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Mercury Prize 2012 |
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#1 |
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Mercury Prize 2012
Alright folks! It's that time of year again (well, sort of, it's a bit later than usual..) where we all argue over what were the 12 best albums of the last 12 (well 15 this time round) months and try and guess which ones the Mercury Panel liked best.
It's been an ok year for albums, not vintage but I'm sure this year's list will look a bit better than last year's here are my picks.. Alt-J - An Awesome Wave Is the bookies' favourite and a dead cert to be on the list, it offers something really different and has captured the imagination of critics and buyers alike, they've had some radio and tv exposure, but not too much, the perfect Mercury formula really! Django Django - Django Django Another completely original album, it's gained less mainstream exposure than Alt-J, but it's on nearly every critic's mercury list. Rustie - Glass Sword The Mercurys haven't really ever embraced underground British dance but Rustie might be the one to change that, the broadsheets seem to love him, as do dance magazines like MixMag, it was on many of 2011's best of list and is a heavyweight contender for this year's prize. Jessie Ware - Devotion Picking up where Katy B left off, but brining something even cooler and sexier to the table. Devotion effortlessly grabbed the attention of everyone in the mainstream and underground media with it's uber-cool post-dubstep pop. Los Campesinos! - Hello Sadness The third outing from the welsh band sees them more concise and grown-up. They appear on this year's welsh music prize list and I'd be surprised if there isn't a single album on both lists. Los Campesinos could feel unlucky at not having been nominated before tbh and with this album being more rounded than other two, I'd like to think it has a chance. Ben Howard - Every Kingdom It's a mainstream pop album which has sold steadily over the past year. Howard's vibe is quite different to other things around at the moment and critics quite like his easy going style. Emeli Sande - Our Version of Events There's been no escaping Emeli this year and that might count against her (although mainstream artists did fare much better on last year's shortlist than in the past) the album sold steadily in the charts and her appeal and fan based built over the last 12 months culminating in her performances at the Olympics, she might be a pop star but she did (co) write the album, could be an outside bet. The Vaccines - The Vaccines Come Of Age Only just released but it's made a big impact, it's bolder, slicker and more confident than their debut and the Mercury's always seem kind to guitar bands. Ed Sheeran - + Not my cup of tea personally but the album has sold well and has mainstream appeal whilst remaining credible (i.e Sheeran wrote the songs). You'll be hard pushed to find a critic who loves + but could end up on the list anyway, will be surprised if he wins though. Kate Bush - 50 words for snow Every one likes a veteran and many claim 50 words.. to be one of the best Christmas albums of recent times! Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials The Mercury panel liked her first album, nominating it in 2009, and in truth her second effort isn't much different, but it pleased critics and fans and even promoted her to festival headliner status (Bestival this weekend) The XX - Coexist Just making the deadline the former winners' second effort is pleasing critics and fans. The prize likes putting former winners on the list and Coexist certainly merits a place. The Maccabees - Given to the wild The hype surrounding this album has heightened after a series of headline-stealing festival performances, might it be enough to get them on the list? Kasabian - Velociraptor! Velociraptor! didn't set the world on fire upon release but the former nominees could just sneak onto the list on the back of successfully headlining Reading and Leeds. Bright Light Bright Light - Make me Believe in Hope Many were surprised to see the electro-pop man from the valleys on the Welsh Music Prize list but he's up there as one of the bookies favourites, might they know something we don't? Future of the Left - The Plot Against Common Sense Leftfield rockers FOTL could be in line for their first nomination with this critically loved album, it's not quite as instant as Mclusky (although I suspect that's the point) but it's certainly their most accessible album to date. Rebecca Ferguson - Heaven A real outsider here I know, but I love it! It gained brilliant reviews in all the broadsheets, sold over 500,000 copies and was co-written by Ferguson herself. The only thing holding her back is her association with The X Factor, might we be in for a shock on Wednesday? Ok, so I cheated a bit and listed 17 I can narrow my overall winner to Rustie or Jessie Ware though and obviously expect this list to feature a few surprises and atleast a couple of albums I've never heard of!
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#2 |
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Join Date: Sep 2011
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Florence for me. She deserves that award. Ceremonials is an incredible album.
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#3 |
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Join Date: Jun 2011
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Wow, didn't expect Ferguson to get a nomination, but i am glad as it is the best piece of music i have heard from any XF contestant to date
Mercury never goes for the most commericially sold album so Emeli, Rebecca,Florence and Ed Sheeran are very much out of consideration for winning. I would be happy in seeing Jessie Ware win. Just got round to listening to it and it's rather stunning and easily something the Mercury Prize would fall for. It's a shame Aiden Grimshaw's Misty eye never made the deadline. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Aug 2004
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I was looking at the (very) early betting the other day - http://www.paddypower.com/bet/music/mercury-music-prize
Some others from that list you didn't mention: The Invisible Richard Hawley Sweet Billy Pilgrim Hot Chip Portico Quartet Laura Marling Michael Kiwanuka Lianne La Havas Coldplay Bombay Bicycle Club Rumer Orbital Spiritualized June Tabor & Oysterband Kindness Pulled Apart By Horses Have to wait and see what the shortlist is next week. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: May 2009
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I'd like either Rebecca, Emeli or Marina to be the token pop nomination.
