The Mercury Price Megapost!

Oy!

The Nationwide Mercury Prize is being given out and recieved by a happy winner on September 9th. It's a British award, but it means a lot to the whole world, the winner of the prize always gets shit loads of hype and airplay. Last years award winners were The Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys took it the year before. And this years nominees are (ranked after possibility of winning the award, according to the bookmakers):

Burial:
Latest outcome: Untrue (2007)
This guy kept his identity secret until a week ago (by not playing any concerts), but know we all know Will Bevan. Right now, he's the man with the power and the albums to move the focus on electronic music away from The Netherlands. Now, the lights are shining on London, thanks to Burials amazing dubstep-tunes. This is not all hype, enjoy Burial!

Download - Megaupload



Elbow:
Latest outcome: The Seldom Seen Kid (2008)
Being one of the more wuiet band riding on the British indie wave dominated by Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, Maximo Park and The Bravery to name a few, Elbow now seemed to have hit the spotlight. Why? Because they are stabile. Franz Ferdinand released way to many singles that sounded way too much the same. Bloc Party has gone completely shit electro. Maximo Park blew it with their second album and The Bravery completely changed their style. Cheers to stability!

Download - Letecaposta (some Czech stuff...)

Radiohead:
Latest outcome: In Rainbows (2007)
You probably know these guys way too well. What a wonder they've never won this one before, but to be honest, I don't believe in them this time neither.I guess that In Rainbows isn't actual enough anymore. They already seem "so last year", 'cause In Rainbows is not near as timeless as The Bends or OK Computer. Although they're not winning this one, you still gotta respect Radiohead as one of the greatest bands of our generation, though.

Download - Megaupload

The Last Shadow Puppets:
Latest outcome: The Age Of The Understandment (2008)
No British music award without a little bit of Arctic Monkeys. Alex Turner's side project is run together with Miles Kane, and they make sure you'll get your fresh shot of glorious indie pop. I haven't listened to this one, Alex Turner isn't my cup of Darjeeling. But Hjörtur says that "it's actually pretty good", and I bet this is your thing if you like these cold monkeys of the Arctic. By the way, the lady on the cover is incredibly hot. Makes you wanna buy the psysical release.

Download - Rapidshare
Password: xtremelocust.blogspot

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss:
Latest outcome: Raising Sand (2007)
Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin singer) and Alison Krauss (regular beauty that can sing) got together and made some nice folk-music and soon, every single album-reviewer from Great Britain were licking their arses so much that their tongues must still taste of shit. Okay, that sounded gross, but this actually is a beautiful album and I deeply recommend it.

Download - Rapidshare


Laura Marling:
Latest outcome: Alas, I Cannot Swim (2008)
This über-talented young British alterna-folk singer-songwriter is one of the hottest things coming from this nu-folk wave or what you'll call it. She can be compared a little to Tiny Vipers (expect a post with her, when she releases something!) although I don't think they sound the same at all. I think Laura Marling is the folk-future and Alas, I Cannot Swim is just the beginning of something.

Download - Megaupload



Rachel Unthank And The Winterset:
Latest outcome: The Bairns (2007)
Okay, this is probably the most folk thing I've ever seen! Look at them when they play live! That's almost friggin' scary, it reminds me of some kind of local house band in "The Village"!! I haven't listened to this yet, but I can't see it being anything else than folk, folk and folk. I bet they're into polygamist lifestyle or something, this is a little creepy. People, carry on: Here comes the folk-explosion!!!

Download - Mediafire


British Sea Power:
Latest outcome: Do You Like Rock Music? (2008)
Do I like rock music? Yeah!
Is this good rock music? Yeah!
Do these guys have a great live energy? Yeah!
Have these guys played on Letterman? Yeah!
Are they British? Yeah!
Is the Pope a catholic? Yeah!
Would I go for BSP recieving the Mercury Prize? Yeah!

Download - Megaupload

Neon Neon:
Latest outcome: Stainless Style (2008)
Having released their debut album this year, it's quite amazing how Neon Neon have come a long way in no time. But their electro-hiphop-pop seems to please a lot of people, and what's better than a crowdpleaser? Personally, I don't think that Neon Neon is anything special, but I'm not an electro-, a pop- or a electro-listener. Well, I guess they just ain't my shizzle.

Download - Megaupload


Estelle:
Latest outcome: Shine (2008)
So, here's the cool hip-hop girl nominee of the year. She teamed up with Kanye West, released American Boy as a single, and has plagued your ears ever since. Succes! Disco-hip-hop-glam-fantastic is just around the corner, and I bet this isn't the last thing we've heard from the lovely Estelle. She definately wants to be taken on a trip, she'd like to go somewhere.

Download - Rapidshare

Adele:
Latest outcome: 19 (2008)
Adele is this years soul-diva (a nomination Duffy deserved more, in my opinion) and she's young. And her name rhymes with Estelle. Adele-Estelle, you see? They could make a duo and call it AdelEstelle!
Adele, Estelle, Adele, Estelle, Adele, Estelle, Adele, Estelle, Adele, Estelle, Adele, Estelle, Adele, Estelle, Adele, Estelle, Adele... Nah, I'll go for Estelle on that one!

Download - Megaupload



Portico Quartet:
Latest outcome: Knee-Deep In The North Sea (2007)
The last nominee (and the one that the bookmakers don't think will win) is the modern jazz group Portico Quartet. I think it's a brilliant initiative to bring in some "different" music genres into this award although I'm not sure these guys are winning the prize. But a jazz quartet nominated for a Mercury Prize? That's an achievement for these guys. Well, it's not all bad either, check it out!

Download - Megaupload


That was today's post, it took me a whole friggin day to write all this and find the links, so I really hope you've enjoyed it. Happy Mercury Prize!