Panasonic Mercury Music Prize 2002: contenders for the shortlist?

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Next week, Tuesday the 30th July the Panasonic Mercury Music Prize Shortlist 2002 will be announced.

The eligibility to be considered for the Mercury Music Prize 2002 Shortlist, any Brit/Irish artist/ band that released an album between the first Monday of August 2001 and the end of July 2002 can enter for the competition.

I have developed a spin off webpage Panasonic Mercury Music Prize 2002 listing a potential 150 albums that are eligible to be considered for the prize/shortlist.

Two Main Questions:

What albums do you think the panel will select for the shortlist 12 for 2002 Mercury Music Prize: i.e the predictable choices? (Who can get the most predictions correct)

What deserves to make the shortlist 12 of the Panasonic Mercury Music Prize 2002? (your own personal opinion.. because many people moan at the choices made each year.)

Also this thread can be used to analyse the wider trends in British/ Irish music over the past year: What has been lacking? what are the emerging trends? What artists have been making interesting music etc? Anything I have missed out on?

Front Runners: Guessing What will make the Mercury Music 2002 shortlist

My 12 Predictions of what the Panel will decide on for the Shortlist

Boards of Canada - Geogaddi (Warp)
Cinematic Orchestra - Everyday (Ninja Tune)
Doves - The Last Broadcast (Heavenly)
Faultline - Your Love Means Everything (Blanco Y Negro)
New Order - Get Ready (London)
Playgroup - Playgroup (Source)
Pulp - We Love Life (Island)
Roots Manuva - Run Come Save Me (Big Dada)
The Streets - Original Pirate Material (Locked On/679)
X-Press 2 - Muzikizum (Skint)
1 Classical Album TBA
1 Folk Album TBA

[Things I have deliberately excluded: Beth Orton always seems to squeeze in, she has a new album to be released next week - to late though?. Also coffee table types Morcheeba having been picking up good press for their new album. So these two could be possible shortlisted, as good outside bets.

The Chemical Brothers had their last two albums in Mercury Music Prize shortlists, considering their new album did not advance on them - how can they be considered this time around?

It has been a very poor year for mainstream/ popular rock albums: all the trad types that offered nothing new: Starsailor, Vex Red, A, Hundred Reasons, Lost Prophets, Oasis, Haven, Electric Soft Parade, Cooper Temple Clause - none of them deserve to get anywhere near the shortlist. Possibly the only band that could sneak in is Idlewild but their style of songs rock is not my cup of tea - i find them boring]

12 Possibles: Could possibly sneak into the shortlist

Aphex Twin - Drukqs (Warp)
Craig Armstrong - As If to Nothing (Melankolic)
Chris Bowden - Slightly Askew (Ninja Tune)
Ben Christophers - Spoonface (V2)
Custom Blue - All Follow Everyone (Island)
FC Kahuna - Machine Says Yes (City Rockers)
Kosheen - Resist (Arista)
Lamb - What Sound (Mercury)
Layo & Bushwacka - Night Works (XL)
Mum & Dad - Mum & Dad (Twisted Nerve)
Luke Slater - Alright on Top (Mute)
Super_Collider - Raw Digits (Rise Robots Rise)

DJ Martian's Outsiders
25 albums that deserve attention but will probably be overlooked, or maybe not even entered into the competition in the first place - if any make it to the official Panasonic Mercury Music Prize Shortlist - I will be pleasantly surprised

Aereogramme - A Story in White (Chemikal Underground)
Jamie Anderson - Blue Music (Nrk)
Bola - Fyuti (Skam)
Calibre - Music Concrete (Creative Source)
Mr C - Change (End Recordings)
Decal - 404 Not Found (Planet mu)
Digital - Dubzilla (Function Records)
Eardrum - Side Effects (Leaf)
Fridge - Happiness (Text)
High Contrast - True Colours (Hospital Records)
Hood - Cold House (Domino)
Human League - Secrets (Papillon)
Milton Jackson - The Bionic Boy (Glasgow Underground) Scotland
King of Woolworths - Ming Star (Mantra Recordings)
Metamatics - From Death to Passwords Where You're A Paper Aeroplane (Hydrogen Dukebox)
Peter Murphy - Dust (Metropolis)
Norken - Spring Themes (Hydrogen Dukebox)
Radioactive Man - Radioactive Man (Rotters Golf Club)
Sand - Still Born Alive (Satellite)
ShelleyDevoto - Buzzkunst (Cooking Vinyl)
Spring Heel Jack - Masses (Thirsy Ear)
Spylab - This Utopia (Guidance)
Stakka & Skynet - Clockwork (Underfire)
Vibracathedral Orchestra - Dabbling with Gravity and Who you Are (VHF)
Charles Webster - Born on the 4th July (Peacefrog)

