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Mercury Prize 2011


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The shortlist with nominees was announced this morning. The winner will be announced September 6.

http://www.nme.com/news/pj-harvey/58109

 

Anna Calvi - 'Anna Calvi'

Elbow - 'Build A Rocket Boys!'

James Blake - 'James Blake'

Katy B - 'On A Mission'

Metronomy - 'The English Riviera'

Tinie Tempah - 'Disc-Overy'

PJ Harvey - 'Let England Shake'

Gwilym Simcock - 'Good Days At Schloss Elmau'

Everything Everything - 'Man Alive'

Ghostpoet - 'Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam'

King Creosote and Jon Hopkins - 'Diamond Mine'

Adele - '21'

 

So basically, who should/shouldn't be on the list, and who do you think should/will win?

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I've heard Anna Calvi, Metronomy, Everything Everything, Tinie Tempah and Katy B's albums... Out of them I would say that I'd prefer Metronomy or Everything Everything won.

 

I have the feeling that it will either be PJ Harvey or Adele though (I hope it's not Adele, although she's a lovely individual I cannot stand her music)

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Strong class this year. Really unpredictable. I'd say Anna Calvi, James Blake, Katy B and PJ Harvey have the most chance of winning. Can't see Elbow winning it twice in a row.

 

Elbow won three years ago, but I see where you're coming from.

 

Should have made it a public poll :\

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Why is there so much Adele hate in this thread? :sad:

 

Out of those listed, I've heard Adele, Elbow, and James Blake. As much as I've tried to listen to PJ Harvey, I just can't. Her voice grates me. I haven't listened to the Jon Hopkins/King Creosote collab, but if I'm to judge it based on Jon Hopkins' work, I'd assume that it's quite good. I heard a Metronomy track once and actually quite liked it.

 

As far as to who would win it, that would be a difficult prediction to make. If I were to judge it based on which album I've been stuck on the most consistently, I'd probably have to go with James Blake. I love Elbow to death, but being a newer fan, I find myself going to their older stuff, particularly as of late. I listened again to "Asleep in the Back" the other night, and it was fabulous. Adele's album is really solid for a sophomore effort. I think I like James Blake's more, though, if only by a little bit. I think it has to do with James Blake's use of minimalism. I tend not to be a huge fan of things that are too repetitive, but for some reason, James Blake's music is constructed in such a way that, rather than becoming bored with it, I'm drawn to it. It's something that mystifies me, and I think because of it, I'm drawn even more to his music.

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Why is there so much Adele hate in this thread? :sad:

 

Out of those listed, I've heard Adele, Elbow, and James Blake. As much as I've tried to listen to PJ Harvey, I just can't. Her voice grates me. I haven't listened to the Jon Hopkins/King Creosote collab, but if I'm to judge it based on Jon Hopkins' work, I'd assume that it's quite good. I heard a Metronomy track once and actually quite liked it.

 

As far as to who would win it, that would be a difficult prediction to make. If I were to judge it based on which album I've been stuck on the most consistently, I'd probably have to go with James Blake. I love Elbow to death, but being a newer fan, I find myself going to their older stuff, particularly as of late. I listened again to "Asleep in the Back" the other night, and it was fabulous. Adele's album is really solid for a sophomore effort. I think I like James Blake's more, though, if only by a little bit. I think it has to do with James Blake's use of minimalism. I tend not to be a huge fan of things that are too repetitive, but for some reason, James Blake's music is constructed in such a way that, rather than becoming bored with it, I'm drawn to it. It's something that mystifies me, and I think because of it, I'm drawn even more to his music.

I agree with a lot of this.

 

You should give Anna Calvi a listen too.

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Why is there so much Adele hate in this thread? :sad:

 

No idea whatsoever, as she has a fantastic voice. Her performance at the iTunes Festival was fab.:smug:

 

As much as I've tried to listen to PJ Harvey, I just can't. Her voice grates me.

 

Same here. I had to endure her dirge-like music at Arras, unfortunately, and it's probably the worst live performance I've ever witnessed. If she wins, it will be just as bad as when Dizzee Rascal did (twice).:dozey:

 

 

As far as to who would win it, that would be a difficult prediction to make. If I were to judge it based on which album I've been stuck on the most consistently, I'd probably have to go with James Blake. I love Elbow to death, but being a newer fan, I find myself going to their older stuff, particularly as of late. I listened again to "Asleep in the Back" the other night, and it was fabulous. Adele's album is really solid for a sophomore effort. I think I like James Blake's more, though, if only by a little bit. I think it has to do with James Blake's use of minimalism. I tend not to be a huge fan of things that are too repetitive, but for some reason, James Blake's music is constructed in such a way that, rather than becoming bored with it, I'm drawn to it. It's something that mystifies me, and I think because of it, I'm drawn even more to his music.

 

I don't think I would really mind as long as it wasn't either PJ or Tinie Tempah.:smug:

 

I was impressed with what I saw of Anna Calvi at Glasto and on "Live At Abbey Road", so I would probably give it to her if push came to shove.:cool:

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I don't get al the hype about her, that's why. She's not making something new or extremely awesome, I don't get why she gets so much attention, she's just another female singer.

