Barclaycard Mercury Prize Shortlist Announced

added 20 July 2010 at 11.35

The XX, Biffy Clyro and Foals are among this year’s nominees.

The shortlist for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize has been announced. Following intense speculation over the past few weeks, the shortlist features no real surprises. The twelve albums also feature a few from the leftfield, as per the Mercury panel’s usual predictable unpredictability.

The full list is as follows:

Biffy Clyro
'Only Revolutions'
The Ayrshire trio's fifth album and an assured slab of emotional power rock.
Download Only Revolutions from iTunes

Corinne Bailey Rae
'The Sea'
Lush pop 'n' soul to be found in the singer's second album.
Download The Sea from iTunes

Dizzee Rascal
'Tongue N' Cheek'
Dylan Mills returns with his fourth outing, featuring production duties from Calvin Harris.
Download Tongue 'n' Cheek from iTunes

Kit Downes Trio
'Golden'
The obligatory jazz album, from this Norwich pianist and his two mates.

Foals
'Total Life Forever'
Oxford five-piece's dreamy follow-up to 2008's 'Antidotes'.
Download Total Life Forever from iTunes

I Am Kloot
'Sky At Night'
Fifth album of delicate songmithery from the Mancunian trio, produced by Guy Garvey of Elbow.
Download Sky At Night from iTunes

Laura Marling
'I Speak Because I Can'
Second album from the nu-folk diva, featuring contributions from Mr Marcus Mumford.
Download I Speak Because I Can from iTunes

Mumford And Sons
'Sigh No More'
Impressive debut from the Londoners at the forefront of the folk revival.
Download Sigh No More from iTunes

Paul Weller
'Wake Up The Nation'
Tenth studio album from The Modfather, featuring former Jam colleague Bruce Foxton.
Download Wake Up the Nation from iTunes

Villagers
'Becoming A Jackal'
Dublin-based band signed to the influential Domino Records.
Download Becoming a Jackal from iTunes

Wild Beasts
'Two Dancers'
Second album from the Kendal band, featuring the distinct vocals of Hayden Thorpe.
Download Two Dancers from iTunes

The xx
'xx'
Critically-acclaimed debut and recipient of the Xfm New Music Award 2010.
Download xx from iTunes

What do you think? Is this a fair list? Or a very real sign that this uninspired shortlist is ringing the award - and indie rock's - death knell? Tell us below...

Tagged as Biffy Clyro, The XX, Awards