Just listening to Ghostpoet and to be honest I am quite surprised.

 

Only listened to two tracks and I like it much better than James Blake.

Could this be this year's dark horse that no-one's heard of before?

I like Ghostpoet too, although I'd forgotten all about him before the noms were revealed. He's got a good vibe to his music, a sort of Massive Attack/Tricky-esque atmosphere to it.

Yes, it's the law. Jazz fan Ken Clarke was in the Cabinet when the Mercury Prize was established and he managed to get the government to pass a law making it compulsory to include a jazz album. Fortunately the rest of the Cabinet couldn't be persuaded to make it compulsory for the jazz album to win at least once every five years. For that, Clarke has never forgiven John Major.

 

Thankfully, Major was a massive fan of Suede, which explains why they stopped getting nominated just after he left power.

I think I was being optimistic at Hurts or Patrick Wolf getting nominated :(

That said I do love Everything Everything. I'd rather that or Adele to win plz. James Blake had quite a decent album but it was a bit patchy in places. I'm shocked Katy B was included. I can't stand her and I didn't think she'd have so much love with the critics, considering other artists produce her style of music much better.

 

All in all the Adele win is too obvious though the Arctic Monkeys' managed it with their debut in 2006 so you never know. I do feel it will be Adele or PJ Harvey though.

Having thought about it, I'm reasonably happy with the list this year. These are all at least good:

 

Anna Calvi 'Anna Calvi'

Elbow 'Build a Rocket Boys!'

James Blake 'James Blake'

Metronomy 'The English Riviera'

PJ Harvey 'Let England Shake'

Adele '21'

Ghostpoet 'Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam'

 

However if The Horrors are eligible then it's ridiculous that they haven't been nominated.

 

The two songs I've heard by Ghostpoet are HORRENDOUS. He just sounds like a dull and even more drunk version of Example to me.

Metronomy or PJ Harvey - easily.

 

I'm shocked and seriously disappointed at no HURTS or Wild Beasts - two of the finest albums of the past year no question :(

Metronomy or PJ Harvey - easily.

 

I'm shocked and seriously disappointed at no HURTS or Wild Beasts - two of the finest albums of the past year no question :(

I haven't heard the whole of the Wild Beasts album but I do like the tracks I have heard. I'm disappointed that Hurts weren't nominated. It's a lovely pop album which also appeals to indie types which hasn't had the success it deserves. I'm still baffled by how poorly the singles have performed.

I haven't heard the whole of the Wild Beasts album but I do like the tracks I have heard. I'm disappointed that Hurts weren't nominated. It's a lovely pop album which also appeals to indie types which hasn't had the success it deserves. I'm still baffled by how poorly the singles have performed.

 

I know what you mean about the singles - I genuinely can't think of a greater batch of pop singles in quite a few years - and not one of them has been a serious hit...... I see they're re-releasing Wonderful Life..... although I can't see it doing much again.

 

'Happiness' is a solid, brilliant and astonishing debut. I definitely thought it would have at least been nominated, and wouldn't have been surprised if it had won...... that it's been ignored is just.... WTF?! :o

 

Oh and Wild Beasts - it's a beautiful album - how their previous album was nominated and not this one is very odd.... this is by FAR their greatest work, but looking at the nomiations, they really don't reflect what a great year it was for Brit music apart from PJ and Metronomy.... :(

 

Every year the Mercury lessens in credibility and importance...... the nominations have barely been mentioned in today's press. Looking at this lacklustre list, it's not hard to see why.

If anyone is interested all 12 albums are either £4 or £5 on 7Digital.

 

http://www.7digital.com/cms/mercury-music-...prize-2011.aspx

Does anyone else think we could be on for a repeat of 2008? In that year the two clear favourites and probably strongest albums were Amy Winehouse and Adele but they split the female soloist vote 50/50 allowing the mediocre Klaxons to win.

 

This year the four who've been favourite for a while and seem to have the best critical response are James Blake, Adele, PJ Harvey and Anna Calvi. Could the vote be split even more by the judges that prefer that type of music?

 

The only album I can't understand why was nominated is Katy B. It's so dull and lifeless, a massive disappointment after the first single and 'Perfect Stranger'. If they wanted a dubstep/dance type album then Chase & Status and Magnetic Man are definitely better, even Skream, the Jamie XX remix of Gil Scott-Heron and probably even Example are better.

 

Katy B's album is great, a wonderful blend of underground inspirations with a mainstream pop aesthetic. It's purposeful emotional restraint is part of its charm for me.

 

Everything Everything are a huge pile of crap, can't believe they got nominated over Wild Beasts.

The two songs I've heard by Ghostpoet are HORRENDOUS. He just sounds like a dull and even more drunk version of Example to me.

This.

I've given a song from each album a listen (if I've not heard the album itself) and the one of his was awful. I heard another 2 as well, both also crap. The jazz one was the worst though, I really do not understand how every single year nowadays a random jazz act who has zero chance of winning is nominated :mellow:

 

If it was up to me, Katy B would win, though I wouldn't mind Adele. 21 is the better album (just) but On A Mission does different so well, bringing something the indie crowd can get on board with as much as the pop crowd, all with the exact package needed for the mainstream success that she's had.

Katy B's album is great, a wonderful blend of underground inspirations with a mainstream pop aesthetic.

 

This may be, I don't really disagree. But every time I listened to it I was bored half way through just waiting for it to end. I can't think of an album from the last couple of years that's bored me more.

This may be, I don't really disagree. But every time I listened to it I was bored half way through just waiting for it to end. I can't think of an album from the last couple of years that's bored me more.

You haven't listened to the two Westlife albums released in that time then? Probably for the best.

The only album I have seen advertised on TV from the list is Anna Calvi so far... it seems to be getting quite a bit of advertising on TV. And obviously Adele once in a blue moon.

Winner announced in 3 days :D

 

James Blake's album is amazing, hoping he wins!

Looking at the list, I'd say he's got a pretty decent chance, although Metronomy and PJ Harvey look like big contenders. Ghostpoet an outside shot maybe?

 

 

I'm still bitter over the lack of Wild Beasts and WU LYF, definitely two of my favourite albums of the year.

I'm presuming The Horrors weren't eligible...

I predict Katy B to win

 

I think Clare Maguire would of won if she had been nominated though.

Considering that she didn't even manage to get nominated, that seems highly unlikely.

Considering that she didn't even manage to get nominated, that seems highly unlikely.

 

Read the post again

 

I never said she was

 

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

I have been reminded yet again why i left this place.

Edited September 3, 201113 yr by David John