Alkaline Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 I've got most of the albums on that shortlist (I'm missing MIA and Polar Bear' date=' so I can't comment on them), and the Anthony record is one of the few that bears repeat listening. Maximo Park, Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Hard Fi and Magic Numbers all have good songs on them (well, maybe not Hard-Fi and the Magic Numbers:P) but they are all flawed pieces of work in that they follow the typical pop album format-the singles, a couple of live favourites, and some quite frankly poor filler tracks. The Anthony record is the most complete and fulfilling single piece of work on that shortlist. That's why it deserved to win.[/quote']In your opinion. I personally like the Bloc Party album, the others i agree with. But i don't think the Anthony record is the most 'complete' album on the list. To my ears it sounds like all filler, no killer.Are you sure you weren't judging the Mercury Music this year......(j/k) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
french_disko Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 You love it really Neil Also' date=' for the record i dislike Kaiser Chiefs with a passion. They grip my poop shoot. I hate their lyrics, though they do right catchy choruses and uptempo songs which explains why a lot of people with musically short attention spans would love 'em. [/quote']What, in your opinion, do you think should have won? Do you not like the A&tJ cd or do you think someone else was more deserving? There's been a few posts today that haven't really been objective - poeple just seem to dislike Antony rather than think that another artist was more deserving. Personally, I'm glad he won - and I had a sneaking suspiscion he was going to - as it's upset people a bit. Oh, and I'd love to hear someone's opinion on why the Kaiser Cheifs should have won - that would be pretty funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NARC Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 He won because he's not popular and it was a popular who one last year and they can't do that every year. And he's brilliant. I'd have been equally happy had Bloc Party or Maximo Park won.Spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowball Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 & this discussion/disagreement sorts the grown ups from children.........i'm surprided nobody has mentioned Antony's connection with the Velvet's& Current 93........oh sorry thats grown up talk isn't it!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NARC Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 You love it really Neil Also' date=' for the record i dislike Kaiser Chiefs with a passion. They grip my poop shoot. I hate their lyrics, though they do right catchy choruses and uptempo songs which explains why a lot of people with musically short attention spans would love 'em. [/quote']Musical attention spans - interesting point there. The Kaiser Chiefs are so popular because blockheads are too thick to remember that every song has the same chorus/buildup as the previous one. The man on the street is too busy scratching his arse and eating pork scratchings to notice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkaline Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 I wasn't...this year. One day' date=' though.It's my opinion, sure. But I think if you look at the judging panel you'll see it's made up of a mix of people from within the industry who are looking for something genuinely exciting and interesting that will stand the test of time. Anthony will probably be around for years to come, garnering critical acclaim and maintaining a loyal fanbase. Can you seriously imagine Hard Fi or Maximo Park doing the same?[/quote']Yeh, i totally agree with the last point, and thats great if they are judging on musical longevity. Though i'm sure thats not the case in this situation. I'm sure that as Larsen B said it was given to a less popular band this year as it was given to a popular band last year. So the Mercury folks wanted it to look like they were trying to reclaim some sort of musical credibility. As i said before i'd love to see how they decided who won. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NARC Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 To be fair, it's an award for one year's (or one album's) work, so the fact that Maximo Park etc may not stand the test of time has no relevance methinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
french_disko Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 Just to add to the "debate" and to put A&tJ's win into context, here's a list of every album nominateed for the Mercury Music Prize with the winner's indicated - 2004Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand WINNER Basement Jaxx - Kish Kash Belle And Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress Jamelia - Thank You Keane - Hopes And Fears Snow Patrol - Final Straw Joss Stone - The Soul Sessions The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free Ty - Upwards Amy Winehouse - Frank Robert Wyatt - Cuckooland The Zutons - Who Killed the Zutons 2003 Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner WINNER Athlete - Vehicles and Animals Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head The Darkness - Permission to Land Floetry - Floetic Lemon Jelly - Lost Horizons Radiohead - Hail To The Thief The Thrills - So Much For The City Martina Topley-Bird - Quixotic Terri Walker - Untitled 2002 Ms. Dynamite - A Little Deeper WINNER Guy Barker - Soundtrack The Bees - Sunshine Hit Me David Bowie - Heathen The Coral - The Coral Doves - The Last Broadcast Electric Soft Parade - Holes In The Wall Gemma Hayes - Night On My Side Beverley Knight - Who I Am Joanna MacGregor - Play Roots Manuva - Run Come Save Me The Streets - Original Pirate Material 2001 PJ Harvey - Songs From The City, Stories From The Sea WINNER Basement Jaxx - Rooty Elbow - Asleep At The Back Goldfrapp - Felt Mountain Gorillaz - Gorillaz Ed