The Mercury Prize 2009

Established back in 1992 as a high-brow alternative to the Brit awards, the Mercury Music Prize (as it was then known) has recently morphed into the Barclaycard Mercury Prize. Priding itself on its outsider status, the annual shortlist was announced just last week and the following are this year's nominees.

Glasvegas “Glasvegas” (Sony BMG)
Bat For Lashes “Two Suns” (EMI)
Lisa Hannigan “Sea Sew” (Absolute/Hoop)
The Horrors “Primary Colours” (XL)
Kasabian “West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum” (Sony Music)
Led Bib “Sensible Shoes” (Cuneiform)
The Invisible “The Invisible” (Titan/Pyramid)
La Roux “La Roux” (Polydor)
Friendly Fires “Friendly Fires” (XL)
Sweet Billy Pilgrim “Twice Born Men” (EMI)
Speech Debelle “Speech Therapy” (Big Dada)
Florence and The Machine “Lungs” (Island)

What I hadn't realised about the Mercury is that you need to apply in order to be considered, thus debunking the myth I had possibly created for myself, that it was indeed a reward for musicians operating outside of the mainstream sphere. So what this suggests to me is that 90% aren't bothered and if your favourite is not on there, it's not because they've gone unnoticed, it's just that they couldn't be arsed applying.
As for this year's list, well, the inclusion of Kasabian for starters is, at best, perplexing and, at worst, tantamount to an abuse of human rights. Good to see Lisa Hannigan included if for no other reason that the nomination should result in an increase in sales. 'Sea Sew' is a beautiful album and merits whatever retrospective publicity it gets.
All that said, I imagine Bat For Lashes will get the nod in September, an album notable for her duet with Scott Walker but equally notable for the fact that it sounded as if Scott Walker had as much interest in reading the county cricket scores as he had making a guest appearance. These are cynical times.