Good voice, catchy singles, somewhat interesting personality and success in the US.

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I don't hate Adele. I quite like her actually. And her album isn't the only one on the list that feels a bit out of place. But there are some pretty good albums on the list!

 

Well, "hate" wasn't quite the right word to use. It'd have been better if I said "dislike." How exactly is her album out of place?

 

I agree with a lot of this.

 

You should give Anna Calvi a listen too.

 

Oh yay. :D

 

Yeah, I've heard quite a bit about her. I may check her out some time.

 

I don't get al the hype about her, that's why. She's not making something new or extremely awesome, I don't get why she gets so much attention, she's just another female singer.

 

I never understood why people make a big deal about whether it's new or not. I don't really care what it is, as long as it's aesthetically pleasing to my ears.

 

I like Adele because she puts so much of herself into her music, and it sounds that way from how she performs. A lot of her songs are about things that I personally can easily relate to, which makes it easier for me to enjoy her. I also have this attachment to things that sound (to me, anyway) soulful, and that's what I get from her. Adele is something that, while somewhat mainstream, I can enjoy.

 

I'm not saying you should change your opinion or anything. I'm just explaining my thought process the best I can. I have a great understanding that music is highly subjective, and while people might love certain things, others might highly dislike it or not quite understand where it's coming from.

 

I don't think I would really mind as long as it wasn't either PJ or Tinie Tempah.:smug:

 

Oh, God. Tinie Tempah. :sick: I tried listening to a song once. I couldn't finish it.

 

Good voice, catchy singles, somewhat interesting personality and success in the US.

 

Yep.

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Why is there so much Adele hate in this thread? :sad:

 

I have to agree with Lore on this. I just find her unbelievably dull. I'm sure to other people she is wonderful but to me she's just... Meh.

 

Re: Tinie Tempah, I think some of the tracks on his album are actually quite good and he's not bad live at all.

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I never understood why people make a big deal about whether it's new or not. I don't really care what it is, as long as it's aesthetically pleasing to my ears.

 

Couldn't agree more.:D

 

I like Adele because she puts so much of herself into her music, and it sounds that way from how she performs. A lot of her songs are about things that I personally can easily relate to, which makes it easier for me to enjoy her. I also have this attachment to things that sound (to me, anyway) soulful, and that's what I get from her. Adele is something that, while somewhat mainstream, I can enjoy.

 

Very well said indeed. She really sings from the heart, and is a bit of a throwback to the torchlight singers of old.:cool:

I'm a big soul fan, so she definitely appeals to me.

She sings with a lot of passion, whereas PJ Harvey's voice is just a monotonous drone................

 

Oh, God. Tinie Tempah. :sick: I tried listening to a song once. I couldn't finish it.

 

I'm not in the least surprised!:P

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I don't think PJ's tone necessarily means she doesn't sing from the heart. I mean, she probably sings that way for a reason. It just doesn't really appeal to me.

 

I wasn't suggesting she doesn't "sing from the heart". It's just that, with the depressing sound she makes, I can't tell, whereas with Adele it's very clear indeed.

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I don't get what you mean by describing her sound as "depressing." Adele's music is somewhat depressing (particularly in terms of her heartbreak tunes), and she can sound pretty melancholic at times. Granted, that's kinda what soul singers are supposed to sound like, to an extent. I don't see what would make PJ different from Adele in that aspect. At any rate, I don't really find PJ's tone "depressing," so much as, for lack of a better word, "scratchy."

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I never understood why people make a big deal about whether it's new or not. I don't really care what it is, as long as it's aesthetically pleasing to my ears.

 

I like Adele because she puts so much of herself into her music, and it sounds that way from how she performs. A lot of her songs are about things that I personally can easily relate to, which makes it easier for me to enjoy her. I also have this attachment to things that sound (to me, anyway) soulful, and that's what I get from her. Adele is something that, while somewhat mainstream, I can enjoy.

 

I'm not saying you should change your opinion or anything. I'm just explaining my thought process the best I can. I have a great understanding that music is highly subjective, and while people might love certain things, others might highly dislike it or not quite understand where it's coming from.

 

 

I completely agree with you about the subjective thing, It's just that for me she's no different than any other female singer and it gets boring after a few listens. But it's great if you can relate to her songs :kiss:

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I don't get what you mean by describing her sound as "depressing." Adele's music is somewhat depressing (particularly in terms of her heartbreak tunes), and she can sound pretty melancholic at times. Granted, that's kinda what soul singers are supposed to sound like, to an extent. I don't see what would make PJ different from Adele in that aspect. At any rate, I don't really find PJ's tone "depressing," so much as, for lack of a better word, "scratchy."

 

There's a big difference. Adele sings "melancholic" tunes at times, granted, but they still contain "highs", "lows" and hooks, and she seems to put a lot of herself into singing them. When I heard PJ Harvey sing live, she just left me totally "cold".

To me, her songs wouldn't have seemed out of place at a funeral. In fact, at times I felt I was actually at one.:dozey:

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