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Nationwide Mercury Prize Albums of the Year revealed |
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Tuesday, 17 July 2007 |
An important year for musical creativity and diversity is highlighted by the 12 Albums
of the Year shortlisted for the 2007 Nationwide Mercury Prize, announced on Tuesday 17 July.
"This year's Nationwide Mercury Prize shortlist celebrates a remarkable range of artists who use their albums
to tell stories, shape moods, explore emotions and lift the spirits," says Simon Frith, Chair of Judges. "The list marks the emergence of a wealth of eclectic talent making music with great energy, excitement and personality."
This year's shortlist demonstrates the continuing musical vitality of regions throughout the British Isles.
The View, with Hats Off to the Buskers, hail from Dundee while Dublin-based Fionn Regan is shortlisted for
The End of History. Maps' James Chapman recorded his album, We Can Create, in his Northamptonshire bedroom and The Young Knives, whose Voices of Animals and Men is shortlisted, now live in Oxford after forming in Ashby de la Zouche. Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys won the Prize in 2006 and continue to make musical history by being the first artists to be shortlisted in two consecutive years - this year for their number one album Favourite Worst Nightmare.
Among the debut albums on the list are New Young Pony Club's energetic Fantastic Playroom, the haunting
self-titled album from Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford, and Jamie T's Panic Prevention, which provides
a witty snapshot of growing up in contemporary Britain. Other debut releases come from Klaxons with their exhilarating Myths of the Near Future and the beautiful and intriguing album by Bat For Lashes, Fur and Gold.
The shortlist is completed by Back to Black, Amy Winehouse's UK number one album and Maths + English
by a previous winner of the Prize, Dizzee Rascal.
The 2007 Albums of the Year are:
Bat for Lashes - Fur and Gold
Fionn Regan - The End of History
New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom
Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
The Young Knives - Voices of Animals and Men
Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Maps - We Can Create
The View - Hats Off to the Buskers
Dizzee Rascal - Maths + English
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Jamie T - Panic Prevention
Basquiat Strings - Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford
The Nationwide Mercury Prize celebrates the year in music. The shortlist was chosen from an entry of over
230 albums by UK and Irish artists and announced at The Hospital in London and can be seen on MySpace.
The winner of the 2007 Prize will be announced at the Nationwide Mercury Prize Show on Tuesday 4 September. There will be programmes on BBC Television and Radio.
Notes to Editors:
The Nationwide Mercury Prize is open to albums from all music genres. The Prize focuses on the music on the album
- it does not take into account album sales, media exposure or live performances. Each year the shortlist celebrates
a range of styles and genres of music from the UK and Ireland.
Nationwide's sponsorship of the Prize highlights their support of UK culture and has resulted in exciting new initiatives
such as the Nationwide Mercury Prize student art competition and exhibition.
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