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July 17, 2007

Mercury Music Prize Shortlist 2007

The 16th annual Mercury Prize nominations have been announced, which means labels can place bets on their eligible albums and maybe even make a profit on their releases! See, the UK music industry isn't in as dire condition as most would have you think. Last year's winner Arctic Monkeys are up for another with Favourite Worst Nightmare, and BBC reports that the William Hill booking agency has the Arctic lads tied at 4/1 odds with Amy Winehouse's Back To Black as most likely prize recipient. Here's the shortlist of noms, along with odds on taking home top honors.

Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare (4/1)
Amy Winehouse – Back To Black (4/1)
Dizzee Rascal – Maths + English (8/1)
Jamie T – Panic Prevention (8/1)
Klaxons – Myths Of The Near Future (8/1)
The View – Hats Off To The Buskers (8/1)
Bat For Lashes – Fur And Gold (10/1)
Fionn Regan – The End Of History (10/1)
The Young Knives – Voices Of Animals And Men (10/1)
Basquiat Strings – Basquiat Strings (12/1)
New Young Pony Club – Fantastic Playroom (12/1)
Maps – We Can Create (12/1)
Place yer bets.

Posted at 10:12 AM
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16 Comments

and suddenly, british music is awful again.

Posted by: jj walker at 07/17/07 10:29 AM  | Reply
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KLAXONS!!

Posted by: V at 07/17/07 10:59 AM  | Reply
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Klaxons and NYPC are the only good albums on there IMO, although I still haven't listened to Dizzee Rascal's latest. NYPC have no chance of winning though, and they'll probably just give to Klaxons (Arctic Monkeys would be too obvious).

Posted by: VI at 07/17/07 12:18 PM  | Reply
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Bat for Lashes and Fionn Regan are okay, in my book.. also Maps maybe..

Posted by: Richie at 07/17/07 12:28 PM  | Reply
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KLAXONS!!!

Posted by: mike at 07/17/07 2:11 PM  | Reply
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I'm not gonna lie, I don't know who 4 or 5 of those groups are. I guess I should read more NME.

Posted by: Matt at 07/17/07 2:36 PM  | Reply
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wow, talk about mediocre independent english rock (at best).

the view are straight-up awful, and klaxons bore me to tears. dizzee rascal used to be good, no idea about his new stuff though...

Posted by: fatso at 07/17/07 2:53 PM  | Reply
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This is a pretty unremarkable list. Amy Winehouse will probably win.

No luck for The Clientele? I loved their album...

Posted by: antidote at 07/17/07 3:53 PM  | Reply
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British rock is turning into the British stereotype: boring, drab, and uninspired.

I haven't listened to all of those bands, but I'm fairly sure half of them sound exactly the same, and are equally bad. I just acquired The Young Knives in hopes that I'd get some Brit-rock that's refreshing, and nope, more of the same.

I don't know what's more diluted, the emo "genre" or the Brit-rock "genre".

Posted by: Allen at 07/17/07 4:32 PM  | Reply
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the ironic thing is that none of those albums are that good

Posted by: Jonathan at 07/17/07 4:58 PM  | Reply
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we can create is a good album!

" haven't listened to all of those bands, but I'm fairly sure half of them sound exactly the same" Allen your a prat

Posted by: headonthedoor at 07/17/07 5:00 PM  | Reply
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the list's not as good as it could be but still not bad imo. id suggest to some of you actually listen to albums before dismissing them - you look foolish else.

"the ironic thing is that none of those albums are that good" jonathan, your understanding of irony is worse than alanis morissettes!

Posted by: Karl at 07/17/07 5:40 PM  | Reply
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bit of a weak class as far as i can tell

can't say id give any of 'em my vote

Posted by: keaton at 07/17/07 8:34 PM  | Reply
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I'll say again this year what I said last year: this prize is SUPPOSED to be about which album did the most to advance British music in new directions. But it's become more about being a popularity contest. Either way, I reckon Amy Winehouse has the greatest shot to follow in PJ Harvey's path, Mercury-wise: massively popular, unpredictable, great tunes, stellar reviews, and with a very hip producer in tow.

And if Arctic Monkeys win 2x in a row, there's no justice in the world.

(Sidenote: my personal favorite out of the bunch is Fionn Regan, so don't accuse me of shilling for Amy.)

Posted by: Joosse at 07/17/07 8:56 PM  | Reply
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"your understanding of irony is worse than alanis morissettes!"

LMAO! A song called ironic without ONE accurate example of irony. Still kills me.

Posted by: antidote at 07/18/07 7:38 PM  | Reply
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I think the most powerful and innovative album in the shortlist is 'fur and gold' by Bat for Lashes. With undertones of bjork but far more haunting and with much more of an enigma than her. This album is impressive, with 'Horse and I' a particular favourite, and Thom Yorke cannot be wrong!

I can't wait until everyone knows who she is coz she is awesome. If you haven't listened to her album yet, do it coz i'm sure many will agree it is the best of the shortlist.

Posted by: Daniel at 07/24/07 6:58 AM  | Reply
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