I think they’re announcing the shortlist next week, so who do we think is getting shortlisted? Who deserves to be but won’t be? Who doesn’t deserve to be but will?
Black Midi
4 Likes
Mogwai should get it.
7 Likes
I hope this doesn’t get nominated (but it probably will). I just can’t get on board with it at all.
Will get nominated:
Squid
Dry Cleaning
Wolf Alice
For those I love
Arlo Parks
Sons of Kemet
Roisin Murphy
Hopefully they will, but probably won’t get nominated:
SAULT
Daniel Avery
Arab Strap
Mogwai
The Staves
Outsiders:
Slowthai
Luke Abbot
The Go! Team
Autechre
Kelly Lee Owens
4 Likes
The Anchoress
Sault should win.
Black midi are my least favourite of that scene, but the other albums are all better than lots of previous winners. There’s hopefully something more interesting from a smaller/more deserving artist, idk.
Other than Mogwai, my favourite albums released in the qualifying period are:
Richard Youngs
Cobalt Chapel
Andrew Wasylyk
AK/DK
Ben Chatwin
Pillow Queens
I can’t see any of them even entering, let alone being nominated.
If it’s not Mogwai it should be Everything Everything.
1 Like
Nubya Garcia deserves the annual token jazz place in the shortlist - her album Source is my favourite qualifying record.
2 Likes
Which sault album/a fall into the time period? If black is or rise do then they should definitely get nominated.
It would nice for heavy music to not be constantly ignored, though not sure of any great albums released since lockdown
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The Dvne album is worth it.
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Black Is would have been eligible last year - Rise and 9 are eligible this time
Politely disagree
Less politely disagree back.
Just a shoutout for Black Midi. Still the most exciting thing I’ve heard this year (for a few years tbh), so a worthy winner in my book.
Think this DiS goggles take over a bit here where we’re all a bit over familiar with something, or take a disliking because we don’t agree with the general consensus.
The album slaps, and they’re on another level.
1 Like
Arlo Parks will get it. Cheers.
3 Likes
She’ll definitely get nominated, I really hope she doesn’t win. Nothing against her, her music’s fine and she seems like a really good person, but she really doesn’t need the boost.
Not sure of the release date criteria and I’ve long given up on idea of the Mercury shortlist reflecting the best eligible music anyway, but the following British artists have released great albums over the last year or so:
Lorraine James
Sault
Jane Weaver
Kelly-Lee Owens
The Anchoress
Floating Points
Lonelady
Dean Blunt
Matthew Halsall
Hen Ogledd
Kamaal Williams
1 Like
Yeah, that’s never really seemed to be a consideration for the judging panel past few years. Good Guardian-y support and Radio 1 crossover, young black artist on her first album, very lyrical - sort of feels like a perfect storm. I’m not a fan of the record really but I’d be surprised if she’s not a favourite.
That would include the Loraine James album and the last two Sault albums (but not Black Is). Any of them would be worthy winners (but it will probably be something rubbish instead).