NEWS: Mercury Music Prize 2010 Nominations Announced

Wednesday , 21 Jul 2010

It's that time of year again folks. Time to get down to the bookies and place your bets on the Mercurys. I've been doing this religiously for the past five years now and I've never won a penny, even when making multiple bets.

The Mercury Prize (formerly the Mercury Music Prize) is in it's 18th year and has been presented by Jools Holland for as long as I can remember. It's an annual award for the best British album, decided exclusively and in secret by a panel of industry judges.

The Nominees

Only Revolutions by Biffy Clyro
Sky At Night by I Am Kloot
Tongue And Cheek by Dizzee Rascal
Wake Up The Nation by Paul Weller
The Sea by Corinne Bailey Rae
XX by The XX
Becoming A Jackal by Villagers
Golden by Kit Downes Trio
Total Life Forever by Foals
I Speak Because I Can by Laura Marling
Two Dancers by Wild Beasts
Sigh No More by Mumford And Sons

This year's nominations are very typical. There is always a token folk artist (who never wins), in this case the judges have chosen Laura Marling, again. There is also a token jazz band (who never win), and this year the judges have nominated Kit Downes Trio. Previous winners appear to be chosen at random. Everyone from M People to Franz Ferdinand, Klaxons to Speech Debelle have won. Honestly, there is absolutely way of predicting the winner unless your name is Conor McNicholas (Ex Editor of the NME) but I think he has access to insider information.

I secretly believe that the winners are decided in the same way that South Park portrays Family Guy episodes being written in the episode Cartoon Wars Part II.

Of course, the purpose of the Mercury Prize is the lavish ceremony at a fancy hotel in London where the UK music industry hoi polloi can get drink away their nerves in the lead up to the announcement. Followed by the many after parties.