These are potential eligible candidates for the: Panasonic Mercury Music Prize 2002 Shortlist releases upto July 15th 2002

1. A Small Good Thing - Slim Westerns Vol II (Leaf)
2. AC Acoustics - O (Cooking Vinyl) Scotland
3. The Accidental Heroes - The Stars Of Destination (Infrared)
4. Jamie Anderson - Blue Music (Nrk)
5. Aereogramme - A Story in White (Chemikal Underground) Scotland
6. Dot Allison - We're Only Science (Mantra)
7. Amp - I' Amour Invisible (Space Age Recordings)
8. Anathema - A Fine Day to Exit (Music For Nations)
9. Aphex Twin - Drukqs (Warp)
10. Aqua Bassino - Beats n Bobs (F Communications)
11. Aphrodite - Aftershock (V2)
12. Craig Armstrong - As If to Nothing (Melankolic) Scotland
13. Ashbury - A Dream Indoors (Landscape)
14. At Jazz - Lab Results (Mantis)
15. Bad Company - Book of the Bad (Bad Company Recordings)
16. Bandulu - Redemption (Music Man)
17. Billy Mahonie - What Becomes Before (Southern Records)
18. The Black Dog - Unsavoury Products (Hydrogen Dukebox)
19. Black Faction - Internal Dissident Part 1 (Soleilmoon)
20. Boards of Canada - Geogaddi (Warp) Scotland
21. Bola - Fyuti (Skam)
22. David Bowie - Heathen (Columbia)
23. Chris Bowden - Slightly Askew (Ninja Tune)
24. Tim Bowness (No Man) & Phil Chilvers - California Norfolk (Burning Shed)
25. Danny Breaks - Vibrations (Droppin Science)
26. Brooks - You, Me & Us (Mantis Recordings)
27. Mr C - Change (End Recordings)
28. Calibre - Music Concrete (Creative Source) Northern Ireland
29. Capitol K - Island Row (XL) New Version
30. The Chemical Brothers - Come With Us (Virgin)
31. Ben Christophers - Spoonface (V2)
32. Cinematic Orchestra - Everyday (Ninja Tune)
33. Clinic - Walking With Thee (Domino)
34. Coldharbourstores - More Than the Other (Rocket Girl)
35. Edwyn Collins - Doctor Syntax (Setanta) Scotland
36. Ian Crause - Head Over Heels (Acuarela)
37. Crazy Penis - The Wicked is Music (Paper Recordings)
38. Crispy Ambulance - Scissorgun (Darla)
39. Cursor Miner - Explosive Piece Of Mind (lo Recordings)
40. Curve - Gift (Hip-o/Universal)
41. Custom Blue - All Follow Everyone (Island)
42. Daemien Frost - Corpus Daemo (Alpha Relish) Ireland
43. Decal - 404 Not Found (Planet mu) Ireland
44. Desert Hearts - Let Get Worse (Tugboat) Northern Ireland
45. Digital - Dubzilla (Function Records)
46. Dillinja & Lemon D - Big Bad Bass (Valve)
47. Dom & Roland - Back For The Future (Moving Shadow)
48. Doves - The Last Broadcast (Heavenly)
49. D Product - Process of One (Full Cycle)
50. Eardrum - Side Effects (Leaf)
51. Eon - Sum Of Parts (Longhaul)
52. Faultline - Your Love Means Everything (Blanco Y Negro)
53. FC Kahuna - Machine Says Yes (City Rockers)
54. Fila Brazillia - Jump Leads (23 Records)
55. Simon Fisher Turner - Riviera Faithful (Lowlands)
56. John Foxx & Louis Gordon - The Pleasure of Electricity (Metamatic)
57. Fridge - Happiness (Text)
58. Fred Frith - Accidental (Music For Dance) (ReR)
59. Fun>DA>Mental - There Shall be Love (Nation)
60. Godflesh - Hymns (Music for Nations)
61. Martin Grech - Open Heart Zoo (Island)
62. High Contrast - True Colours (Hospital Records)
63. Oliver Ho - Universal (Meta)
64. Hood - Cold House (Domino)
65. Howie B - Folk (Polydor)
66. Human League - Secrets (Papillon)
67. Icarus - Misfits (Unknown)
68. Ils - Soul Trader (Marine Parade)
69. Milton Jackson - The Bionic Boy (Glasgow Underground) Scotland
70. Philip Jeck - Stoke (Touch)
71. Jello - Voile (Peacefrog)
72. Jimpster - Domestic Science (Kudos)
73. July Skies - Dreaming Of Spires (Rocket Girl)
74. Kid Acne And Req One - Rap Traffic (Invisible Spies)
75. King of Woolworths - Ming Star (Mantra Recordings)
76. Kosheen - Resist (Arista)
