This years Mercury Prize was unveiled by Jools Holland at London’s prestigious Grosvenor House hotel to a packed audience of music industry executives. Sponsored by Barclays, (previously Nationwide), the prize has honoured the best album of the year by a British or Irish band since 1992.
The 12 acts nominated this year:
Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions
Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea
Dizzee Rascal – Tongue n' Cheek
Foals – Total Life Forever
I Am Kloot – Sky at Night
Kit Downes Trio – Golden
Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
Paul Weller – Wake Up the Nation
Villagers – Becoming a Jackal
Wild Beasts – Two Dancers
The xx – xx
Previous winners have included Elbow, Roni Size and Ms Dynamite. Paul Weller, Dizzee Rascal and Laura Marling were also in the running nominated for the second time respectively. It was The XX who scooped the prize wining £20,000. Their debut album XX received critical acclaim as 'the best album of the year' from Rolling Stone and NME. It bridges the gap between electro, punk and indie but very electronic based. Many critics have questioned whether The XX will increase their fans base and album sales or might end up being a poisoned challis similar to last year’s winner Speech Debelle who failed to receive chart success due to lack of distribution or recognition for her album Speech Therapy.
Listen again to my thoughts on The XX winning and who might scoop next year’s prize on Good Morning Wales on BBC Radio Wales.
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