Paul Weller and Dizzee Rascal named in Mercury Music Prize shortlist

Published on Tuesday 20 July 2010 13:51

ROCK veteran Paul Weller was today shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize for the first time in 16 years – and will battle it out with past winner Dizzee Rascal.

• Paul Weller (left) and Dizzee Rascal at the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Nominations Announcement in London today. Picture: Getty

Rock trio Biffy Clyro were the only Scottish act named on the shortlist.

Also in the running are hotly tipped The xx – whose music provided the theme for the BBC's election coverage – and 40-something Mancunian trio I Am Kloot have made their shortlist debut with their fifth album.

They are among 12 acts battling for the respected award, officially called the Barclaycard Mercury Prize, which rewards the outstanding album of the year.

Dizzee, whose career has soared in recent years, first won the Mercury with debut release Boy In Da Corner in 2003. This latest nomination for Tongue N' Cheek is his third in only four albums, as he was also listed in 2007 for Maths + English.

Weller has only once been nominated for the Mercury since its 1992 launch. His second solo release, Wild Wood, was shortlisted in 1994, losing out to M People's Elegant Slumming on the night.

Also finding a repeat inclusion is Laura Marling, whose I Speak Because I Can follows her 2008 debut Alas, I Cannot Swim on to the shortlist.

As well as a 20,000 prize, the award can be an invaluable method of raising awareness for shortlisted acts and many see a huge sales boost.

However, last year's winner, Speech Debelle, bucked the trend and failed to strike a chord with the music-buying public. Her album Speech Therapy has still to dent the top 40.

Established names on this year's list include Corinne Bailey Rae – whose album The Sea deals with how she coped following the death of her husband.

Kendal quartet Wild Beasts – noted for Hayden Thorpe's unusual countertenor singing voice – and Oxford's Foals are both shortlisted for second albums.

Last year's nominations – like those of 2008 – saw female acts heavily featured but this year there are only two solo performers – Marling and Bailey Rae. However, the line-up for The xx who met at London's Elliott School – which previous Mercury nominees Hot Chip and Burial attended – does feature guitarist/singer Romy Madley Croft.

The list does have a slight folk theme with entries for Marling, Mumford & Sons and Irish act Villagers – largely a vehicle for Conor J O'Brien.

This year's jazz entry comes from pianist Kit Downes with his trio's debut release Golden.

I Am Kloot, who have been together more than a decade, featured Elbow's Guy Garvey and Craig Potter on production duties.

Acts who had been tipped for inclusion but failed to make the list include Gorillaz, Marina And The Diamonds and Ellie Goulding, who won the Critics' Choice prize at the Brits earlier this year.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony at London's Grosvenor Park Hotel in September.

The shortlist in full

• I Am Kloot – Sky At Night

• Foals – Total Life Forever

• Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can

• The xx – xx

• Dizzee Rascal – Tongue N' Cheek

• Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea

• Villagers – Becoming A Jackal

• Wild Beasts – Two Dancers

• Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions

• Kit Downes Trio – Golden

• Paul Weller – Wake Up The Nation

• Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More