Mercury Prize 2008

Posted by: Steeve on 22 July 2008

If you want to see this year's shortlist, then

click here

then click on "Shortlists"

Of the albums I've heard, my vote would go for Laura Marling...

Steeve

Posted on: 22 July 2008 by Diccus62

Go Rachel, Go Rachel, Go Rachel

Posted on: 22 July 2008 by JamieWednesday

yeah Laura Marling's album is excellent. I play track 1 a lot but then let the whole album play. It's a cracker.

Posted on: 22 July 2008 by Guido Fawkes

Assuming the judges are not deaf, which they usually are - it has got to be Rachel Unthank and the Winterset by a country mile. The Bairns is great album; there was only one album released last year that I thought bettered it and that was not by a British artist.

Laura Marling sounds pretty good too - excellent really - playing the album right now.

But, of course, the judges'll go for Radiohead: the only group hired to turn off Blackpool lights.

I assume those drawing up the list of nominations hadn't listened to This Earthly Spell by Karine Polwart, which was certainly one of this year's best records.

And no mention of CSI:Ambleside.

Awards - who needs 'em.

ATB Rotf

Posted on: 22 July 2008 by droodzilla

I think I might like Rachel Unthank - must get round to hearing her.

I almost bought the Portico Quartet album secondhand a few weeks ago - pretty good jazz, with the unusual addition of a hang (a kind of metal drum/gong, played with one's hands). But jazz never wins does it?

Posted on: 23 July 2008 by BigH47

I have 1 and no others on my to buy list. I think the lad has Last Shadow Puppets though.

Posted on: 23 July 2008 by Whizzkid

That list is a bloody tragedy and a offense to electronic music lovers. Just soppy singer songwriters and badly recorded indie/pop rockers and a nominal Jazz & electronic outfit. I'm upset and will write a Disgusted from London letter to these lets pick the most popular drival we can find awards.

I am now playing these in PROTEST.

Autechre

Zombie Zombie

Dean...

Posted on: 23 July 2008 by BigH47

You are a strange person Dean.

Just how many albums are there where you have the only copy?

I'm just glad I'm old enough to remember "proper" music.

Posted on: 23 July 2008 by BigH47

I have it on vinyl too.

Posted on: 23 July 2008 by Whizzkid

Munch,

I've had the Film for about 15 years (with Danish Subtitles) so I have no need for the soundtrack, we'll I might buy it if I see it for a couple of quid.

Howard,

Is this how proper music goes....

Intro, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Repeat twice, Outro.

also you are lucky I did not link to Wolf Eyes

Dean..

Posted on: 23 July 2008 by BigH47

quote:
Intro, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Repeat twice, Outro.

I don't think prog goes like that.
My lad seems to think PF is all intro!!

Posted on: 23 July 2008 by Guido Fawkes

quote:
Is this how proper music goes....

Intro, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Repeat twice, Outro.

Sounds good to me

Dean - Have you heard Rachel Unthank & The Winterset's The Bairns - it really isn't just a collection of songs, it is one of the most innovative works I've heard - totally unique. I think you'd like it.

ATB Rotf

Posted on: 23 July 2008 by Diccus62

......... and Becky Unthank's voice is even more beautiful than her sister's.............. have a closer listen ROTF. Try 'Blackbird', Becky's vocal sounds like a mixture of singing and sighing - hers is the vocal that ends the song (and plenty in between).

Posted on: 23 July 2008 by Whizzkid

quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
quote:
Is this how proper music goes....

Intro, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Repeat twice, Outro.

Sounds good to me

Dean - Have you heard Rachel Unthank & The Winterset's The Bairns - it really isn't just a collection of songs, it is one of the most innovative works I've heard - totally unique. I think you'd like it.

ATB Rotf

Hi ROTF,

No I have not though I am now interested to hear it.

I'm always pissed that these prizes ignore a big section of the music world ie Electronic, Classical, Jazz, Experimental and just go for the plain straight forward Verse Chorus stuff. There is more to Music than songs in my world anyway.

Dean..grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Posted on: 24 July 2008 by --duncan--

quote:
Originally posted by Whizzkid:

Intro, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Repeat twice, Outro.

I'm sure you meant Introduction, Exposition, Development, Recapitulation and Coda.

Posted on: 24 July 2008 by Whizzkid

quote:
Originally posted by djc:
quote:
Originally posted by Whizzkid:

Intro, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Repeat twice, Outro.

I'm sure you meant Introduction, Exposition, Development, Recapitulation and Coda.

Ah! a least there is one other person who knows a good tune when they hear one.

Dean..

Posted on: 24 July 2008 by Bruce Woodhouse

quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
Assuming the judges are not deaf, which they usually are - it has got to be Rachel Unthank and the Winterset by a country mile. The Bairns is great album; there was only one album released last year that I thought bettered it and that was not by a British artist.

Laura Marling sounds pretty good too - excellent really - playing the album right now.

But, of course, the judges'll go for Radiohead: the only group hired to turn off Blackpool lights.

I assume those drawing up the list of nominations hadn't listened to This Earthly Spell by Karine Polwart, which was certainly one of this year's best records.

And no mention of CSI:Ambleside.

Awards - who needs 'em.

ATB Rotf

To be fair the Mercury judges have a history of not giving Radiohead the prize (I think shortlisted twice and never won) and also being not that predictable. Some of the more obscure albums have won in the past.

I'm astonished to own 6 on the shortlist!

Bruce

Posted on: 24 July 2008 by Diccus62

quote:
Originally posted by munch:
quote:
Originally posted by Diccus62:
......... and Becky Unthank's voice is even more beautiful than her sister's.............. have a closer listen ROTF. Try 'Blackbird', Becky's vocal sounds like a mixture of singing and sighing - hers is the vocal that ends the song (and plenty in between).
Diccus That makes me feal a lot better.
After you told me R U had pulled her Canterbury gig a few months back

Even better live mate