This year's shortlist for the Mercury Music Prize has been announced to the usual mix of approval and criticism.
Kano, Stormzy, Michael Kiwanuka and Moses Boyd are all up for the award alongside Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, Laura Marling and others. While many are happy with the list, some have criticised the lack of more experimental music in the list that also includes Porridge Radio, Sports Team, Anna Meredith, Georgia, and Lanterns On The Lake.
Last year, Dave won the award for his Psychodrama LP, beating out albums from Little Simz, slowthai, The 1975, Nao, Foals, Cate Le Bon, Idles, Anna Calvi, black midi, Fontaines D.C., and SEED Ensemble. And this year will be another tight race; both Kano's Hoodies All Summer and Stormzy's Heavy Is The Head were landmark releases that won huge praise from both fans and critics alike, and they're not the only ones on the list with staunch supporters. Laura Marling, Charli XCX and Idles—to name just three—have all released highly successful projects since the July 20, 2019 cut-off date.
The 2020 #HyundaiMercuryPrize Shortlist has been revealed! Let's take a deeper look at the 12 incredible albums that make up a snapshot in music over the past twelve months... pic.twitter.com/2xuP1WtMWG
The award is tentatively expected to be handed out at a ceremony at London's Hammersmith Apollo on September 10; however, this is of course dependent on the government's guidelines surrounding COVID-19.
Check out the full shortlist below:
Porridge Radio – Every Bad
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Laura Marling – Song For Our Daughter
Sports Team – Deep Down Happy
Kano – Hoodies All Summer
Anna Meredith – FIBS
Georgia – Seeking Thrills
Lanterns On The Lake – Spook The Herd
Moses Boyd – Dark Matter
Charli XCX – How I'm Feeling Now
Stormzy – Heavy Is The Head
Michael Kiwanuka – Kiwanuka
