Earlier this morning, British DJ/television presenter Lauren Laverne announced the dozen 2009 Mercury nominees at London’s Hospital Club. The prize, of course, is for the UK’s album of the year award. First things first: In order to be eligible, the album must’ve been released by a British or Irish artist/band between July 2008 and July 2009, so don’t get upset if you don’t see Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors or Animal Collective on the list. That said, it does include at least one Stereogum favorite. Hint: She likes Kate Bush, The Karate Kid, and has an evil blonde twin. Now take a deep breath for the rest:
The nominations (along with the odds from the bookie William Hill):
Bat for Lashes – Two Suns [6/1]
Florence & The Machine – Lungs [5/1]
Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires [8/1]
Glasvegas – Glasvegas [6/1]
Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum [5/1]
La Roux – La Roux [6/1]
Led Bib – Sensible Shoes [10/1]
Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew [8/1]
Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy [8/1]
Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men [10/1]
The Horrors – Primary Colours [8/1]
The Invisible – The Invisible [10/1]
Place your bets! Then again, it’s an honor just to be nominated. Right, Doves? Also, Lily Allen didn’t make the list, but she did show her support for La Roux via Twitter this a.m. The winner, selected by a panel of critics and music industry types, takes home £20,000 on 9/8. You can get more Mercury info at mercuryprize.com.
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Looks like Bat For Lashes will take it, but I still like Glasvegas ze best. Now why did the Polaris prize have be so boring?
wow, Bat for Lashes is going to win the shit out of this
How Doves missed out if fucking beyond me. Kasabian. Bunch of pilled up twunts.
um, hello, the horrors? best album out of these easily. it’s a pity doves weren’t nominated. and kasabian? what a shit album. should have just nominated something from the mid 90s by primal scream.
i agree. the horrors album is excellent.
they’re all shit….very poor choices
Have you actually bought and listened to these records? No, i didn’t think so. So stop making comments when you don’t know what you’re talking about.
I agree, Sweet Billy Pilgrim’s album is awesome but i’m guessing Florence and the Machine will win. Miles better than Bat For Lashes’ album.
And the one that should really be on this list is Grammatics’ debut. If you haven’t heard it yet, don’t know what you’re missing. AMAZING record!
Yes….yes i have….and they are rubbish. i havent listened to la rouxs album because that would be a waste of time judging by their singles..
Yeah, I was hoping (but not really expecting) for Grammatics to be on the list as well. Out of these I have to say the Lisa Hannigan album is probably my favourite, but that’s by no means a great or exceptional record.
Based on your recommendation I listened to Grammatics, and you’re right it should probably be on the shortlist, however, they’re not really my kind of band; I don’t like his voice, however the drum patterns are excellent.
Man, Sweet Billy Pilgrim got to be a shoe in for this year…
La Roux must be the catchiest pop thing I’ve heard in years. Can’t wait for them to invade North America and be snubbed by every radio station — for being too amazing or something like that.
Bat For Lashes? Florence and The Machine blows her out of the water.
agree. love them both but comparatively speaking…bat for lashes, hands down.
i believe this is actually what we call a disagreement.
This is really a playoff between Florence and Bat for Lashes, and I’m giving Natasha the edge.
The La Roux album is the WORST SOUNDING thing that will be released this year, no question. The production on it is so flat, hyper-compressed into near static nothingness. Oh, and the songs are shit too.
Florence & the Machine, all the way
god, new kasabian album sucks but if klaxons won it once i won’t be surprised if kings of leon win this one, even if theyre note british
I think that Bat for Lashes or Florence and the Machines should get it…I will call for an upset and say that Friendly Fires take this.
its between florence and bat for lashes. easily. my vote ifs florence!
I like that second Horrors album a lot; I was really surprised by it. I think I’d choose Bat for Lashes over Flo, partly because I liked Florence and the Machines demos better than how the album came out. There are a couple albums on the list I’ve not listened to yet, so this could all change…
Oh and Kasabian = lolz
I love Lauren Laverne, and I miss her band Kenickie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6estdpJ-7y8
DUDE WHAT THE FUCK WHERE IS VECKATIMEST
that might because grizzly bear are american retard
Welcome to Norse mythology 101
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll
y not frightened rabbit?? they are Scottish, which i believe is british
Maybe because the rules say eligible albums must had been released between “July 2008 and July 2009″.
Scottish artists are rarely nominated, this lists includes Glasvegas because it’s the NME band of the decade or something.
(Let’s not get into the discussion that they suck!)
I’m happy all the bedwetting anti-Kasabian nerds have found a place to congregate.
Hahaha we’re not exactly spoiled for choice!
Anyway, Kasabian can be a lot of fun live. But best album of the year? C’mon….
Pretty much the usual stuff they nominate. NME approved clique: check. Who-the-heck-are-those picks: check. That-album-blows! nominee: check. A couple of damn-right-it-should-be-nominated: check. It’s only missing more well established picks to complete the usual cycle.
