In some circles at least the Mercury Music Prize and the artists that are nominated represent the best in musical output from this country of fine musical heritage…and this year it has to be said whatever your musical tipple - there was range and quality when one considers the list as a whole:
Sweet Billy Pilgrim
Led Bib
The Invisible
….Oh and yeah… Speech Debelle…a mere outsider if you check out the web pages of most musical commentators pre-event. We’re sure “they” will all claim to have secretly supported this artist by the morning though.
Tips for Florence or Bat for Lashes were wrong.
Speech Debelle was right, well for the panel of judges that make the all important decision.
But not for GYEO.
There is nothing offensive about Speech’s tracks or the fine musicianship supporting her raps of inner city woes and facebook and texting and shit like dat. No it’s not bad at all to be honest BUT is this really the most compelling piece of UK music of 2009…we’re not sure about that.
In fact, more than that, we just fail to see what is so compelling about this album - how did it win?
That said… at least that bontempi organ sound of 1980’s b-sides so adored by those trendies (2 years ago of course!!!) didn’t get the plaudits as that would have been time to get La Valium out and La Velvet Underground on La ipod!
Let us know what you think? And bear in mind the aims of the Mercury Music Awards before answering that one.
GYEO