Mercury Nominations 2008

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Downloads might be killing off the album, but the Mercury dudes are carrying on regardless. This year's nominations are below, but do you poptimist folks actually listen to this sort of thing?

[Poll #1227631]

Ones for the comments box:
- of the albums above that you haven't heard yet, which would you like to investigate further?
- do you think this is a fair representation of British Music in 2008?
- is this better or worse than last year's bunch?

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't rly like to sit though any of these except maybe the Estelle. What's Laura Marling like, Lex?

I think this is probably a fairer representation of British music than a list of the 12 best British records would be.

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

She's mostly poppy folk. Ghosts & Cross Your Fingers (which I think are the two singles) are probably the poppiest and most accessible. My Manic & I and Crawled Out of the Sea are a bit more quirky and interesting. She's infinitely preferable to most of the rest of the wave of young Brit female singer-songwriters who have had way more attention.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'd really call her quirky at all, if anything it's her total lack of bullshit which appeals - it really is so simple and direct.

[sbp.livejournal.com]

She was really good at Truck Festival at the weekend. Must investigate her CD.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Girl + acoustic guitar + really good lyrics (sort of...very observant without being detached from the action w/flashes of poetry, in that bluestocking 17-year-old way). I like that she doesn't try to be CLEVER or INTERESTING or even AUTHENTIC at any point, she does that thing where half the time she could be singing to herself in that trying-to-figure-out-what's-going-on way, but she's too forceful and direct to be part of the handwringing, timorous indie crew. tbh I would never have checked it out if I wasn't friends with her cousin but I'm very glad I did.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Other reasons to hear Laura Marling's album: it is like £5 off itunes and half an hour long. I have no idea at all whether you'd like it, do you like Joni Mitchell?