Harcourt - Here Be Monsters Tom Mcrae - Tom Mcrae Radiohead - Amnesiac Shusheela Ramen - Salt Rain Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World Turin Brakes - The Optimist LP Zero 7 - Simple Things 2000 Badly Drawn Boy - The Hour Of Bewilderbeast WINNER Richard Ashcroft - Alone With Everybody Coldplay - Parachutes M.J. Cole - Sincere Death In Vegas - The Contino Sessions The Delgados - The Great Eastern Doves - Lost Souls Helicopter Girl - How To Steal The World Leftfield - Rhythm And Stealth Nicholas Maw - Violin Concerto Nitin Sawhney - Beyond Skin Kathryn Williams - Little Black Numbers 1999 Talvin Singh - OK WINNER Thomas Ads - Asyla Denys Baptiste - Be Where You Are Blur - 13 Black Star Liner - Bengali Bantam Youth Experience Chemical Brothers - Surrender Faithless - Sunday 8pm Manic Street Preachers - This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours Beth Orton - Central Reservation Kate Rusby - Sleepless Stereophonics - Performance and Cocktails Underworld - Beacoup Fish 1998 Gomez - Bring It On WINNER Asian Dub Foundation - Rafi's Revenge Eliza Carthy - Red Rice Catatonia - International Velvet Cornershop - When I Was Born For The 7th Time 4-Hero - Two Pages Massive Attack - Mezzanine Propellerheads - Decksandrumsandrockandroll Pulp - This Is Hardcore John Surman - Proverbs & Songs The Verve - Urban Hymns Robbie Williams - Life Thru A Lens 1997 Roni Size/Reprazent - New Forms WINNER The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole Mark-Anthony - Turnage Your Rockaby Beth Orton - Trailer Park Primal Scream - Vanishing Point The Prodigy - The Fat Of The Land Radiohead - OK Computer The Spice Girls - Spice Suede - Coming Up John Taverner - Svyati1996 Pulp - Different Class WINNER Artists for War Child - Help Black Grape - It's Great When You're Straight Fire / Caroline - Mathilde Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go Peter Maxwell Davies/The BBC Philharmonic - The Beltane Mark Morrison - Return of the Mack Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory? Courtney Pine - Modern Day Jazz Stories Norma Waterson - Norma Waterson Underworld - Second Toughest In The Infants 1995 Portishead - Dummy WINNER Guy Barker - Into The Blue Elastica - Elastica PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love Leftfield - Leftism James MacMillan - Seven Last Words From The Cross Van Morrison - Days Like This Oasis - Definitely Maybe Supergrass - I Should Coco Tricky - Maxinquaye 1994 M People - Elegant Slumming WINNER Blur - Parklife Ian McNabb - Head Like A Rock Shara Nelson - What Silence Knows Michael Nyman - The Piano Concerto and MGV The Prodigy - Music For The Jilted Generation Pulp - His 'n' Hers Take That - Everything Changes Therapy? - Troublegum Paul Weller - Wild Wood 1993 Suede - Suede WINNER Apache Indian - No Reservations The Auteurs - New Wave Gavin Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet Dina Carroll - So Close P.J. Harvey - Rid Of Me New Order - Republic Stereo MC's - Connected Sting - Ten Summoner's Tales Stan Tracey - Portraits Plus 1992 Primal Scream - Screamadelica WINNERBarry Adamson - Soul Murder Jesus & Mary Chain - Honey's Dead Bheki Mseleku - Celebration St Etienne - Foxbase Alpha Simply Red - Stars John Taverner & Steven Isserlis - The Protecting Veil U2 - Achtung Baby Jah Wobble - Rising Above Bedlam The Young Disciples - Road To Freedom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
french_disko Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 Just re-reading that, I'd like to ask - how the fuck did Sting get in there????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lepeep Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 Spot on.apart from all the grammatical errors ( ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lepeep Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 Just re-reading that' date=' I'd like to ask - how the fuck did Sting get in there?????????[/quote']and M people...if ever there was a flesh seeking missile, laced with flesh eating nocrotising faciutus (sp?) to be tested on a band...I'd nominate M people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NARC Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 I think it's definitely a consideration for the judging panel' date=' although, you're right, it's not the main criterion. To maintain the credibility of the prize, however, they must ensure that the records they choose as winners stand the test of time.[/quote']You're right about the credibility, but after reading the list posted by French Disko, most of those winners have not stood the test of time. M People anyone? To me, I certainly wouldn't cry myself to sleep if I lost the Mercury Music Prize, I personally don't think it's very illustrious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkaline Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 You're right about the credibility' date=' but after reading the list posted by French Disko, most of those winners have not stood the test of time. M People anyone? To me, I certainly wouldn't cry myself to sleep if I lost the Mercury Music Prize, I personally don't think it's very illustrious.[/quote']Agreed. I don't fancy most of the 'prizes' these days, even getting to number 1 is a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NARC Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 I sure don't fancy Genevieve's chances against a computerised frog... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
