With odds provided by William Hill (via The Guardian)
Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand 3-1
The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come For Free 3-1
Keane – Hopes and Fears 6-1
Snow Patrol – Final Straw 6-1
Amy Winehouse – Frank 6-1
Basement Jaxx – Kish Kash 10-1
Jamelia – Thank You 10-1
Joss Stone – The Soul Sessions 10-1
Belle & Sebastian – Dear Catastrophe Waitress 12-1
Ty – Upwards 12-1
Robert Wyatt – Cuckooland 12-1
The Zutons – Who Killed … The Zutons 12-1
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I thought the Mercury Music prize was only for those who sold less than 500,000 copies of their album in England… Didn’t Franz sell like 9 million?
If there’s any justice, the Streets have (has?) it. I’ve never had my mind blown by a record like I have by that one. It’s true that he’s not exactly unknown or “new” on the scene, but by all means he deserves it.
Otherwise all the other shit on there is boring and homogenous. Keane, Snow Patrol and – yes – Franz Ferdinand are all just further iterations of shit we’ve already heard. The Basement Jaxx album is fucking golden in spots but is very inconsistent, and they’re legendary already without the prize.
Remember N.E.R.D. won this last year though. :-/ My guess is it’s Joss Stone because she’s young, cute, extremely British, derivatively talented and really boring – kind of like an inverse Ms. Dynamite. Heh.
I second the Streets – the first album was sorta irritating IMO, but this new one is superb. I agree – it’s so completely different from anything else that’s out there. Franz Ferdinand’s album is good, but I’m not sure it warrants all the attention that’s being slathered on it.
Didn’t U.S. tour mate Dizzee Rascal win this last year?
can’t really stand the Streets unfortunately, either album, just not my thing.
that B&S record is pretty close to being their worst effort yet, so that’ sout.
i like Franz and all, but the record is far from mindblowing/original, just a lot of fun.
Snow Patrol, good, but probably not their best.
Keane, good, but still a bit “Coldplay-ish” imo.
that’s a pretty shitty list of nominees, though i don’t know who i’d choose other than that, i love the Delays record, but not everyone seems to share that love.
kinda surprised Air isn’t nominated (might have sold too much though). Mclusky should have got at least a nomination too, even if it’s not their best effort.
can’t really stand the Streets unfortunately, either album, just not my thing.
that B&S record is pretty close to being their worst effort yet, so that’ sout.
i like Franz and all, but the record is far from mindblowing/original, just a lot of fun.
Snow Patrol, good, but probably not their best.
Keane, good, but still a bit “Coldplay-ish” imo.
that’s a pretty shitty list of nominees, though i don’t know who i’d choose other than that, i love the Delays record, but not everyone seems to share that love.
kinda surprised Air isn’t nominated (might have sold too much though). Mclusky should have got at least a nomination too, even if it’s not their best effort.
sorry for the double-post, i got an error the first time
well Franz Ferdinand will win…especially seeing how nearly all the rest of those bands/groups/artists/etc. suck/aren’t to my taste
except keane and belle and sebastian \m/
oh and keane are nothing like coldplay…
listen to travis and then to keane….its literally exactly the same thing
What… no Bees?
Dizzee Rascal won last year
oh i know they sound nothing like Coldplay
just they remind me of that poppier/happier/MOR brit pop that my uncle likes. say compared to Doves/Elbow/South, etc., but yeah, the Travis comparison is good, though i’ve never really been big on them myself, along w/ Coldplay (though i like a few songs on the last record).
it’s a decent enough record (Hopes & Fears) though.
I am with the Streets people, I love the first record and was a little scared when I heard this one because it’s much more musical rather than garage beats oriented. The records has seriously grown on me and I listed to it everyday now. I also have a major crush on Mr. Skinner too. I like Keane and Snow Patrol but I don’t think they are doing anything too different that it would really stand out.
Am I the only one who really doesn’t see what the big deal is about Franz Ferdinand?
Jennifer, Franz aren’t really a big deal, and i like them a good deal. Just a fun record, by a pretty young band, definitely shows promise.
then again i don’t really think Interpol are THAT big of a deal either, so… i do like them and all, but have never been too impressed live the 2 times i’ve seen em.
I see, my bad. N.E.R.D. must’ve won the year before Dizzee. Now the Dizzee album – _that_ is definitely deserving of some insane recognition. Too bad it still hasn’t taken off in the States.
Joss Stone’s still my “hoss” for the long haul. I bought that album and thought “damn, what a waste of talent this boring shit is.” But boring shit is what gets the awards nowadays ^_^
Past winners (from the official site):
2003 Dizzee Rascal
2002 Ms. Dynamite
2001 PJ Harvey
2000 Badly Drawn Boy
1999 Talvin Singh
1998 Gomez
1997 Roni Size/Reprazent
1996 Pulp
1995 Portishead
1994 M People
1993 Suede
1992 Primal Scream
I?m fairly certain you have to be British or Irish to be eligible? N.E.R.D. wouldn?t have even been in the running.
1. Only British artists are eligible.
2. Even if they were from Blighty, N.E.R.D. wouldn’t have a cat’s chance in hell of winning.
3. The smart money’s on Franz Ferdinand.
4. If there’s any justice, Robert Wyatt will win.
5. Amy Winehouse and Ty may well cause an upset.
6. Sadly, neither Amy Winehouse, Ty nor Robert Wyatt appear to mean anything to the “homogenous” (sic) indie kids commenting on Stereogum.com
7. Ever since M People robbed Blur of the award, nobody in the UK gives a rat’s ass about the Mercury Music Prize.
James, I think you and I are the only people who like that Robert Wyatt record.
Yeah, I know — voices in the wilderness, yet again…by the way, what do you think of Sons and Daughters?
James: some of us have heard!
Saw Amy Winehouse on the televised footage of Glastonbury; thought she had a powerful and unique voice, but I didn’t feel the soul underneath.
I like what I’ve heard of Ty, and I’d certainly like to hear more, but I think he’s MC Solaar to Dizzee’s NTM.
I’ll freely admit to not having heard Robert Wyatt.
And another thing: Keane were the dullest thing I saw from all of the televised Glastonbury performances. Seriously dull. Why are they on this list? Is the album actually worth listening to?
Based on the rest of the list, I’m sticking to my original comment: What… no Bees?
I saw sons and daughters live when they supported franz ferdinand….
thought they were alright..although the songs didnt flow as they kept changing instruments after every song. was more impressed by the other support band that night (fiery furnances).
amy w(h)inehouse is another one of those female singers of the norah jones mould i believe…flat singing doesnt do it for me.
G3K, n.e.r.d. won the 2002 shortlist award…perhaps that’s what you were remembering…