It’s that time of year again when artists start vying for Britain’s most coveted music award: the Mercury Prize. Actually, the artists are usually quite well-natured and non-competitive about it, but it’s still an honour to make the final shortlist. The shortlist is typical of most years, with the majority of the list being made up of new acts, a couple of established acts, and the one token jazz nomination. The shock omission is Wild Beasts’ Smother, which had been thought to have been in with a good chance of winning.
My heart wants Ghostpoet to win, but my head tells me James Blake has it in the bag. Check out the shortlist below and tell us what you think. The final award ceremony will be held on September 6.
Mercury Prize 2011 nominees:
Adele – 21
Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi
Elbow – Build A Rocket Boys!
Everything Everything – Man Alive
Ghostpoet – Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam
Gwilym Simcock – Good Days At Schloss Elmau
James Blake – James Blake
Katy B – On A Mission
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Diamond Mine
Metronomy – The English Riviera
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Tinie Tempah – Disc-Overy
