Mercury Music Prize Shortlist - Announced Today
By: Thomas Hannan
This morning, Britain woke up to sweltering temperatures, and the announcement of the shortlist for this year's Nationwide Mercury Music prize. From the mouth of Jools Holland came the announcement that these records were deemed by the board to be the most worthy of praise of the last twelve months:
Arctic Monkeys - 'Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not'
Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan - 'Ballad Of The Broken Seas'
Editors - 'The Back Room'
Guillemots - 'Through The Windowpane'
Richard Hawley - 'Coles Corner'
Hot Chip - 'The Warning'
Muse - 'Black Holes & Revelations'
Zoe Rahman - 'Melting Pot'
Lou Rhodes - 'Beloved One'
Scritti Politti - 'White Bread Black Beer'
Sway - 'This Is My Demo'
Thom Yorke - 'The Eraser'
Bookmakers currently have Thom Yorke and the Arctic Monkeys as firm favourites, which means, going on previous years' evidence, that they probably don't stand a chance. What do you reckon? The interesting thing is, what with there being no entrant resembling last years winner, the marvellous Antony The Johnsons with 'I Am A Bird Now', the judges should feel in no need to swerve away from, or towards, any genre in particular for fear of repeating themselves. A slate has been wiped clean. So, where to go from here?
Well, that depends on what you want to reward - if it's commentary on the life of the average British music listener today, then guesses are the award goes to Arctic Monkeys. But hasn't that record had enough exposure already? It's always been a problem with the Mercury - do you give the prize to the best loved record, or the one that would benefit from the exposure the most? Perhaps Sway's alternative hip hop take on tales of young urban living deserve a large commercial pat on the back, no?
Congratulations to the committee though - there are actually some fantastic records in there, including some of rockfeedback's own favourites - Guillemots' beguiling debut, Thom Yorke's stunningly strong first solo effort, Muse's most grandiose attempt at the greatest record ever yet in 'Black Holes & Revelations'. Of course, some folk are missing who really deserve to be on there (Mystery Jets, Scott Walker, Plan B, Mogwai - what's wrong with those records?), but regard it for what it is - quite a strong list. Admit it.
Our choice for winner is an album that would slip brilliantly in to the public consciousness, is adored in it's own circles and deserves rewarding for its pioneering spirit and song writing prowess - it's Hot Chip's 'The Warning' (pictured). Basically, it's heartfelt, futuristic, catchy as hell, and winning the prize would send it supernova. I want Hot Chip not to belong solely to the too school for cool kids. Give them the prize. Take 'The Warning' over ground. Make them everyone's.
Saying that, 'The Eraser' might well nab it, one thinks. And come to think of it, Richard Hawley's rather stunning too. Still, remember that this bunch once regarded M People's 'Elegant Slumming' as a greater record than 'Parklife'. Yeah. Whoever wins the coveted £20,000, make sure you judge the record for yourselves.
Artists in this article: Mercury Music Prize Shortlist