*see the main event live on BBC2 on Tuesday, 7 September 2010*
The 2010 Barclaycard Mercury Prize shortlist has just been announced, and unlike most previous years, there's no obscure miniature-harp-foot-stomping-acid-house-meets-'80s-speed-metal-fusion revolutionary involved. In fact, we can safely say we've ran our ears over every album listed. Well, almost every album.
(in alphabetical order)
1) BIFFY CLYRO 'Only Revolutions'
Who they? Scottish alt. rock trio who formed 15 years ago, now specialising in emo-tinged heaviness and choruses that could easily get wedged in any average-sized doorframe.
Early odds: 8-1
Maxim says: Large, bold and catchy, if decidedly conventional, this had everyone singing slyly under their breath, from office cleaners to gangsta-loving sandwich guys. 'Bubbles' and 'Mountains' were quite superb rock singles.
2) CORINNE BAILEY RAE 'The Sea'
Who she? MOBO-bagging, Winehouse-esque Yorkshire lass who trades in smooth pop with a perky jazziness. Shot to fame in 2006 with soulful single 'Like A Star', but had a mini hiatus following the tragic death of her husband, saxophonist Jason Rae.
Early odds: 6-1
Maxim says: An exceptionally polished opus, that's ultimately too polished, and features more session players than a Richard Ashcroft demo tape.
3) DIZZEE RASCAL 'Tongue N' Cheek'
Who he? Chart-topping rap prodigy and big, gnarly dude with unmistakeable East London squeal turned fully-fledged popstar.
Early odds: 4-1 (joint favourite)
Maxim says: Full of self-ironic clowning, 'flash the cash' lariness and lyrical tales of being 'noshed off' in a speeding Porsche. England's unlikely Slim Shady? Featuring collaborations from the likes of Armand Van Helden, this bangs.
4) FOALS 'Total Life Forever'
Who they? Oxfordshire indie intellectuals with a background in 'math rock', once tipped as Blighty's hip new things, before journeying into the nether-regions of their own backsides.
Early odds: 8-1
Maxim says: A vast improvement on their pretentious, overhyped 2008 debut 'Antidotes'. The band call it 'tropical prog'. Okay, dump that 'pretentious' comment...
5) I AM KLOOT 'Sky At Night'
Who they? 11-year-old Mancunian indie three-piece who sound like they fantasise over being a houseband in a 1960's French cafe. A couple of the chaps from Elbow produced this new record.
Early odds: 10-1
Maxim says: The first track 'Northern Skies', a countrified Bob Dylan-esque strummer of goosepimply proportions, is a cracker. The rest of the album overwhelmingly plain. But maybe that's just us... Maybe.
6) KIT DOWNES TRIO 'Golden'
Who they? Token Mercury jazz nomination, fronted by eponymous pianist who bagged the 2008 BBC Jazz Award for Rising Star, and complemented by a bassist and drummer. Traditional, then.
Early odds: 10-1
Maxim says: We'd be lying if we said we'd heard the album, but The Guardian scored it 4/5, and The Observer described it as "unpretentiously brilliant and full of subtle touches." The Tribune said it was a "refreshingly unselfconscious navigation of the trio format". We wish we could write like that.
7) LAURA MARLING 'I Speak Because I Can'
Who she? 20-year-old Joni Mitchell semi-soundalike, specialising in eloquent, rose-petal-throwing English folk, delivered in an immaculate vernacular Hampshire tone.
Early odds: 6-1
Maxim says: Unquestionably pleasant and woozy, the sort of thing that's great for the early morning hangover/comedown phase at summer festivals, as long as it's not pissing down with rain.
8) MUMFORD AND SONS 'Sign No More'
Who they? Mainstream radio-monopolising folksters who sound like they were brought up in a hick's shed in Wisconsin rather than sweaty, fume-infested London.
Early odds: 6-1
Maxim says: Impossible to dislike, with their jolly banjo and mandolin-infused melodies, but their songs have a suspicious habit of sounding rather too alike. Scouting For Girls had that problem, too (as well as being a bit shit!)...
9) PAUL WELLER 'Wake Up The Nation'
Who he? The wisened modfather and Mini-driving Jam man needs no introduction, unless you've been living inside a disued water tank since February 1977.
Early odds: 6-1
Maxim says: The 50-something modster sounds like a man reborn on his most radical, rauccous and very possibly best solo record yet! Life most definitely begins at 50.
10) THE xx 'xx'
Who they? Electro 'dream pop' trendsters, who graduated from the same London school as Hot Chip, Burial and Four Tet.
Early odds: 4-1 (joint favourite)
Maxim says: The year's biggest breakthrough act, even though it sounds like they're still learning to play their instruments. Single 'Crystalised', however, has a electro piano hook that makes MGMT's 'Kids' sound like discordant jazz metal by comparison. Now how about putting some welly into that singing eh, chaps?
11) VILLAGERS 'Becoming A Jackal'
Who they? Well it's actually really one man, Dublin's young Conor O'Brien, previously of indie rockers The Immediate, now strumming an introspective brand of singer-songwritery melancholia. As most singer songwriters do...
Early odds: 10-1
Maxim says: Ventures out into edgier territories than usual singer-songwriter fare, weaving his gentle voice through a sea of ghostly pianos, acoustic sensitivity and Radiohead-esque atmospherics. Haunting yet rather inspired. No chance of winning the Prize though, right?
12) WILD BEASTS ' Two Dancers'
Who they? Semi-baroque, falsetto-wielding indie romanticists, hailing from the mystical land known as Kendal, which is where they also make mint cake. Thumbs up. On two accounts.
Early odds: 8-1
Maxim says: It's a sensitive, quirky and out-there masterpiece that reminds us of timetravelling between 14th century England and a book of Lewis Carroll fairtyales. We say no more. They would be worthy winners, to be sure.
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