77. Lamb - What Sound (Mercury)
78. Layo & Bushwacka - Night Works (XL)
79. Lefthand - Discovering Fire (3rd Stone/ Rayman)
80. Looper - Snare (Mute)
81. Los Planetos Del Agua - Too Many Bricks And Not Enough Sea (Antenna)
82. Magoo - Realist Week (Global Warming Records)
83. Meanwhile Back in Communist Russia - Indian Ink (Jitter)
84. Mesh - Who Watches Over Me? (Home Records)
85. Metamatics - From Death to Passwords Where You're A Paper Aeroplane (Hydrogen Dukebox)
86. Minotaur Shock - Chiff Chaffs And Willow Warblers (Melodic)
87. Mocky - In Mesopotamia (Mocky)
88. Mountain Men Anonymous - Mountain Men Anonymous (Cytherea) Wales
89. Mum & Dad - Mum & Dad (Twisted Nerve)
90. Peter Murphy - Dust (Metropolis)
91. My Dying Bride - The Dreadful Hour (Peaceville)
92. New Flesh - Understanding (Big Dada)
93. New Order - Get Ready (London)
94. Norken - Spring Themes (Hydrogen Dukebox)
95. Nurse With Wound - Man with the Woman Face (United Dairies)
96. Ian O'Brien - A History of Things to Come (Peacefrog)
97. Passion Play - Dreaming Spikes (Perimeter)
98. Percy X - Where's the Music (Soma) Scotland
99. Piano Magic - Writers Without Homes (4ad)
100. Playgroup - Playgroup (Source)
101. Posthuman - The Uncertainty of the Monkey (Seed)
102. Primordial - Storm Before Calm (Hammerheart) Ireland
103. Prophets of Sound - Circus (Ink)
104. Pulp - We Love Life (Island)
105. Quantic - Apricot Morning (Tru Thought Recordings)
106. Radioactive Man - Radioactive Man (Rotters Golf Club)
107. The Remote Viewer - Here I Go Again On My Own (City Centre Offices)
108. Justin Robertson - Presents Revtone (Nuphonic)
109. Roots Manuva - Run Come Save Me (Big Dada)
110. Rothko - A Continual Search For Origins (Too Pure)
111. Sand - Still Born Alive (Satellite)
112. Sandoz - Afrocentris (Intone)
113. Savoy Grand - Burn the Furniture (Glitterhouse)
114. ShelleyDevoto - Buzzkunst (Cooking Vinyl)
115. Si-cut.db - Enthusiast (Bip hop/Bleep)
116. Sierpinski - This Geography Of Ours (Jonathon Whiskey)
117. Si Futures - The Mission Statement (Mute)
118. Simple Minds - Cry (Eagle) Scotland
119. 16 Million Dollar Man (AKA Omid Nourizadeh) - The Which Equation (Under The Counter)
120. Six by Seven - The Way I Feel Today (Mantra)
121. Luke Slater - Alright on Top (Mute)
122. Smith & Mighty - Life Is (Studio K7)
123. Snowblind - Falls (Independiente)
124. Somatic Responses - Touching The Void (Hymen)Wales
125. Spring Heel Jack - Masses (Thirsy Ear)
126. Spylab - This Utopia (Guidance)
127. Stakka & Skynet - Clockwork (Underfire)
128. Statik Sound System - My Ooh-Zik (Remote)
129. The Streets - Original Pirate Material (Locked On/679)
130. Sunroof - Bliss (VHF)
131. Super_Collider - Raw Digits (Rise Robots Rise)
132. Suv - Desert Rose (Full Cycle)
133. System Vertigo - Suburbia Kills (Silent Poetry)
134. Techno Animal - The Brotherhood of the Bomb (Matador)
135. Thaw - Holy Cat (Elsewhen)
136. Tipper - Holding Pattern (Fuel)
137. Twelve Thousand Days - The Devil In The Grain (Tisol)
138. Twisted Anger - Mothership (Dread Recordings)
139. Vibracathedral Orchestra - Dabbling with Gravity and Who you Are (VHF)
140. VNV Nation - Futureperfect (Dependent records)
141. Volcano the Bear - Five Hundred Boy Piano (United Dairies)
142. Waterglass - Wisdom Like Silence (Watertight Recordings)
143. Wauvenfold - 3fold (Wichita)
144. Way Out West - Intensify (Instinctive)
145. Charles Webster - Born on the 4th July (Peacefrog)
146. Jah Wobble & Temple of Sound - Shout at the Devil (30 Hertz)
147. X-Press2 - Muzikizum (Skint)
148. Yellow 6 - lake:desert (Ochre Records)
149. Richard Youngs - May (Jagjaguwar) Scotland
150. Zabrinski - Yeti (Ankst musik) Wales

