If music needed saving, I'd die for it

[venta]

Earlier this week, the nominations for the Mercury Music Prize were announced. I know people grumble about the prize, about how the entrance fee freezes out small bands, and so on but if nothing else the nominees do provide a cross section of decent albums from the recent year.

Browing the nominations is interesting, but what's much better is that the NME have provided a handy page where you can listen to all the nominated artists:

Listen!

For some artists it's just links to videos, but for others you can stream the entire album.

Thus far I have been:

• blown away by PJ Harvey


• unexpectedly impressed by Tinie Tempah


• underwhelmed by Ghostpoet


• oblivious to Metronomy


• currently deciding about Everything Everything

Get your bets in now :)

What should have been on the list that wasn't? What's your best album from a British band in the past twelve months? (I'm not entirely sure how the Mercury panel define "of the year", I'm decreeing that it means July 2010 - June 2011.)

I'm considering adding Into the Murky Water by The Leisure Society and Drown Your Heart Again by The Strange Death of Liberal England.

Comments

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

I didn't really get into the PJ Harvey one - should probably listen to it more. Am enjoying the new Horrors album but I guess that's too recent - will have to check what else I've been listening to that's British...

[venta.livejournal.com]

I liked the last Horrors album, but haven't heard the new one. In fact, the last one is (in my head!) sufficiently recent that I'm vaguely surprised they've extruded another already.

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

Research suggests:
Smoke Fairies - Through Low Light And Trees (Haunting, folky, redolent of Fairport Convention/Fleetwood Mac back when they were good. The title is a good fit.)
Dutch Uncles - Cadenza (Clever and mathsy and referencing Steve Reich but with CATCHY POP TUNES)
Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will (A Mogwai album)

[venta.livejournal.com]

Well, I've heard of Mogwai. But that's about where my knowledge ends. Will investigate :)

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

If you're still at the investigation stage I'd start with one of their earlier ones - Young Team if you're feeling energetic or Come On Die Young for a more considered statement of intent.