Please, Not Another British Award

Dan Gibson | September 26, 2008 2:30 am

As if the Mercury Music Prize, the Q Awards, the Music Of Black Origin Awards, the Brits, the Vodafone Live Music Awards and whatever else I’m missing weren’t quite enough music-related adjudicating for the residents of the UK, the British music magazine Uncut has jumped into the awards business with the Uncut Music Award. It seems an awful lot like the Mercury Prize, except that it’s open to non-Brits.

According to Uncut, the goal of the music prize is “to find the most inspiring and richly rewarding album of the last 12 months.” Assembling a panel that includes Edwyn Collins and Peter Hook is a decent start. (Hook’s stint in Revenge, however, which might negate any sort of expertise he might claim.)

In case you’re wondering what sort of albums were among the most “richly rewarding” since last September, here’s the shortlist of nominees. The winner will be announced in November.

KEVIN AYERS – The Unfairground JAMES BLACKSHAW – Litany Of Echoes BON IVER – For Emma, Forever Ago ISOBEL CAMPBELL & MARK LANEGAN – Sunday At Devil Dirt NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS – Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS – Brighter Than Creation’s Dark ELBOW – The Seldom-Seen Kid THE FELICE BROTHERS – The Felice Brothers FLEET FOXES – Fleet Foxes PJ HARVEY – White Chalk THE HOLD STEADY – Stay Positive HOWLIN RAIN – Magnificent Fiend JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN – To Survive STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS – Real Emotional Trash ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS – Raising Sand PORTISHEAD – Third THE RACONTEURS – Consolers Of The Lonely RADIOHEAD – In Rainbows BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Magic RACHEL UNTHANK & THE WINTERSET- The Bairns VAMPIRE WEEKEND – Vampire Weekend PAUL WELLER – 22 Dreams WHITE DENIM – Workout Holiday WILD BEASTS – Limbo, Panto ROBERT WYATT – Comicopera

Introducing the Uncut Music Awards [Uncut]