Mercury Prize 2010
Everyone will be trying to tip the winner but here at Any Decent Music we think the albums have already been judged.
Of the 12 albums shortlisted 11 have featured in the ADM chart over the last 12 months. The only exception being Kit Downes Trio who were not reviewed by the majority of our sources.
So get your money on The Modfather now.
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8.13
Paul Weller
Wake Up The Nation
Weller has jettisoned the more folkie elements that gave 22 Dreams its reflective tone, reinforcing instead the rock and soul core of his music
The Independent
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8.10
The XX
XX
For a debut album it's brilliantly realised and contains not an inch of flab across its 11 songs. Debut album of the year? It's beyond doubt.
musicOMH
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8.02
Laura Marling
I Speak Because I Can
Her first triumph: a collection of literary and emotional songs to have you whooping with joy or fighting off tears, with tunes that deliver new riches with each listen
The Guardian
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7.89
Villagers
Becoming A Jackal
A marvellous showcase for O’Brien: not only his voice and his way with a tune, but also the way he weaves together words and images in a way that simultaneously please and – yes – slightly frighten the listener
The Line Of Best Fit
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7.66
Wild Beasts
Two Dancers
Doesn't so much follow up their debut as announce Wild Beasts as one of our genuinely special bands, one that can compete - in terms of both musical and lyrical ingenuity as well as sheer pop nous - with any US act
Drowned In Sound
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7.66
The Foals
Total Life Forever
In broadening their horizons they've not sacrificed quality, every note and sound is perfectly executed. Foals have made impressive strides forward, and you'd be mad not to follow them
musicOMH
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7.41
I Am Kloot
Sky At Night
Sky at Night is the sound of a band that have never been more comfortable in their own skin
State
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7.33
Biffy Clyro
Only Revolutions
Keeping up this level of creative, powerful and outlandish melodic hard rock isn’t just going to keep the band’s head above water – from here, they could part the Red Sea if they wanted to
FasterLouder
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7.25
Corinne Bailey Rae
The Sea
The Sea is simultaneously sweet, poignant and, more than anything, quietly inspiring
Eye Weekly
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6.77
Dizzee Rascal
Tongue N' Cheek
If it's less wilfully uncommercial than his earlier oeuvre, which frequently made the listener feel like they were being mugged in the middle of an amusement arcade, its distorted synthesisers are still edgily thrilling.
The Guardian
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6.19
Mumford And Sons
Sigh No More
Angst-ridden indiscretions aside, ‘Sigh No More’ is a fine debut from a band that’s patiently picked up the tools of its trade, and chosen the right moment to give them full rein
NME