with an
american!?!
Luke [Visitor] //July 29 2008 at 17:54
Some of you people obviously have no clue about music as you're listing non-British bands such as Black Kids (whose album wasn't even released in the period for this years event) and Crystal Castles, whilst the Mercury's are for British bands.
Los Campesinos! should have been nominated, and so should Johnny Foreigner (though I'm unsure if their album made the cut-off date). Still, Burial should win hands down.
katy [Visitor] //July 29 2008 at 20:02
WHY IS LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION NOT NOMINATED?!?!? THOSE BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
michael [Visitor] //July 30 2008 at 14:04
No foals,Its an outrage.Cajun dance party too,whats wrong with these judges,do they not listen to new music,Just old bands with new albums
michael [Visitor] //July 31 2008 at 10:24
Marling for the win!!
For the rank outsider.....think greece in euro 2004.
andrea [Visitor] //August 1 2008 at 02:09
where the fuck is spiritualized, lightspeed champion, hot chip or the mystery jets? this list is rediculous.
Ste [Visitor] //August 2 2008 at 15:23
Shotters Nation should be on the list. but i dont know wholl win. hopefully not radiohead.
Laura [Visitor] //August 3 2008 at 19:29
Isn't M.I.A Sri Lankan? So how could she have been nominated for a prize for British bands? I don't like the list much this year, Laura Marling's is the only one I've heard, and I hope she wins. I don't really like Coldplay, but I'm surprised they weren't nominated. Would have liked to have seen Mystery Jets, and possibly Foals.
Ant [Visitor] //August 8 2008 at 20:46
It's a good list. Foals don't deserve to be on it, maybe if they learn some chords next time. I personally think the Coldplay album's bland. For me Elbow edge it, the standard of the songwriting on SSK is amazing.
doom [Visitor] //August 23 2008 at 23:54
foals are wank
Fergal Kinney [Visitor] //October 15 2008 at 14:19
In response to Onny, there's a perfectly good reason why the Music weren't nominated...several in fact. The Courteeners - St Jude....you'll realise later along the line how good they are
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