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

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

Fvck I forgot Roisin Murphy was eligible. Also I really like the new Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. album.

Also wtf is Neon Neon doing in there, srly? I like the album, it's entertaining but wtf.

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

Also it is better than last years by dint of not involving The View. I had forgotten that.

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

ALSO: I would like to see more "extreme" selections, please. There has been, for instance, lots of Brit Metal released this year and the God Fires Man (who are idk punk I suppose) album is v. good. If they wanted to be a bit more mainstream-ish then Gallows have received considerable critical acclaim, are a reasonably good laugh at least and would probably fulfil the 'ooh we're so edgy' quotient better than Neon Neon. Equally, there's a healthy amount of experimental electronica happening. Meanwhile nice though the Plant/Krauss album is, it's a bit dadpop innit. If they're going to pretend to be edgy and eschew the mainstream and just be "all about the music" then ...y'know, come on, this is the Times TV guideselection. Except they might well have put Fvck Buttons in.

There are so many things wrong with the Mercury it's hard to think where to start really but this list is even more Radio 2 than usual.

Edit: Not God Fires Man, they're from New York. I mean You Slvt! who are from Nottingham and I quite like.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

Gallows would've been a good call actually. I don't see a problem with Plant&Krauss, there's usually one old giffer in the selection...

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I forgot Roisin was eligible on about three levels! First I forgot her album was released in the timeframe, then I thought she was Irish (for some reason? I've known she's from Sheffield for like 13 years). Which wouldn't have mattered anyway. Actually she's a really glaring omission, it's a critically acclaimed album whose 'type' isn't really represented on the shortlist (I assume Estelle's token 'urban' presence and Tinchy's streetness make him completely ineligible), so...wtf.

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

She is a very blatant oversight. Possibly post-Winehouse win last year they are having an 'ooh no must be MOAR INDIE' phase though, so despite a lack of success disco-pop is out of the question, no matter how innovative and awesome. :(

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

But then Neon Neon. No, it's just indefensible. Poor Roisin. :(

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

Who or what are Neon Neon?

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

Some Welsh (possibly not Welsh) people making very, very 80s music. One of them was a Super Furry Animal.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Neon Neon are the "synthpop" act featuring him out of the Super Furry Animals. Judging from the songs I've heard, they are bilge.

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

Oh. Right. Well, won't be bothering with them then. Never understood the appeal of the SFAs.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

rly? not ANY sfa?

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

None. Srsly.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I just had a listen to 'Told Her On Alderaan' and MY GOD that is the dullest 'synthpop' I've ever heard. The melody is insipid, the backing is indier than the Klaxons and the lyrics are barely registering on my radar. Historically I've quite liked Gryff Rhys's voice, but only when he's singing in a lower register. Definitely not when its doing this. Yuckyuckyuck.

[martinv.livejournal.com]

It isn't really synthpop though is it? Other than by dent of having a synth sort of in it? It's obviously very indie, but clearly that isn't going to stop me from liking it. Hopefully you didn't judge based on the weedy live version I put on my blog.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

It is indier than a Belle & Sebastian fan wearing a cardigan in the basement of Record & Tape Exchange. But the tune is really uninspiring! I can't find anything in it to latch on to. The Richard X remix is no better rly as I find myself wishing it was all bleep and no Gryff.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

what no else has mentioned yet is that it's a concept alBUM about john delorean, oh yes.

Re: An old man writes

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

She's completely Irish, she went to school with my friends! Okay, moved to Manchester at 12, but wvs.

Re: An old man writes

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Roisin was nominated for the 2007 Choice Music Prize (vague Irish equivalent of the Mercurys).