A photo of an unconventional betting shop somewhere in Britain (via)Nominations might not be announced for another few weeks and the award itself isn’t announced until November, but that hasn’t stopped booking shops taking your money on bets for the Mercury Music Prize. Ladbrokes were the first to take bets, allowing stupid people to waste their money backing London Grammar despite the fact they’re not eligible for this year’s award.The Mercury Prize is a hard award to second guess. Every year you think they’re going to pick something a 54-year-old Athlete fan would find a bit safe, they go with a Dizzee Rascal. Every year you think they’re going to go with an obviously exciting album out that year (Burial’s Burial or Darkstar’s North or Rustie’s Glass Swords) they go with an Alt-J.But we think we’ve come up with a 10-point system that should help you decide where to place your bets. You simply mark each record on a point system, the more points it scores, the more pounds you bet. Look let’s just show you.Black music by a white person [1 point]“Social conscience” [1 point]Total: 2 pointsFeatured on a sporting montage [5 points]Would keep Richard Russell happy [1 point]Total: 6 pointsCould have been made in the 80s [1 point]Good review from The Quietus [2 points, came out on their label]Sounds Good On Paper But You’d Never Actually Listen To It [1 point]On Steve Lamacq’s fuck tape [1 point]Total: 5 pointsBlack music by a white person [1 point]They Really Don’t Need To Win It [1 point]Making Up For Them Never Winning It Before [1 point]Would keep Richard Russell happy [1 point]“Meaningful” performance on Jools Holland [1 point]Total: 5 pointsThey Really Don’t Need To Win It [1 point]Making Up For Them Never Winning It Before [1 point]Good review from The Quietus [1 points]“Meaningful” performance on Jools Holland [1 point]Total: 4 pointsCould have been made in the 80s [1 point]Wholly underwhelming [1 point]Your Dad Asked For It For His Birthday [1 point]They Really Don’t Need To Win It [1 point]Straight Outta The Home Counties [1 point]Total: 5 pointsFeatured on DEC Emergency Appeal [1 point]Your Dad Asked For It For His Birthday [1 point]Featured on a sporting montage [1 points]Not going to make it, same night as the UCS Reunion [1 point]“Meaningful” performance on Jools Holland [1 point]Total: 5 points (but can’t actually win it)Your Dad Asked For It For His Birthday [1 point]Featured on a sporting montage [1 points]“Meaningful” performance on Jools Holland [1 point]Lauren Laverne will mispronounce their name if they win [1 point]Total: 4 pointsSounds Good On Paper But You’d Never Actually Listen To It [1 point]Total: 1 pointWould keep Richard Russell happy [1 point]Follow Sam on Twitter: @SamWolfsonWhy The Mercury Prize Needs To Be Put Out Of Its MiseryWhat The Mercury Prize Shortlist Would Look Like If The Right People Were Nominated
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Kate Tempest - 5/2
Jungle - 6/1
East India Youth - 10/1
Damon Albarn - 12/1
Wild Beasts 12/1
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