Music

Adele, James Blake included on 2011 Mercury Prize shortlist

by Ciaran Thompson

The shortlist for the 2011 Barclaycard Mercury Prize was announced today and the twelve names vying for the best album of the year award, voted on by a selected panel of musicians, music executives, journalists, and other figures in the music industry, is hardly a surprise to anyone.

Among others, Adele, PJ Harvey, James Blake, Elbow, Tinie Tempah and Everything Everything are up for the award, which is given out annually to a musician from the UK or Ireland based solely on the artistic merit of their work.

Although Adele’s sophomore album is by far the most successful of all the nominees with top of the charts supremacy in both the United States and England, the Mercury Prize is noted for often being awarded to albums with ‘underdog’ status.

The winner will be announced September 6. See the full shortlist below:

Adele – 21
Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi
Elbow – Build A Rocket Boys!
Everything Everything – Man Alive
Ghostpoet – Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam
Gwilym Simcock – Good Days At Schloss Elmau
James Blake – James Blake
Katy B – On A Mission
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Diamond Mine
Metronomy – The English Riviera
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Tinie Tempah – Disc-Overy