After the furore surrounding the downward career trajectory of last year’s winner of the prize, the Mercury Music Prize seem to have played it safe with the shortlist for 2010. The list comprises almost entirely of well-known acts, bar a few, possibly; Kit Downes Trio and surprise nominees I Am Kloot.
Favourites from bookmakers William Hill include the nominees The XX (pictured) at 4/1 with their self-titled debut, and grime kid Dizzee Rascal with his album “Tongue-’n’Cheek.” Other nominees include Wild Beasts, folk singer-songwriter Laura Marling and Paul Weller features on the list for the first time with “Wake Up the Nation.”
Mumford & Sons have also been nominated by the prize’s jury, alongside Corrine Bailey Rae with her more mature sound on “The Sea”, released early in the year. Welsh emo-popsters Biffy Clyro and indie band Foals also made the cut to compete for the £20,000 prize.
Biffy Clyro – “Only Revolutions”
Corinne Bailey Rae – “The Sea”
Dizzee Rascal – “Tongue N’ Cheek”
Kit Downes Trio – “Golden”
Foals – “Total Life Forever”
I Am Kloot – “Sky At Night”
Laura Marling – “I Speak Because I Can”
Mumford And Sons – “Sigh No More”
Paul Weller – “Wake Up The Nation”
Villagers – “Becoming A Jackal”
Wild Beasts – “Two Dancers”
The XX – “XX”
mercuryprize.com
