2010 Barclaycard Mercury Prize Nominees

On July 20, The Barclaycard Mercury Shortlist was announced.  According to the Mercury website, “The Barclaycard Mercury Prize exists solely to champion music in the UK, mainly through the ‘Albums of the Year’ competition, which celebrates recorded music of all genres by British or Irish artists.”  The great thing about this award is that it’s not a popularity contest.  In fact, you probably haven’t heard of many of the previous nominees and winners; in 2009 rapper Speech Debelle took the prize beating out Bat for Lashes and Friendly Fires among others.

The 12 2010 nominees for Album of the Year are listed below.  The winner will be announced on Tuesday, September 7.  We predict that Mumford & Sons will walk away with the award.

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