Two way Monologues

Strangely's Bazaar 4 (Ronan)

Mercury Music Prize 2005

Instead of looking at one album this week, I’m going to look at twelve. All of these albums are nominated for the Mercury Music Prize 2005. The Mercury is the biggest award in the UK and Irish music scene, and as well as that feeling of victory, the winner usually gets massively increased sales. The Mercury’s closest cousin is probably the Shortlist Music Award in the US, but the Mercury is much more prestigious. It is awarded to the best UK or Irish album of the past 12 months, and unlike the Shortlist, can include big-sellers as well as virtually unknown albums. Previous winners of the award have been PJ Harvey, Badly Drawn Boy, Franz Ferdinand, Dizzee Rascal, Suede, Gomez, Pulp, Portishead, Primal Scream, and even some acts you’ve never heard from since, like Talvin Singh and Roni Size. In the past, everyone from U2 to Radiohead has been on the shortlist. This year’s shortlist is no different – it features music giants such as Coldplay and some guy from Devon that I have never heard of called Seth Lakeman. Here I will examine the shortlisted albums, and give my verdict on who I think will win (I predicted this as soon as I heard the shortlist, so this exercise will not change my opinion whatsoever).

Anthony & the Johnsons – I Am A Bird Now
This is one album which will no doubt appear on many ‘Best of’ lists at the end of the year, but probably not many ‘Best seller’ lists. It seems every music critic, music magazine and music website knows how good this album is; but the public have yet to realise and buy it in hordes. And that’s a good reason for it to win.
Bookmakers’ Odds: 12/1
My Odds: 8/1

Bloc Party – Silent Alarm
An album which has been embraced by both critics and the public is always likely to do well as regards the Mercury Music Prize. One such album, Franz Ferdinand’s debut, came away with the coveted award in 2004. The bookmakers have Bloc Party in at second favourites, and it’s no wonder why. The album is exactly the kind of thing the judging panel tend to go for.
Bookmakers’ Odds: 5/1
My Odds: 4/1

Coldplay – X&Y
Like the Shortlist Award, the Mercury Music Prize likes to highlight albums that people aren’t buying on their own. They like to give help to the underdog, to assist those who need assistance. Coldplay isn’t one of these, and never will be. It may be an excellent album, but it’s too big an album to win this award.
Bookmakers’ Odds: 10/1
My Odds: 25/1

Hard-Fi – Stars of CCTV
Hard-Fi plays the type of music that is loved in the UK at the moment – songs about the day-to-day worries of the everyman – a bit like Mike Skinner and The Streets. Taking the best parts of British indie and fusing it with the best of Paul Weller and The Jam, Hard-Fi look set for much success in the UK - especially if they win the Mercury Music Prize. And since this is the kind of thing which critics love, they’re definitely in with a shout.
Bookmakers’ Odds: 9/1
My Odds: 6/1

Kaiser Chiefs – Employment
Kaiser Chiefs are the favourites to win the Mercury, and it’s no surprise why. Like Franz Ferdinand before them, they make great rock songs, which everyone can sing along to, whether it’s in a pub or on the radio. Their favourites status has already made the album climb back up the English charts – where it currently sits in the #6 spot. If the judges want to pick one of the more mainstream choices, Kaiser Chiefs may well be your winners.
Bookmakers’ Odds: 4/1
My Odds: 5/1

KT Tunstall – Eye To The Telescope
Tunstall was #10 on BBC’s Sound of 2005 list (The Bravery were at 1, Bloc Party 2, and Kaiser Chiefs 5), and a lot was expected from her debut. Sadly it isn’t nearly as good as it should be. Some of the songs are great, but most of it is just filler. I know this, the public knows this, and the judges most certainly know this. Don’t put your money on this one, no matter how good the odds are (well, unless the judging panel are all deaf).
Bookmakers’ Odds: 10/1
My Odds: 50/1

Maximo Park – A Certain Trigger
Another likely winner. Any avid reader of Two Way Monologues will remember Brandon’s high rating for this album, and his claims about how excellent it is. Well, he’s right. The album is an excellent debut (as are many of the albums nominated here – 8 of them are debut albums), and nobody would complain were it to win.
Bookmakers’ Odds: 9/1
My Odds: 6/1

M.I.A. – Arular
If you read any music websites or any music magazines, you should know all about M.I.A. – the Sri Lankan/English singer with the album named after her father, a leader of the Tamil Tigers. Many people feel that this shady background makes it likely that she won’t win the Mercury, but I disagree. This is exactly why she will win. Her album is very different than anything else nominated, and is exactly what British music needs at the moment. My 2005 winner.
Bookmakers’ Odds: 8/1
My Odds: 3/1

Seth Lakeman – Kitty Jay
This guy is unheard of outside Devon. The first time anyone has really heard of him was when the Mercury nominations were announced last week. And if this helps him sell a few hundred copies of his album, excellent. Because he has no chance whatsoever of winning. He made his album for £300 Sterling in his home, and spent his last £177 on the entry fee for the Mercury Prize. Hopefully he can make a career for himself, but for the judges, the nomination alone is to help him along. Not very likely to win.
Bookmakers’ Odds: 25/1
My Odds: 33/1

Polar Bear – Held on the Tips of Fingers
Another relatively unknown artist, and one just as unlikely to win. Each year, the judging panel like to highlight some little known artists to get them exposure, and they almost never win (except for Talvin Singh). For an artist like Polar Bear, the nomination is more than enough, as these are artists that need every little piece of publicity. I’d love to see this album winning, but unfortunately it won’t.
Bookmakers’ Odds: 33/1
My Odds: 33/1

The Go-Team – Thunder, Lightning, Strike
The Go-Team is somewhat of an outsider to win the Mercury, but sometimes the smart bet is on one of the outsiders. The album is pretty solid, but probably not quite good enough to win the Mercury. Maybe with their second album, they can hone their talents and improve on this encouraging effort.
Bookmakers’ Odds: 12/1
My Odds: 12/1

The Magic Numbers – The Magic Numbers
Critics love The Magic Numbers. Perhaps a little too much. Their album is good, but not as good as many people are making it out to be. Mojo gave it 5 stars, and said that it would be “the album 2005 is remembered for”. There is way too much hype surrounding this album. (It’s my next review, by the way, so you can see what I really think of it). But the extra bit of hype from the Mercury can’t harm it, so it does stand a good chance of winning.
Bookmakers’ Odds: 9/1
My Odds: 8/1

So there’s my prediction: M.I.A. to win. But don’t blame me if you put money on her and KT Tunstall romps home with it instead. It’s only my opinion, and no doubt many of you will disagree. Heck, I’m the guy who gave Coldplay’s album a 9.0, so you know how opinionated I am! But now, I’m off to the bookies to put some money on a certain Sri Lankan for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize.

posted by Daysthatareover @ 12:25 PM