Who should win the Mercury Prize?

Well it's this time of year again when 12 more British albums from the last year get picked out and a group of people choose which one is the best. Of course, they aren't the big albums you'd expect, they're more "left-field" choices that you wouldn't have thought of. Previous winners such as Primal Scream and the Arctic Monkeys went on to achieve greater things after winning. Others like Speech Debelle and Gomez have...well...not. It's questionable what exactly winning this prize offers...but nevertheless it still inspires some decent thought and discussion.

So who's going to win?

Damon Albarn is the biggest name in the shortlist. The Blur and Gorrilaz man put out his first solo album this year in what was a decent offering with a couple of niceish moments. However, personally speaking I think this album should never have received a nomination. Whilst it's quite nice, it's far from Damon's best or most interesting music. To justify such a big name for this prize, the music has to be even better, simply due to reputation. In this case it isn't justified. Sorry Damon, I really like your stuff but I don't think this is your year...anyway don't
you object to the Mercury prize? The word albatross springs to mind...can't remember why...

Bombay Bicycle Club are the second biggest name in the shortlist and their album So Long, See You Tomorrow essentially just sounds like classic Bombay Bicycle Club: kinda nice, kinda boring middle of the road music that fails to interest or excite...but nice enough to hear on the radio. Like Damon Albarn, I don't think this should have ever been nominated but this time it's because it's not actually that great an album...I don't think it has any real chance of winning anyway.

I don't particularly think that much of Nick Mulvey either. Similarly to BBC, his music is perfectly pleasant but doesn't particularly excite or move me in any way. I personally wouldn't have nominated him but his presence doesn't really irk me too much.

Two jazz albums have been nominated for the prize, which don't have any chance of winning but it's important to have them in the list for diversity's sake. Gogo Penguin's album v2.0 is a very relaxing, chilled out listen with some really nice rhythms and grooves. Polar Bear's In Each and Every One contains plenty of space within, and is well arranged. Both albums should be given a chance by everyone and hopefully the exposure that comes with being nominated will help both groups. There's no way they'll win though...

Young Fathers put out a pretty alternative hip-hop record out with some really good production on it. The lo-fi R&B sound that they have going on is well worth a listen. A pretty solid nomination that should hopefully get this group more exposure.

Anna Calvi is no stranger to the Mercury shortlist, having been nominated in 2011. Her album One Breath is one of the stronger nominations, with it being a deeply personal affair, filled with interesting arrangements. Sound-wise, Calvi is one the more stand-out nominations. Image-wise, Calvi is easily one of the coolest on this list. A lot of passion and feeling comes across in One Breath, making this album a deserved candidate for the prize. This isn't my personal choice to win it but if it did, I certainly wouldn't object.

East India Youth put out one of the buzziest albums of the last year, causing a bit of a storm amongst the indie music internet community. Total Strife Forever makes an unsurprising appearance in this list and is bound to appear on more "best of year" lists. This is some of the more exciting electronic music from 2014, catching the attention of the likes of Brian Eno. This album contains one of the most exciting listens from Britain, being experimental and with each track sounding new and fresh. This album should be receiving serious consideration for the prize, though William Doyle finds himself amongst fierce competition...

This is who will win

If FKA Twigs doesn't win this I will be very very surprised. Her album LP1 has received rave review upon rave review upon rave review, and frankly, it deserves all of them. LP1 has an incredibly unique sound, resembling no-one else but FKA Twigs. Filled with intricate, layered production, perfectly complimenting her hushed voice, creating a remarkably complete vision. LP1 is eTwo Weeks create their own worlds which you get lost in. Weird, sexy and undeniably futuristic, FKA Twigs is who I predict to win the Mercury prize 2014.
asily the sexiest record on the list. Songs such as

That being said, it isn't impossible that the panel will instead opt for Jungle's self-titled debut. Most of the music press seemed to focus on the whole "mystery" aspect of Jungle when this album came out, failing to fully address just how fresh it sounds. Jungle is a cracking album, jam-packed with grooves. Like FKA Twigs, Jungle have carved out quite a unique sound. Unlike FKA Twigs, Jungle's stuff is really fun to dance to. For this reason, Jungle have become one of the best live bands in Britain today. I thoroughly recommend witnessing their 7-piece live band in the flesh. Any album which can produce a song like Drops should always be regarded as notable.

Royal Blood are probably the most commercially successful group on this list this year, selling 66,000 albums in the first week of its release. It's one of two albums on the shortlist to get to number one (Bombay Bicycle Club being the other). Their year has been very big for the heavy rock duo from Brighton, with their Reading set being one of the most exciting of the weekend. What was intriguing from that set was how large the crowd was and how into their songs everyone got. Considering they had only released three singles at the time, this kind of pulling power is worth noting. Sound-wise, it's pretty trad. heavy rock. One of them bangs the drums really loud whilst the other plays big riffs and sings lyrics that don't really mean anything. There are some really tight songs on this album and considering Mike Kerr gets that sound from a bass guitar, it's definitely worth a mention on any "best of 2014" list. That being said, due to the lack of innovation or freshness, Royal Blood shouldn't win.

This is who should win

My personal favourite on the list has to be Kate Tempest. Everyone Down has the best lyrics on the shortlist by a country mile. Tempest is a really impressive poet and Dan Carey's excellent production compliments perfectly. The contrast between her Reading set and Royal Blood's was huge. Royal Blood filled the NME/Radio One tent, the second biggest stage. Tempest played to a half-empty Alternative stage. Despite this, there was no doubt in mind whose music was the most appropriate for Britain in 2014. It is key to remember that this award is for the best British music, especially when considering someone like Kate Tempest. She isn't someone who plays up her nationality but her record is distinctly British. On the shortlist, nothing is as relevant or as thought-provoking as Everyone Down. I don't think it'll win but in my mind it should.

The best British album this year

One notable omission from the shortlist this year has to be Sleaford Mods and their album Divide and Exit. To quote one YouTube comment, Sleaford Mods have "blown a new arsehole in British music". Divide and Exit is the essential soundtrack to Coalition Britain. The brilliant rant-raps really tell it as it is. This album has a definite conscience and soul. Nothing is a relevant as Sleaford Mods are today. That being said, there is a sense that they're better off without the pressure of winning this award. The duo have expressed on Facebook and Twitter that they feel like they've dodged a bullet too so I'm not too upset at their omission. That being said, if this award is supposed to be for the best British album of the year, they've messed it up by not nominating the best British album of the year.

This year's shortlist is a strong one as Mercury Prize shortlists go. I'm fairly certain FKA Twigs will win but I would love it to be Kate Tempest. If LP1 does win though, it'll be thoroughly deserved.