I’ve been told that the Florence and The Machine album is very good, but it’s not out in the US til October. Look like a toss up between her and Bat for Lashes. We’ll see.
wrong. completely wrong. I just got Lungs, it’s great. I do think that I liked some of hte demos better, but it’s still just a matter of getting used ot hearing them in a different way.
Hey Mercury dudes,
I’ve got this great record called Jewellery by Micachu & The Shapes you should have heard before this happened.
**Wait, we ARE spoiled for choice that should have said… FFS
lungs is coaster material in comparison to two suns.
no Joy Formidable? psh
Hmmm…I think it’s a pretty balanced nom list, with the most obviously missing nom that should have been given to Empire Of The Sun OR Passion Pit (Empire moreover than Passion Pit!). But any ‘hipster-indie-electro-rock-music-fan” can be a common sense layman and should definitely think The Horrors will take the Mercury Prize this year. “Primary Colours”, compared to all the other nom albums, was the strongest standout, musically more than lyrically. But how could they snub Empire Of The Sun, I mean they caught onto Neon Neon “Stainless Style” early enough for a 2008 nom. Oh well, if the Horrors don’t win, will be pleasantly surprised and happy with either Florence & The Machine/La Roux/Bats For Lashes/Friendly Fires/Glasvegas win in their place….the world music scene in a AMAZINGLY STRONG creative turnaround for the latter half of the first decade of the 21st Century!
I might be wrong, but I think Empire of the Sun are Australian and Passion Pit are American.
You’re correct on both counts.
The Super Furry Animals were robbed!
Also, Antony won for his last record but nominated for this one? What the?
I meant, “was not nominated”.
Doves. Always overlooked. Even by their home country. Pfft. My money is on The Horrors.
Imelda May’s Love Tattoo is miles better than Lisa Hannigan’s record. Still, someone has to be the token Irish entry. I don’t understand the Mercury Prize. Surprised Lily Allen’s last record wasn’t included though.
I’m going with Friendly Fires. Very interesting new band.
i am still in love with that lisa hanigan album. it would me my choice. bat for lashes was good not great…her voice is often strange to me
I’m for florence. Her album is great fun and worthy of all the hype….unlike natasha’s. I feel as if Two Suns is one of the most overrated albums of the year..
Primary Colours by The Horrors all the way.
…No Manic Street Preachers? ?!
I’ll admit to not being familiar with all the nominees, but I can’t help but think it’s a pretty insipid selection in which to choose from. From what I heard of Two Suns it seemed okay, but it wasn’t exactly hit-me-over-the-head-with-a-hammer-great. It’s disappointing to think that’s what the favorite is. I suspect some fellow commentators would very much like to hit me with a hammer based on my dreary synopsis, but that’s just how I see it.
hoping friendly fires pull the upset on this one. i went to catch white lies live a few months ago (on their tour with friendly fires, who i wasnt familiar with at the time) and friendly fires just blew them out of the water. an incredible live act with a great album to back them up.
florence has only one delivery style: BELT IT OUT. gets kindof old. vote goes to bat for lashes, but WORD on the micachu album
there’s no way kate bushhh… i mean florence and the machine will get this. lashes is most likely but whats with this hate on the kasabian record? has anybody or heard it or did they just read that wank p-fork review? if kasabian didn’t put that record out and some new brooklyn band did, people would be wetting themselves over it
Would’ve liked to see Max Tundra. Oh well.
Where is Bloc Party – Intamacy…there first single off the album was even named after the damn award!!!!
YES!
did you know?
to apply for the mercury you have to pay £195.50 and give the board 25 CDs?
in 2007 only 233 acts bothered to apply.
wow?
Apparently we all don’t understand how wonderful Kasabian are because we are deluded and 30 years behind with music. http://www.digitalspy.com/music/a167074/kasabian-americans-are-deluded.html That explains it. It has nothing to do with the fact that Kasabian make some of the worst music I have ever heard before….
Is Natasha Khan King Khans sister or are they married???
haha some of the worst music you’ve ever heard? zinger. and btw he’s half right, i’d say it’s more like 15 years… just turn on US alternative or rock radio
I’m rooting for Bat for Lashes and Florence, though The Horrors’ Primary Colours was surprisingly really good, as well and very different from their debut. For those of you who are slagging The Horrors based on that album, I would suggest checking out the new album. It has a very atmospheric Joy Division-ish vibe to it, which a complete 360 from Strange House.
I’d put my money on Bat For Lashes, Florence & The Machine, La Roux or Kasabian.
Though I personally would love Friendly Fires to win
NO DOVES? What an effing joke this “award” is
Where are Doves and Antony And The Johnsons?
no Orphans & Vandals . . a travesty of ages!
if bat for lashes wins she should probably just give the award to lisa hannigan considering she’s been ripping off irish vocal and sonic styles since she started