Swindon Music

It might seem a bit off topic to come on here and talk about music but what did people think to the Mercury prize winners this year. XX pick one up, no prize for Laura Marling AGAIN!...discuss.

Music? on a music forum?

Blimey, who'd have thought it

Some good albums nominated for this year's Mercury Music Awards (Foals, I Am Kloot, The Xx, Villagers, Wild Beasts, Mumford and Sons) some very overrated albums (Dizzee Rascal, Shitty Clyro) and some albums I know very little or in some cases nothing about (Kit Downs Trio, Laura Marling, Paul Weller, Corrine Bailey Ray).

It was pretty obvious The Xx were going to win it and fair enough, I would've liked to have seen I Am Kloot win it but that's just my opinion, I'm just relieved that Clyro or Dizzee didn't win it as I find both acts vastly overrated.

Several albums released over the past 12 months that I felt could've more than held their own in that final list of nominees as well (from the likes of the F**k Buttons, The Fall, These New Puritans, Stornoway, Field Music, Pulled Apart By Horses, The Cribs) but it's just a competition and hopefully what it will do is raise the profile of the likes of I Am Kloot, Laura Marling, Wild Beasts and help them.

I would still question the validity of a prize that was once awarded to M People (way back in 1994, they were terrible times)

I've never heard of "the Xx". Award ceremonies for musicians are not something I could say I follow either.

How is the winner chosen? Is there a panel or a voting system?

It's decided by a panel of judges

The Xx are 3 (formerly 4) grumpy 20-somethings from London, their album is pretty good, skeletal guitar lines, programmed drums, basslines half inched from The Cure, boy/girl vocals.

I wonder how long before XL Recordings cynically reissue the album adding to it the bands (admittedly rather good) cover version of Womack and Womack's "Teardrops"?

Be glad you haven't heard of them.

Awful choice, awful shortlist and really begs the question of the existence of the prize in the internet era.

Its the NME awards that thinks its cleverer than it is.

Swindon Music award?

Theres a fun way of getting more people to show an interest.

See if you can get local music shops to sponsor it... Or Nationwide.

The XX aren't bad, but of that shortlist I'd have given it to I Am Kloot or Wild Beasts.

I've always thought this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI2eO_mNM88&feature=channel

...is just this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybe0LURTW3A&ob=av2n

...minus the epic.

ha ha, I'd never noticed that before

I took a chance with XX a while back and I must say that it wasn't an instant success with me. However, it has grown immensely on me and now I can't stop listening to it. I love the minimal sound and lack of layers and the two voices compliment one another beautifully. Derserved winners in my humble opinion.

There has been some excellent music around these past 12 months. Thought Stornaway, Interpol, Los Campesinos, etc might have been included.

Very difficult choosing 12 bands/artistes and they aren't going to please everyone. On a positive note, at least The Mercury Award is inclusive to ALL genres

Interpol are American, my friend. The Mercury Prize is for artistes from the UK & Ireland only.

This is the very reason I have no time for these awards. I agree that it is beneficial to have an eclectic mix of nominees but I struggle to understand the concept of bands from all genres all vying for the same award. As I say, I could be wrong to assume that but it is just my opinion.

In other news I have been listening to the Kit Downes Trio for a couple of weeks now and can honestly say that if it were to come down to pure musicianship, these guys would win hands down. Its a great album and one that I would wholely recommend. Not for everyones taste but a solid collection of mad jazz pieces.

The token jazz band has and never will win it and most areas of electronica are ignored, so is metal and various others.

Good spot with the Glasvegas similarity Valjester.

I like the Xx album but find it difficult to love. I would have given it to Weller, not just to 'do a Scorcese' and reward him for still being around but because its genuinely fresh and interesting. Laura Marling made a good album and she has a terrifying amount of talent for someone so young but its not a patch on the first effort and much as I love I Am Kloot, I'm yet to give their new one my full attention. The rest I couldnt give a toss about although I'm told Wild Beasts are worth a listen.

Yeah Wild Beasts would probably have been a good shout. A bit like Grizzly Bear with falsetto vocals.