This year's Mercury Prize shortlist has just been unveiled and it's another close race this year.
Dave's Psychodrama and Slowthai's Nothing Great About Britain are both unsurprisingly included, and probaby face pretty good chances against the likes of The 1975, Foals and IDLES. Elsewhere, Little Simz's stunning GREY Area and NAO's Saturn (an early from late last year) also stand good odds of snatching the prize.
After Wolf Alice snatched the prize last year for their third album, Visions Of A Life, and now it looks as if rap could steal the top spot back this year, either at the hands of Dave, Slowthai or Little Simz. As of today, the bookies' clear favourite is Dave, who leads the charge with 3/1 odds of winning, followed closely by Slowthai and Idles, both at 6/1, according to Ladbrokes. That is, of course, unless IDLES nudge forward from second position for their album Joy As An Act Of Resistance. Keep an eye on the rest of the list because the awards could just as easily go to NAO, Foals, The 1975, Black Midi, Anna Calvi, Fontaines D.C, SEED Ensemble or Cate Le Bon.
The 2019 awards show will take place on Thursday, Sept 19 at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith.
The full nominations are:
Anna Calvi - Hunter
Black Midi - Schlagenheim
Cate Le Bon - Reward
Dave - Psychodrama
Foals - Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1
Fontaines D.C. - Dogrel
IDLES - Joy As An Act Of Resistance
Little Simz - GREY Area
NAO - Saturn
SEED Ensemble - Driftglass
Slowthai - Nothing Great About Britain
The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
