BallochSonsFan Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 The list of albums up for this year's Mercury has been released: Alt-J: Relaxer The Big Moon: Love in the 4th Dimension Blossoms: Blossoms Loyle Carner: Yesterday’s Gone Dinosaur: Together, As One Glass Animals: How to Be a Human Being J Hus: Common Sense Sampha: Process Ed Sheeran: ÷ Stormzy: Gang Signs & Prayer Kate Tempest: Let Them Eat Chaos The xx: I See You I can honestly say that I've only heard 1 of the albums. The Mercury has been poorly regarded for as long as it's been around. Theres an undeniable feeling that the more obscure or niche albums are only there as a worthy box ticking exercise and that the winner is rarely the best British album of the year. You look at winners like M People in 1994 and Talvin Singh in 99 where they clearly got it wrong or winners like Speech Debelle, Benjamin Clementine and Skepta where they've gone deliberately obscure and wonder how the Mercury has survived so long? There were years where they got it right - Primal Scream, Suede, Portishead, PJ Harvey and Elbow were all deserved winners. Is it possible for there to be a single best UK album of the year that cuts across genre differences? I'm clearly never going to be a fan of grime, rap or jazz albums as those styles of music do nothing for me and that probably shades my option on previous winners. That said, is that really a list of the best 12 albums released by UK artists in the past year? Happy to see The Big Moon's album on the list. It isnt groundbreaking. It isnt cutting edge. It's just a collection of really great indie pop songs from a group of women who seem like they're having a great time being in a band. Is it finally time to kill off the Mercury award? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Gaines Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Skepta was hardly obscure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paranoid android Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 8 minutes ago, BallochSonsFan said: Is it finally time to kill off the Mercury award? That's probably up to Mercury. I don't mind Ed Sheerin, but album of the year? Really? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_oats Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 2 hours ago, L. Brilliant said: It's a load of shite, there's an application form and a fee to get nominated. if your favourite isn't on there, they probably didn't stump up 3k for it £228.00 inc VAT to apply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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