The Mercury Prize shortlist was just announced, which honors the best release from a band from the British Isles of the past year. It's quite an eclectic list, but whether or not that will reaffirm faith in the album or in the Mercury Prize itself is debatate. A look at past Mercury Prize nominees reveals a list that has aged poorly, even when going back just 2 or 3 years. Idolator cracked wise about the list being the source of future bargain bin releases, and they do have a point. In any event, here are the nominees:
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
The path seems clear for Radiohead, with Elbow, Burial, and British Sea Power looking like the only real options for an upset. Coldplay was shut out of the list. But if Anthony and the Johnsons and Klaxons could surprise everyone, it's certainly not out of the range of possibility that someone could beat Radiohead.
When British Sea Power is the major opposition to Radiohead for anything, the music industry really is in trouble. BSP = not very good
July 25, 2008 at 12:20 p.m.
BobTodd
Sorry? "BSP=not very good"? They are in the vanguard of those artistes that are the saviours of the British music scene. Radiohead, once great, disappeared up their own backsides years ago. Sort out your life. Make some changes.
July 30, 2008 at 8:32 a.m.
Cesar Alvarez
I agree with Mr Todd. BSP rules. Radiohead is not that exciting.
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When British Sea Power is the major opposition to Radiohead for anything, the music industry really is in trouble. BSP = not very good