The nominees for the oft-maligned Mercury Music Prize have just been announced across the water, and Irish act Villagers have secured a spot among the dirty dozen.
By Robert Carry
With dark, rumbling lyrics and a somewhat folky, stripped down sound they won’t be for everyone. The title track from their debut album Becoming a Jackal immediately invokes Simon and Garfunkel. If you like them, you’ll like Villagers’ album. If you don’t, you probably won’t.
They have, however, a reputation as a solid live act with New York Times writer John Pareles likening them to Leonard Cohen, U2 and The Frames after catching one of their Stateside gigs. Not a bad roll call.
Becoming a Jackal will face stiff competition from albums by a number of more established artists. Mumford & Sons’ Sigh No More and The XX’s imaginatively titled album XX will be tough to beat.
Also, Paul Weller’s return to form Wake Up The Nation could be in with a nostalgic shout while Dizzee Rascal, who pulled off a major coup by winning the Mercury outright with his debut album Boy In Da Corner, could also be in with a chance with his commercial A-bomb Tongue N’ Cheek.
If you fancy a punt on the prize, Villagers are currently 8/1 on Paddy Powers to grab the award, although you might get better odds if you shop around.
The full list of nominees, with odds, is as follows:
The XX – XX (2/1)
Villagers – Becoming A Jackal (8/1)
Paul Weller – Wake Up The Nation (14/1)
Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More (9/2)
Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can (10/1)
Dizzee Rascal – Tongue N’ Cheek (14/1)
Wild Beasts – Two Dancers (5/1)
Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea (10/1)
Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions (20/1)
Foals – Total Life Forever (8/1)
I Am Kloot – Sky At Night (14/1)
Kit Downes Trio – Golden (20/1)
Click here to have a punt.
