Sub.tv Musicis a website for people who are into new music. It's a place to discover new music, bands and events in your local area and nation wide with reviews, blogs, photography, interviews, discussion and more, all about your music scene.
The Mercury Prize is awarded for the best album from the UK or Ireland. As the range of artists up for the award is so diverse, it is incredibly difficult to judge. Former winners include; Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys, Antony and the Johnsons and PJ Harvey. Nominated artists usually see their album sales increase and the winner receives 20,000 pounds.
The list as always causes music debates around the country, which is also the one of its aims. The Mercury Prize was originally set up as a sort of antidote to the Brits and intended to broaden people's musical tastes and draw attention to lesser known acts (....and boost album sales).
So the nominations are:
Adele - 19
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
Burial - Untrue
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Estelle - Shine
Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim
Neon Neon - Stainless Style
Portico Quartet - Knee-deep in the North Sea
Rachel Unthank and the Winterset - The Bairns
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement
It goes without saying that this list will not please everyone and I think that it is worth pointing out a few noticeable absentees. MIA, Portishead, Hot Chip and Foals are all no shows.
So how do you decide which album is the best? Must it be the most pleasant to listen too? or, most interesting? The idea of the prize is that it is awarded to the most innovative and ground breaking musician(s) as the prize marks music moving forward.
This vision may lead you to question some of the nominees; for me, in particular, Adele, The Last Shadow Puppets, Estelle. Saying that, I am thankful to see that there has been no nomination of; Kate Nash, Ting Tings or The Pigeon Detectives.
The claim that the Mercury Prize 'focuses on the music on the album, it does not take into account album sales, media exposure or live performances', almost becomes laughable when you are looking at the list. If this claim is true then why would Adele have been listed? Her voice is good, and a couple of her songs have been well received but I think that most people would agree, her album does not match the hype that surrounded it upon its release.
The Mercury prize is always criticized for a number of different reasons. Looking at past lists there appears to be a trend in categories; there seems to always be a 'token' pop, urban, indie, folk, jazz, world, etc, act. It does give the impression that the panel needs to 'tick boxes'. This makes the award less credible because it becomes commercial, which is the exact opposite of what it is meant to be.
So how the hell do you choose a winner? I think the award has just made it too hard for itself. It's almost a pointless debate. The award is daft and I believe it to be an impossible task to compare such diverse genres of music and choose the best. The only real good thing about this award is that it introduces acts to people that they may not have heard of and helps the artist on a path to bigger success.
Does anyone even really care who wins? I mean it's judged by a load of journalists and music critics and we have enough of their opinions shoved down our throats all the rest of the year anyway. The award just stinks of press and money. It's pompous and fake.
But it does stir up music disputes and gets people passionate about the music they like. It encourages musical evolution and it reflects the zeitgeist of our time.
It's very hard to say whether this award should be taken as seriously as it is or not but one thing is for sure; I'm a sucker for it. I'm going to watch the awards and I will definitely find myself caught in debate about who would be a worthy winner.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Nationwide Mercury Prize Nominations 2008
- New Music - Bands Heading For The Big Time
- London Calling – a Brief History of the Capital’s Musical Heritage
- Coldplay Tickets
- Les Enfants Magnifique: A Look At Some Of The Most Influential Young Artists Of Recent Times
- ‘10 Bands you MUST listen to in 2009’
- Vedic Astrology Xxvii
- GENERAL KNOWLEDGE Pt. II




Michael Jackson you will be missed
By: Luis Pezzini | 05/07/2009If you’re like me, after you got over the initial shock and had to pull yourself away from all the overwhelming news stories, you pulled out your Michael Jackson music, the solo stuff and the group stuff, the songs he did with others such as “We Are The World” and “State Of Shock” with Mick Jagger and “Scream” with his sister Janet, and we listened
Supporting your child in their musical education
By: May Smith | 05/07/2009Putting your child in musical education requires your involvement as parents. It does not mean that when you put your children in music schools, you’ll just leave them on their own. Your personal involvement will be a lot of help for your child’s personal development.
Things to consider when having piano lessons
By: May Smith | 05/07/2009If you decide to enroll in piano lessons, you need to find a qualified piano teacher to help you develop and improve your skills. There are some considerations that you need to know for you to find a piano teacher that is right for you.
Broadway Musical Wicked
By: Sara J | 05/07/2009Tony Award-winning Broadway and West End musical Wicked is an excited adaptation of the best-selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire and a parallel novel of L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz.
The Greatest Rock Guitarist - Who Is He?
By: Ricky Sharples | 04/07/2009Rock guitarists have been around in their present guise since the sixties, so is there really any one in particular who deserves the title of the greatest rock guitarist? The criteria for the title have changed over the years since loudness and speed were the king and queen of rock guitar.
Playing Lead Guitar - The First Steps
By: Ricky Sharples | 04/07/2009This article will help you start off in playing lead guitar. We discuss some of the ways you can move from playing chords as a rhythm guitarist to playing lead guitar solos.
Learn Guitar Slowly To Speed Things Up
By: Ricky Sharples | 04/07/2009If you want to learn guitar you first need to learn how to learn. That's not just an empty new age phrase, you really do need to understand how your body learns, and how to cooperate with it. This article gives you some tips.
Blues Guitar Lessons Online
By: Ricky Sharples | 04/07/2009Blues guitar lessons are no longer given by amateur guitarists making a little extra money teaching the guitar. These days if you learn to play blues guitar you will also learn how to hold your guitar during long hours of practice, how to read guitar tab and much more.
Settling Into University - Moving Into Halls and Enrolment
By: Peter Miles | 22/08/2008 | College & UniversityAdvice for students who are leaving home and going to university. Information and tips on moving into halls, making friends, enrolment and registration.
Clearing - No Time To Slouch!
By: Peter Miles | 20/08/2008 | EducationHow to use clearing to get on to a course at university if you don't achieve the grades for your first choices. Useful, detailed advice and help.
New Music - Bands Heading For The Big Time
By: Peter Miles | 10/08/2008 | MusicIntroducing 5 of the most talented underground bands who are going to become your new favourite band by this time next year.
Student Accommodation - Where To Live Whilst At University
By: Peter Miles | 31/07/2008 | College & UniversityAn article on accommodation and housing solutions for students. Advice and information on living in university owned halls of residence, privately owned student accommodation, renting a house or flat and alternative options such as living at home or squatting.
Nationwide Mercury Prize Nominations 2008
By: Peter Miles | 24/07/2008 | MusicAn article looking at this years Mercury Prize Nominees. Is the shortlist right? Is the prize really that credible? Who should win?
Coping With Stress At University
By: Peter Miles | 01/07/2008 | Diseases & ConditionsUniversity years are the most exciting in lots of people's lives but there are new challenges to face and the stresses and pressures of these can lead many students to anxiety and depression. There is help available for students with emotional, financial and academic problems, this article gives advice on how to cope.
Surviving The Summer Music Festivals
By: Peter Miles | 13/06/2008 | MusicA guide and check list to surviving the summer music festivals. Advice on all the things you will need to take with you to make the experience fault free.