The Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2014 nominees include Damon Albarn, FKA Twigs and Kate Tempest.
So, here they are, this year’s 12 nominees vying for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2014 album of the year title.
In case you were wondering, we garnered a respectable six in the Getintothis Predictometer.
Damon Albarn: Everyday Robots
Bombay Bicycle Club: So Long, See You Tomorrow
Anna Calvi: One Breath
East India Youth: Total Strife Forever
FKA Twigs: LP1
Jungle: Jungle
Nick Mulvey: First Mind
GoGo Penguin: v2.0
Polar Bear: In Each and Every One
Royal Blood: Royal Blood
Kate Tempest: Everybody Down
Young Fathers: Dead
So, what do we make of all that?
a) It’s a definitively ‘Mercury’ list with the only genuine curve balls being Royal Blood (a rare ‘rock’ inclusion) and GoGo Penguin (who?).
b) However, it’s good to see seven debut records making the cut. Especially a couple of our favourites – East India Youth, FKA Twigs and Young Fathers.
c) Calvi and Polar Bear (the token jazz act returns – pft!) are the only previous nominees.
d) Albarn has already been installed as favourite – and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him scoop the prize what with Blur never scooping the prize.
e) The judges really don’t like Wild Beasts as they’ve failed to make the cut again.
f) 220 albums were entered this year.
g) We’re rooting for East India Youth. Yep.
The winner will be announced on Wednesday October 29.