Tuneful Tuesday

...falls on a fortuitous day. Since the Mercury Music Prize nominations came out today.

I'm really happy about some of the nominations today and also worried about the Mercury Prize curse. I have a deep seated love for Biffy Clyro stemming back from repeatedly listening to it at high volumes since the 6th year common room days. Then more recently I've grown to love Mumford & Sons, primarily because of their Shakespearean sampling in Sign No More. So while it's about time the former was nominated and it is great that again another new band is being honoured, Mercury Prize Winner's don't tend to go onto illustrious careers.

There are exceptions to this of course, Dizzee Rascal's doing very well for himself as a winner (being nominated again this year), as have the Arctic Monkeys, however there has been a distinct pattern of one off albums and relative unknowns winning, then disappearing off into musical folklore. I'd love to think that on awards night Biffy, Mumford & Sons, Dizzee Rascal, Foals etc will be sitting at their tables, thankful of their nominations, but praying for a loss. No one after-all wanting their brand new or well established musical careers being given the kiss of death by being given an award for their shelf.

The curse doesn't however mean that the albums on the nominee list aren't good. In fact many of the bands are wonderful, so I've been looking through the past ten years of Mercury music to make up a mix tape. One song from each year (except 2010) - missing out the dodgy winner hear or there for something I love from the nominees. I'm also starting in 2000 because it's the first ceremony I remember watching on the TV, and also the first album I bought based on it. The album was Badly Drawn Boy's The Hour of Bewilderbeast, and while the act's ability to produce a great album has petered out, I still have very fond affection for that album.

2000: Badly Drawn Boy - The Shining (Winner)

2001: PJ Harvey - This Mess We're In (Winner)

2002: The Electric Soft Parade - Biting the Souls of Your Feet (Nominee)

2003: Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp (Winner)

2004: Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out (Winner)

2005: Seth Lakeman - Kitty Jay (Nominee)

2006: Arctic Monkeys - Riot Van (Winner)

2007: Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own (Nominee)

2008: Elbow - Grounds for Divorce (Winner)

2009: Florence & The Machine - My Boy Builds Coffins (Nominee)

2010: Biffy Clyro - Mountains

2010: Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

The posting today is inspired by two blogs: Daydream Lily Blog which is a blog of absolute loveliness. As is Design is Mine: isn't it lovely? which focuses on photography, art, typography, vintage, modern design and handmade goodies...*sigh* one day mine will be as full of loveliness!

...although both their repeating music inspired posts are from Mondays. Tuesdays apparently being a dead zone for weekly posts!

What's wrong with Tuesdays?