Taste Thermometer
And so The Mercury Music Prize nominations are in which manage the usual trick of being both unpredictable and bland. Perhaps the biggest surprise to most people will be the inclusion of the Anthony and The Johnsons record, as many didn't realise he was born in Britain and therefore eligible.
8 out of the 12 records are debut albums, which suggests a rather disproportionate drive to select 'the next big thing' rather than a genuine concern to identify quality music. Therefore, we have Hard-Fi, Kaiser Chiefs and Maximo Park included at the expense of bands like New Order; Saint Etienne and Teenage Fanclub who have made their best records for years.
With Franz Ferdinand winning last year, the judges are unlikely to go for the most obvious indie choice for a second year running, and therefore Bloc Party and early bookies' favourites Kaiser Chiefs represent poor bets. Better value for money would be 'Arular' by M.I.A. (this year's choice of 'street' record amongst the tragically hip and terminally middle-class) or the Anthony and the Johnsons record, or possibly the Magic Numbers.
In Dead Kenny's view, the Bloc Party and Go! Team records are the best amongst the dozen, so they've obviously got no chance...
And so The Mercury Music Prize nominations are in which manage the usual trick of being both unpredictable and bland. Perhaps the biggest surprise to most people will be the inclusion of the Anthony and The Johnsons record, as many didn't realise he was born in Britain and therefore eligible.
8 out of the 12 records are debut albums, which suggests a rather disproportionate drive to select 'the next big thing' rather than a genuine concern to identify quality music. Therefore, we have Hard-Fi, Kaiser Chiefs and Maximo Park included at the expense of bands like New Order; Saint Etienne and Teenage Fanclub who have made their best records for years.
With Franz Ferdinand winning last year, the judges are unlikely to go for the most obvious indie choice for a second year running, and therefore Bloc Party and early bookies' favourites Kaiser Chiefs represent poor bets. Better value for money would be 'Arular' by M.I.A. (this year's choice of 'street' record amongst the tragically hip and terminally middle-class) or the Anthony and the Johnsons record, or possibly the Magic Numbers.
In Dead Kenny's view, the Bloc Party and Go! Team records are the best amongst the dozen, so they've obviously got no chance...
3 Comments:
Yeah, I agree, the list is painfully obvious. MIA is a safe bet, and the album is pretty good as a debut in my opinion, but it's not good enough to deserve to win. That said, it would be preferable to the Kaisers though (who i only indulge in as a guilty pleasure with Blur on hiatus.)
The trouble is the awards are trapped in between actually attempting to pick something genuinely new and exciting, but also remaining relevant to the pop buying public as a whole. So it usually ends up softlanding on middle class coffee table types. Coupled with the fact that all awards shows are, essentially, bollocks.
I hope Coldplay win. It's about time that they were recognised for their lively, original contribution to British music.
Ha! Not really! Had you going for a bit there, didn't I?
No, Vicky, I think you were right first time, Coldplay winning would be, like, 'the greatest event in the history of the world ever'!
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