Great news this morning with the announcement of the 2010 Mercury Prize nominees. Excuse me, the Barclaycard Mercury Prize. Can I get a free Barclaycard for mentioning that? My buddy Marcus Mumford will have to compete with his partner Laura Marling for top honors, which I predicted on twitter. I was too lazy to type up a post.
Back in the U.K., you either get a lot of opinions on the prize or none. Competition among artists is a rather silly concept. I've always felt if it helps these lesser known acts like Villagers and I Am Kloot receive some attention, then I'm all for it. Then again, the win last year for Speech Debelle ended up not being a boost. She never made it to the U.S. and eventually left her label based on failure to promote the album.
This year's list had mostly known acts. The group tends to throw in a jazz or classical name into the lot, and this year they took in the jazz outfit Kit Downes Trio.
My only surprise for not being included on the list is a dance outfit like Two Door Cinema Club, Massive Attack or Delphic. They tend to put in a trendy, electric, club dance group in the band like last year's Friendly Fires. This year, the repeat nomination for Dizzee Rascal is as close and you'll get.
Here's the list:
Biffy Clyro, Only Revolutions
Corinne
Bailey Rae, The Sea
Dizzee Rascal, Tongue N' Cheek
Foals,
Total Life Forever
I Am Kloot, Sky At Night
Kit
Downes Trio, Golden
Laura Marling,
I Speak Because I Can
Mumford & Sons,
Sigh No More
Paul Weller,
Wake Up the Nation
The
xx , xx
Villagers,
Becoming a
Jackal
Wild Beasts,
Two Dancers
I think the win can go two ways. The XX will take it because they have such a unique fresh sound that every critic and their mum adored. Or, they'll give it to Paul Weller as sort of a Lifetime Achievement Award. The announcement comes on Sept. 7, broadcasted live on BBC2.
Previously:
- Marcus joined Laura at her Johnny Brenda's gig
- Mumford & Sons threw down at The TLA the next day
- My chat with the man Mumford
- The XX played to a packed house at Mercury Lounge during CMJ
- Foals came through in 2008 at Maxwell's
- Villagers played Joe's Pub last month
- Wild Beasts also played Joe's
- I don't like Biffy Clyro
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