Mercury: Precious Metal or Useless Trash?

In what now seems like an age ago (it was actually September 10th), the shortlist for the Mercury Prize was recently announced, sparking the usual mix of mild outrage and widespread indifference.

The 2014 list includes debuts from recent rock resurgence poster boys Royal Blood (pictured), Jungle, Young Fathers, East India Youth and Damon Albarn. Can you spot the odd one out?

Albarn, nominated for solo album ‘Everyday Robots’ is currently on odds of 11/1 to win, with Royal Blood’s eponymous debut album the current favourite at 4/1. That is, according to good old Paddy Power, though given that some bookies are offering odds on London Grammar to win despite them not being nominated, The Gen is odds on to opt out of this one.

Despite the legacy nod to the Blur frontman, the list does seem slightly more forward thinking than usual, also including debut albums from Kate Tempest, FKA Twigs and Nick Mulvey. Albums from Bombay Bicycle Club, Anna Calvi, Polar Bear and GoGo Penguin make up the rest of the list.

Albarn was previously nominated for Gorillaz debut LP in 2001 but rejected the nomination and the album was subsequently withdrawn.

The winner will be announced at the awards show in London on October 29th and will join an esteemed lineage of winners including James Blake (2013), Primal Scream (1992), PJ Harvey (2001 and 2011) and of course Gomez (1998).

In other awards news, Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq has been named as the winner of the 2014 Polaris Music Prize for best Canadian album.

Find out more about the Mercury Music Prize here.