Notes:

Technics Mercury Music Prize 2001: contenders for the shortlist? if you want to check out last year's analysis.

The Capitol K album Island Row album was re-recorded - so will it be eligible this time round?.

The Stakka & Skynet album was delayed, and is definately eligible this time around.

Finally a band called Tompaulin who have a ILE/M/X-er in the ranks - released an album, the town and the city - but I bet those cardigan wearing sensitive indie-popsters did not pay the entrance fee - so they will not make the shortlist?, sorry Ktee - at least you got mention - and I see you have new single on the way ;)

DJ Martian, Thursday, 25 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Correct URL for Mercury Music Prize

DJ Martian, Thursday, 25 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Jesus hell.

Mark, Thursday, 25 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

He's always like this.

J Blount, Thursday, 25 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Eon - Sum Of Parts

Is this the same Eon that released the "Pocket Damage" 12"?

Siegbran Hetteson, Friday, 26 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

No different, this is the original Eon that released material on Vinyl Solution, over a decade ago: Eon

DJ Martian, Friday, 26 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

be nice to see the vibracathedrals on there or nurse with wound, in fact i have a soft spot for at least fifteen of those groups after a glance, quite a good selection in the 150

or... pulp should win again

but to be honest, i'm not that fussed, especially after the badly drawn boy/pj harvey FIASCO

my prediction to WIN = doves (i think they're that sort of band - don't ask me why that is though)

kieran, Friday, 26 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah Doves struck me as a natural favourite. Just "edgy" enough to appeal to the judges. But sod it all anyway - its of no use to me or my life. Wait a minute I got a copy of the MJ Cole off the back of this thing a few years back, but since then its been an irrelevance.

Winkelmann, Friday, 26 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Gotta be Doves to win, especially since the year they came second apparently there was a long long argument. Lovely if Playgroup or the Streets could edge it though. Who won last year? They really really are due a dance album, didn't they used to alternate every year (secretly)? Very good chance for even the Chems or someone I reckon, if politics do come into it.

Ronan, Friday, 26 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

PJ Harvey won lost year - remember it was announced the evening of Sept 11th - and the awards ceremony had a low key approach compared to previous years. Also I reckon as PJ Harvey's album was recorded in NYC - that it was the appropriate choice to win - which could have swayed the panel on the night.

The year before that badly drawn bore - won it.

So this year could be a dance winner, I expect The Streets could be popular choice as it is distinctive compared to other releases.

DJ Martian, Friday, 26 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Fourtet - Pause. was that within the year?

jk, Friday, 26 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Four Tet would have qualified for last year (released June 2001 in the UK), unfortunately it did not make the shortlist, instead the panel voted in crap such as Turin Brakes !

