alt-J are a bit buzzband-y and I'm not too into them, so a thumbs down on the winner from me. Having said that, there's no album in the shortlist that I really love, so I'm not too disappointed.

An Awesome Wave is a really good album that needs listened to from beginning to end!

I'll give it another spin over the weekend.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/r...cury-Prize.html

 

Most irritating, out of touch article that I've read in a long while.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/r...cury-Prize.html

 

Most irritating, out of touch article that I've read in a long while.

 

That's why good bands don't properly break through these days. It's because of snobby media types who believe that the past is better than the honest. Honestly. -_-

 

Brilliant winners, I couldn't have asked for anything more and I think that it is already one of the best Mercury Music Prize winning albums ever. It's second in my YTD album chart behind Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded at the moment. :wub:

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/r...cury-Prize.html

 

Most irritating, out of touch article that I've read in a long while.

Agreed, what a pile of tosh. "The prize that nobody really cares about was won by a band that nobody really loves."(??!) :mellow:

 

 

Decent enough winner, though like a couple of others has said, couldn't have really argued against any of them. Probably the most in depth list they've ever had. When it's at it's best 'An Awesome Wave' is seriously stunning. I could quite happily get rid of at least a third of the album though.

Agreed, what a pile of tosh. "The prize that nobody really cares about was won by a band that nobody really loves."(??!) :mellow:

 

The article has a point in the end though:

 

"But given that he (Plan B) enjoys the kind of popular support that delivers number one singles and albums, I don't suppose it matters to him whether the panel who pontificate over the Mercury prize recognise his relevance or not."

 

By not recognising truly popular albums (or did those even applied for the award, I don't know) the award is in danger of becoming less and less significant.

The article has a point in the end though:

 

"But given that he (Plan B) enjoys the kind of popular support that delivers number one singles and albums, I don't suppose it matters to him whether the panel who pontificate over the Mercury prize recognise his relevance or not."

 

By not recognising truly popular albums (or did those even applied for the award, I don't know) the award is in danger of becoming less and less significant.

Except that Plan B hasn't had a number one single.

 

The article is nonsense. The Mercury Prize is not about sales. You might as well say that the Booker Prize is discredited because 50 Shades Of Grey wasn't nominated.

It's all well and good saying not enough 'popular' albums are nominated but what are actually being excluded that is popular? I think Emeli Sande, Noel Gallagher and Florence are the only three from the past 12 months that could ever get near being nominated. The rest of the most popular stuff is either not written by the act (surely one of the key criteria?) or nowhere near as good as previous material (such as Coldplay).

 

Aslo, Plan B's album has sold less than half of what another album on that list has sold. Ben Howard may not be have made number one but he's been a consistent seller and 'Every Kingdom' will go platinum before the end of this month.

Oh, he should shut up. We already have awards based on sales. They're called BRITs.

But big sellers can be acknowledged without the award being based on sales. It's not black and white by any means! I know lots of people who love Florence's second album and think it's better than Lungs. Also, almost everybody likes Emeli Sandé. I'm not saying they should have won but if the albums were submitted I don't get how at least either one of them wasn't nominated.

Edited November 4, 201212 yr by SKOB

Mercury list is supposed to be for bands that have broken musical boundaries. Sometimes bands break both musical and SALES boundaries and can't be ignored (Arctic Monkeys, Klaxons etc in the past). Popular albums like Florence etc are just standard in terms of music, shouldn't be on the list.

Arctic Monkeys broke no boundaries.