23/07/2008
The 12 albums shortlisted for the 2008 Nationwide Mercury Music Prize have been announced.
Celebrating the best of British music over the last year, the nominees were chosen from a list of over 240 albums by UK artists and was announced by Lauren Laverne at Covent Garden's Hospital Club for the creative industries, yesterday (July 22).
Stalwarts of the UK's alternative scene, Radiohead, were commended in the eclectic shortlist for their latest download release, In Rainbows, while soul-jazz darling, Adele, who won the Critic's Award at last year's Brits is equally elevated for her debut, 19. Meanwhile anonymous dubstep pioneer, Burial , made the mark with his sophomore album, Untrue.
The albums chosen are picked for the value of their music alone and the list does not take into account album sales, media exposure or live performances. Representing the more diverse end of the Prize nominations are the sisterly band, Rachel Unthank & The Winterset, whose album, The Bairns, takes inspiration from their family's tradition of sea and border songs. Formed in 2005, Portico Quartet also make the bill with their unusual jazz sound on Knee-Deep In The North Sea and give hope to many young musicians out there after they were discovered and signed to The Vortex label in 2007 by busking regularly outside the National Theatre in London.
The remaining nominees are British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music, Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid, Estelle - Shine, Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim, Neon Neon - Stainless Style, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand, and The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of Understatement.
Speaking about the talent of this year's competition for the panel of judges, Simon Frith commented: "This turns out to be a remarkably rich year for British music.
"What is most striking is the continued resilience and flexibility of the album as a way of organising music-making. It remains an unrivalled source of musical invention and imagination, a way of linking songs, exploring themes and developing sounds that is endlessly thrilling, surprising and worth celebration."
Musicians and fans alike will now be watching closely until the winner is announced, live on 9 September, as part of BBC2's coverage of the awards. A second programme on BBC Two will be broadcast on Friday 12 September. Last years winners were Klaxons with their debut album, Myths Of The Near Future.
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