And I'll have a guess at Jessie Ware winning. Everyone seems to love her album. |
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#6 |
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The Maccabees out of the albums I've heard. It's a thing of beauty from a band I've never really noticed before.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Dec 2011
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Out of the list you have come up with I would hands down want Florence or Jessie Ware to win, I don't think the Vaccines' new album is as good as the Debut and I think Sheeran and Sande's efforts are too mainstream.
I seriously don't want it to be KateBush or Rumer tbh, their albums aren't anything special and I feel it would be too samey after Pj Harvey's win last year. |
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#8 |
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Quote:
I seriously don't want it to be KateBush or Rumer tbh, their albums aren't anything special and I feel it would be too samey after Pj Harvey's win last year.
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#9 |
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Quote:
Out of the list you have come up with I would hands down want Florence or Jessie Ware to win, I don't think the Vaccines' new album is as good as the Debut and I think Sheeran and Sande's efforts are too mainstream.
I seriously don't want it to be KateBush or Rumer tbh, their albums aren't anything special and I feel it would be too samey after Pj Harvey's win last year. Rumer's album is stunning too. It's more than just a covers album |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Feb 2011
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I think Hawley will get it this year...
PS And I know this won't go down well on here but much as i love Ms Bush I do find her a very lazy artist. I don't think her heart has been in the music biz for many years. Sorry. |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Sep 2011
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I love Kate Bush but I don't want her to get awards simply because I know she's a social recluse and won't turn up for them. Whats the point in giving her an award that she won't show up for? Fair enough if she shows up then all hail Queen Kate as an award winner. But I think the awards should go to people who also make great music and going to make the effort of turning up.
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#12 |
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Join Date: Nov 2009
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Y'all are all missing the token Classical & Jazz nominees, too.
I would like to see Alt-J win, with nominations for Jessie Ware, Django Django, The Maccabees & Rebecca Ferguson. |
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#13 |
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Join Date: Oct 2011
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Nominations now in:
Alt-J - An Awesome Wave Ben Howard - Every Kingdom Django Django - Django Django Field Music - Plumb Jessie Ware - Devotion Lianne La Havas - Is Your Love Big Enough? The Maccabees - Given to the Wild Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again Plan B - ill Manors Richard Hawley - Standing At the Sky's Edge Roller Trio - Roller Trio Sam Lee - Ground of Its Own |
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#14 |
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Like I predicted a few days ago I think this is Hawley's year. And what a deserving winner he would be. Who can forget Alex Turner's 'Someone call the police, Richard Hawley's been robbed' line on t'Monkeys receiving the award in 2006!
Although to be fair they were also very deserving winners.
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#15 |
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Probably the worst shortlist they've ever had.
But the winner was always going to be either Alt-J, Jessie Ware or Richard Hawley imo. I would choose Alt-J but they will probably go with one of the other two. |
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#16 |
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Join Date: Nov 2009
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No surprises there, tbh. Ill Manors wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, so I'm slightly surprised to see Plan B up, Ben Howard likewise, and I'm a little bit sad not to see Rebecca Ferguson there, although she was an XF related act so that was always a long shot.
Alt-J, Jessie Ware or The Maccabees would all make worthy winners in my opinion, although I can definitely see it going Richard Hawley's way. |
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#17 |
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Join Date: Nov 2011
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None i like particularly on the noms but Jessie Ware as long as it isn't a speech debelle unheard then unheard now but good on her
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#18 |
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Join Date: Jun 2011
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Interesting list and perhaps one of the first lists i have seen where a huge commericial album isn't among them
I really hope Jessie Ware wins. |
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#19 |
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Some really good albums on that list but I hope it goes to either Michael Kiwanuka or Richard Hawley.
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#20 |
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Ben howard or Lianne La Havas for me, two really great debuts from two of my favourite new artists
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#21 |
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Not too fond of that list to be honest, lacking The Vaccines, Bombay Bicycle Club, F+TM amongst others!
I'd like Ben Howard or The Maccabees to win, |
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#22 |
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Richard Hawley or Django Django for me.
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#23 |
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I would be delighted if Kate Bush won. If not her, then Florence would be a good second best.
Even though I do think her album is fantastic, I'm a bit fed up of Emeli after the Olympics, sad to say. She's been stupidly overexposed lately. |
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#24 |
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Quote:
I would be delighted if Kate Bush won. If not her, then Florence would be a good second best.
Even though I do think her album is fantastic, I'm a bit fed up of Emeli after the Olympics, sad to say. She's been stupidly overexposed lately. Haven't you seen post #13?
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#25 |
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I can't believe people are saying that there isn't a big commercial album on the list this year when Every Kingdom, despite not peaking at dizzy heights in the chart (No.7) has sold over 150,000 copies in the Uk and Ill Manors got to number 1!
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All times are GMT. The time now is 15:15.


I can narrow my overall winner to Rustie or Jessie Ware though and obviously expect this list to feature a few surprises and atleast a couple of albums I've never heard of!

Although to be fair they were also very deserving winners.