The shortlist for the 2010 Mercury Music Prized has just been announced in London – and, somewhat unsurprisingly, tQ favourites The XX and Wild Beasts are among the 12 nominations. We’re somewhat surprised that These New Puritans haven’t made the cut, and rumours reach our ears from the ceremony at London’s Hospital Club that Fuck Buttons deliberately didn’t enter, but such is life. Biffy Clyro are a noted rare rock entry, while I Am Kloot are in the traditional "Well Done For Being Northern And Hanging Around For A Bit" slot, just as Paul Weller gets the "Well Done For Just Hanging Around A Bit" nod, for Wake Up The Nation, while if Laura Marling wins and Mumford & Sons don’t can we expect busted romance?
Anyway, tQ props to all those bands who couldn’t afford/be arsed to send in the £200 entry fee and whopping pile of CDs in order to be considered.
The full list can be seen below:
Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions
Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea
Dizzee Rascal – Tongue N’ Cheek
Kit Downes Trio – Golden
Foals – Total Life Forever
I Am Kloot – Sky At Night
Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
Mumford And Sons – Sigh No More
Paul Weller – Wake Up The Nation
Villagers – Becoming A Jackal
Wild Beasts – Two Dancers
The XX – XX
