The Mercury Music Prize is upon us again, and to celebrate Clash will bring you our guide to the nominees and the all-important betting odds!
With the ever difficult to predict panel, this year’s list looks like the toughest to call in years. Some of the biggest hitters from the indie world have been nominated, with Radiohead and Elbow both attempting to win their first ever Mercury. However, dubstep sensation Burial is also up for the award, and the judges have frequently shown a passion for supporting British urban music.
Here’s our guide to the shortlist:
Adele – 19
A soul star who is a big favourite within the industry, Adele has not had the commercial success of Duffy. Nonetheless, her debut album was widely acclaimed and her victory could well seal a great year for British female talent.
…if it won dubstep would be flung into the mainstream
SkyBet Odds – 4/6
British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music?
Quirky indie group whose inclusion was a surprise to many. Not to us, though, their third album “Do You Like Rock Music?” was a constant spin in the Clash office. Perhaps weighed down by a lack of crossover appeal.
SkyBet Odds – 20/1
Burial – Untrue
Reclusive dubstep genius who only revealed his identity after media instrusion relating to the awards. A brilliant album that received across the board acclaim, if it won dubstep would be flung into the mainstream. Which, of course, no one associated with the scene wants…
SkyBet Odds – 4/6
Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid
The people’s choice, Bury’s cult legends Elbow have had a rush of bets in the run up to the ceremony. Their fourth album is undoubtedly one of their best yet, and a win would cap a memorable year for the band that were once dropped by their record label.
SkyBet Odds – 5/1
Estelle – Shine
A massive hit both here and stateside, her single “American Boy” is a booty shakin’ delight. Perhaps slightly too commercial for the Mercury board, although with past winners including M People she can’t be ruled out.
Paddy Power Odds – 33/1
Laura Marling – Alas, I Cannot Swim
Reading born singer Marling has already appeared on a top ten hit courtesy of Noah And The Whale’s “Five Years Time”, but her debut album is where the magic is. A sublime collection of songs, it might lack the crossover appeal necessary to scoop the award.
SkyBet Odds – 8/1
Last Shadow Puppets – Age Of The Understatement
Grandiose orchestral pop from Alex Turner and Miles Kane, this album won admirers with its shred mixture of indie and Bacharach style balladry. Turner has already won the prize with Arctic Monkeys, can he make history and win it with two different bands?
…a folk entry has yet to win the Mercury music prize
SkyBet Odds – 14/1
Neon Neon – Stainless Style
Another side project, this time featuring SFA singer Gruff Rhys. A fascinating project, based on the life of car engineer John De Lorean, this was one of the more unexpected treats delivered by British music this year. An outsider, but those have won before.
SkyBet Odds – 16/1
Portico Quartet – Knee Deep In The North Sea
Another year, another jazz album. This is better than most, and the band have an admirable taste for playing gigs in unusual locations, but this probably won’t be the year the jazz album wins out.
SkyBet Odds – 40/1
Rachel Unthank And The Winterset – The Bairns
Northumberland folkies who won’t be too concerned if they don’t win – harvest is a-coming in, after all. A good album, but a folk entry has yet to win the Mercury music prize.
SkyBet Odds – 16/1
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss – Raising Sand
A controversial choice due to the mainly American cast, this album was a huge hit with critics who loved the mingling together of Plant and Krauss’ voices. However, given the awards tend to focus on cutting edge, trend-surfing, material this may rule them out.
SkyBet Odds – 18/1
Radiohead – In Rainbows
They stunned the industry with their download release strategy and impressed their fans with their most coherent, song based, work in years. Amazingly, Radiohead have never won the Mercury, with Roni Size beating “OK Computer” in 1998. Will “In Rainbows” bring them virtually the only prize they haven’t received? Or will they be beaten to the post yet again?
SkyBet Odds – 7/1
