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

[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.