french_disko Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 You're right about the credibility' date=' but after reading the list posted by French Disko, most of those winners have not stood the test of time. M People anyone? To me, I certainly wouldn't cry myself to sleep if I lost the Mercury Music Prize, I personally don't think it's very illustrious.[/quote']I think one of the issues that the MMP suffers with is it's eclectic nature - to nominate disparate musical artists of very different genres actually creates a very difficult task in the judging. How do you measure the winner in a group that could, potentially, include Metal, Jazz, Pop, indie, etc, etc in it's midst? They've almost created a rod for their own back in trying to be so all encompassing in their shortlist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen B Posted September 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 You're right about the credibility' date=' but after reading the list posted by French Disko, most of those winners have not stood the test of time. M People anyone? To me, I certainly wouldn't cry myself to sleep if I lost the Mercury Music Prize, I personally don't think it's very illustrious.[/quote']I think M People lasted a reasonably decent length of time as a successful (but shit) band, lasting forever isn't the mark of a great band, take the the Rolling Stones for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen B Posted September 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 Some great bands last five years' date=' some last two. The Stones are one of the very few truly great bands to have survived for over forty. It really depends on the personalities involved and their willingness to continue to perform and create music.[/quote']So you agree with me??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
french_disko Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 Some great bands last five years' date=' some last two. The Stones are one of the very few truly great bands to have survived for over forty. It really depends on the personalities involved and their willingness to continue to perform and create music.[/quote']Are the Stones still creating music though? Discounting the latest CD they've just been performing as a greatest hits touring act in the past decade or more. Interesting Comment by John Harris here - http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/harris/story/0,,1528492,00.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkaline Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 I've lost all interest in the Mercury Award because i have just learnt that 7 Angels 7 Plagues have reformed. I am in a state of euphoria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen B Posted September 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 I think so' date=' if you're agreeing that the Rolling Stones are a truly great band...[/quote']I am...not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betamax Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 Minimal critical acclaim? Every review I read for "I Am A Bird Now" (Mojo' date=' Q, Uncut, Word, NME, Guardian, Times, drowned in sound) more or less stated that it was one of the albums of the year. And they're hardly unknown in musical circles, there's been a significant buzz about them since the album came out. And rightly so too.I've got most of the albums on that shortlist (I'm missing MIA and Polar Bear, so I can't comment on them), and the Anthony record is one of the few that bears repeat listening. Maximo Park, Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Hard Fi and Magic Numbers all have good songs on them (well, maybe not Hard-Fi and the Magic Numbers:P) but they are all flawed pieces of work in that they follow the typical pop album format-the singles, a couple of live favourites, and some quite frankly poor filler tracks. The Anthony record is the most complete and fulfilling single piece of work on that shortlist. That's why it deserved to win.[/quote']thats what I woulda said if could be bothered (but with pointless swearing)good post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NARC Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 I think one of the issues that the MMP suffers with is it's eclectic nature - to nominate disparate musical artists of very different genres actually creates a very difficult task in the judging. How do you measure the winner in a group that could' date=' potentially, include Metal, Jazz, Pop, indie, etc, etc in it's midst? They've almost created a rod for their own back in trying to be so all encompassing in their shortlist.[/quote']You give it to Dizee Rascal one year, and Franz the next Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cynic Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 I avoided the Antony & the Johnsons album after it caused a minor argument on here a while ago, but got it out of the library last month, and enjoyed it a lot....great to see it beat all that vacuous MTV-fodder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMike! Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 agree with your statements about being narrow minded n stuff but i don't class people as british just because they were born their' date=' it maybe says it on your passport but your nationality should be where you were brought up, if i was born in some other country but i was taken back here and spent my whole life here then i wouldnt turn round and say i was american or whatever[/quote']Re: the nationality debate.Antony may have grown up outside the uk but was born here (and possibly holds a british passport?) so qualified through a musical equivalent of the "granny rule" in football. At the same time, i'm pretty sure that M.I.A. was actually born in Sri Lanka, but moved here as a child and was still nominated, so who knows what the criteria were. As far as i'm concerned, "I Am A Bird Now" is a lovely record, and i'm glad its win has set the cat among the pigeons. It's better than the shitey Kaiser Chiefs winning. I'm sure they'll get their day at the Brits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen B Posted September 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 I avoided the Antony & the Johnsons album after it caused a minor argument on here a while ago' date=' but got it out of the library last month, and enjoyed it a lot....great to see it beat all that vacuous MTV-fodder.[/quote']MTV doesn't play music silly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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