September 10, 201410 yr It's a much better shortlist than last year, that's for sure. Big hitters like Royal Blood and Bombay Bicycle Club, coupled with leftfield stuff from Kate Tempest, Polar Bear & GoGo Penguin, plus the mandatory old git nomination (Damon Albarn). Although admittedly there's only one album there that I own.
September 10, 201410 yr Proud to say I have bought three albums on the list this year (Bombay Bicycle Club, Jungle & Royal Blood). While a great rock album, Royal Blood's debut is by no means a 'masterpiece', so to award them the Mercury Prize would be a bit too much in my opinion. Similarly, Jungle's old school hip-hop/dance album is a solid debut from an exciting group, but by no means a Mercury-winning album. The fourth album from BBC is my favourite yet - each song is so unique and "Feel" stood out from the first play, so glad it managed to achieve the chart success it got. Similarly though, I don't think the album is Mercury Prize worthy, but is worthy of getting a nod as recognition of quality. From the artists left, I've put money on FKA twigs winning the prize. Her music is art and "Two Weeks" is an absolutely stunning record for the likes of BBC Radio 1 to have gotten behind. Nick Mulvey's music is 'nice', but in a world where Ben Howard, Vance Joy and Ed Sheeran are all dominating, his music really doesn't stand out to me.
September 10, 201410 yr You know it's a slow year when they resort to giving jazz music multiple nominations.
September 11, 201410 yr Go Royal Blood or FKA I guess. Suppose I'll have to catch up on listening to justify that as haven't heard most of them.
September 11, 201410 yr You know it's a slow year when they resort to giving jazz music multiple nominations. As opposed to multiple indie-schmindie albums? Kate Tempest will win this. Or one of the "jazz" nominations, Polar Bear.
September 11, 201410 yr Just reminded myself who Kate Tempest was. She is definitely a contender, just ordered myself the LP.
September 11, 201410 yr As opposed to multiple indie-schmindie albums? Basically, yes. I'm not criticising jazz, in fact I quite like it. It's just that the mercury panel only usually award one spot to a jazz album unless it's a particularly poor year for the indie-schmindie albums!
September 11, 201410 yr I would be kind of surprised if Royal Blood don't win this, although I see I'm pretty much alone in that so perhaps not. I own none of these albums. Pleased to see a couple on the list that I've never heard of though (Young Fathers and GoGo Penguin) as last year's nominations list was all boring and mainstream.
September 11, 201410 yr i would've said it would've had to have been fka twigs or east india youth Four seperate uses of the verb "to have" in once sentence. :D Edited September 11, 201410 yr by AntoineTTe
September 12, 201410 yr Basically, yes. I'm not criticising jazz, in fact I quite like it. It's just that the mercury panel only usually award one spot to a jazz album unless it's a particularly poor year for the indie-schmindie albums! Heh, I suppose that's true. In fairness to Polar Bear, they're really good and definitely on the alternative side of Jazz...and I had a quick listen to GoGoPenguin and really liked what I heard. Although I loved seeing Bombay Bicycle Club live (super, immersive show) I don't think the album is any great shakes and not really keen on any of the other indie-schmindie acts. Young Fathers won the Scottish album of the year already, but I'm not massively keen on them either. The more I think about it, the more I think Kate Tempest will get this. She's clearing up on the poetry / literature scene and it's well deserved too. Definitely be the kind of "outsider" to come from the fringes to win.
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