
As always around this time of the year, talk turns to who will be the likeliest contender for the 2009 Mercury Music Prize. After Elbow’s win last year capped off an amazing rise in the bands profile, talk of the fabled “Mercury Curse” has somewhat died down – Dizzee Rascal, Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand have all continued to release rapturously received albums after winning the prize in recent years.
This year sees the inclusion of several female artists who have all been subject to varying levels of hype in the past twelve months, from NME darlings La Roux and Florence and the Machine to blogosphere favourite Bat For Lashes. The list also sees the, somewhat surprising, inclusion of popular acts such as Glasvegas and Kasabian. The award is often criticised for ignoring populist tastes; a critique that simply cannot be aimed at this years shortlist.

As always there are cases for each candidate. Friendly Fires have shaken free their early Nu-Rave copyists tag and released a great collection of songs. The Horrors have made one of the most surprising albums of the year; surely the Shoegaze revival sounds of ‘Primary Colours’ deserves the accolade? Then again, the outsider can sometimes steal it. Will Sweet Billy Pilgrim surprise us all? The list is already causing debate around the Shazam music team. Who is your money on?
Bat For Lashes – ‘Two Suns’
Florence And The Machine – ‘Lungs’
Friendly Fires – ‘Friendly Fires’
Glasvegas – ‘Glasvegas’
The Horrors – ‘Primary Colours’
La Roux – ‘La Roux’
Led Bib – ‘Sensible Shoes’
The Invisible – ‘The Invisible’
Lisa Hannigan – ‘Sea Sew’
Kasabian – ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’
Speech Debelle – ‘Speech Therapy’
Sweet Billy Pilgrim – ‘Twice Born Men’
Who should win The 2009 Mercury Prize?
- FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE-Lungs (15%, 5 Votes)
- SWEET BILLY PILGRIM-Twice Born Man (15%, 5 Votes)
- THE HORRORS-Primary Colours (15%, 5 Votes)
- LA ROUX-La Roux (12%, 4 Votes)
- LED BIB-Sensible Shoes (12%, 4 Votes)
- KASABIAN-West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (9%, 3 Votes)
- BAT FOR LASHES-Two Suns (6%, 2 Votes)
- GLASVEGAS-Glasvegas (6%, 2 Votes)
- LISA HANNIGAN-Sea Sew (3%, 1 Votes)
- FRIENDLY FIRES-Friendly Fires (3%, 1 Votes)
- SPEECH DEBELLE-Speech DeBelle (3%, 1 Votes)
- THE INVISIBLE-The Invisible (1%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 33

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Jon Davies News Bat For Lashes, Florence And The Machine, Friendly Fires, Glasvegas, Kasabian, La Roux, Led Bib, Lisa Hannigan, Mercury Music Prize, Speech Debelle, Sweet Billy Pilgrim, The Horrors, The Invisible