Releases must be from August 1st 2001 onwards to qualify this time around.

DJ Martian, Friday, 26 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Streets will surely win - you all seem to have not even considered 'Original pirate Material'!

, Friday, 26 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

yeah, streets will edge doves.

Bob Zemko, Friday, 26 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It's gotta be Crazy Penis...

bert, Saturday, 27 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I didn't know this forum was renamed I Love Corporate Marketing Exercise...

JoB, Saturday, 27 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Having eventually managed to scroll down to the answer box past the question (I did like J. Blount's "He's always like this")...

I reckon The Streets is favourite, but I think Roots Manuva has a real chance - it's a great album, and British hip hop would be a good area to win the prize, I think. Other contenders: X-Press 2, Doves. I think Boards Of Canada, New Order and Pulp will make it, and I think drum & bass has had maybe its best year ever for artist albums. I guess High Contrast's recent soulful album is favourite. That's eight - then there will be one each from jazz, folk and classical, which makes eleven. Was Adam F's album before the period? Or Zero 7? (Are they British?)

As for my choices, some of the same - Roots Manuva, New Order, Chems, Pulp, High Contrast, Stakka & Skynet, Dillinja & Lemon D, Adam F, without researching it seriously. But the whole thing feels false, the idea that British music is very distinct - I mean, do we count the Adam F album as British, really? He is, the rappers aren't, and it was recorded in America. And DJ Teebee made my favourite album in this period, and it's drum & bass, which is a very, very Brit form - but he's Norwegian.

Martin Skidmore, Saturday, 27 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I do rather like the idea of MBICR being up for this, if only cos them winning might enable me to go up to the music editors on t'uni paper and say "I was right - you were wrong - HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

Zero 7 were up for it last year - think they were among the favourites...

I'd guess it's up in the air between The Streets, Manuva and Kosheen, with Manuva probably getting it cos his album came out ages ago, and thus the panel can prove their non-commercial edge (there's just something about Rodney that leads me to believe that he won't quite be arsed with going out and promoting the thing all over again...) and sort of pretend they're spearheading some kind of UK hip-hop renaissance by following in the footsteps of the Independent on Sunday. Or something.

Mr Swygart, Saturday, 27 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Traditional rock albums have won it the last two years, so they'll be looking to redress the balance this year. I'd go for The streets to win, but if not, Roots Manuva. The Mercury Music nadir was in 1999, and since then they've made a bit of effort to boost their credibility. Some of their previous attempts to bestow a non-rock album with the award have been poor (Talvin Singh, M People, Roni Size), so they'll be looking to regain some face with a more credible winner this time out.

weasel diesel (K1l14n), Saturday, 27 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

is the mercury prize awarded to the most middle of the road band in great britain? they all look like contenders to me.

jack cole, Saturday, 27 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Announced Mercury Music Prize 20002

ROOTS MANUVA - Run Come Save Me

DOVES - The Last Broadcast

BEVERLEY KNIGHT - Who I Am

GEMMA HAYES - Night On My Side

THE STREETS - Original Pirate Material

THE CORAL - The Coral

JOANNA MACGREGOR - Play

ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE - Holes In The Wall

THE BEES - Sunshine Hit Me

GUY BARKER - Soundtrack

DAVID BOWIE - Heathen

MS. DYNAMITE - A Little Deeper

My analysis later in the day - this shortlist is very poor IMHO. The worst so far?

DJ Martian, Tuesday, 30 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

New ILM Thread to Discuss: the Mercury Music Prize Shortlist 2002

But carry on the conversation what should have been on the shortlist here !

DJ Martian, Tuesday, 30 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Streets are the most fucking awful band in Britain. If they win the Prize (which is, frankly, a prize for shit bands, but anyway) I will start setting fires, fires all over the place, I MEAN, FFS, IT'S JUST A FUCKING TWAT TALKING OVER A FUCKING CASIO KEYBOARD, IF THAT'S FUCKING MUSIC I'M LORD LUCAN!

Tinman, Wednesday, 31 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

IT'S JUST A FUCKING TWAT TALKING OVER A FUCKING CASIO KEYBOARD

No, that would be the Goat-Boy.

Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 31 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)


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