Comments on: What is the point of The Mercury Music Prize?

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:38:37 +0000

@Fat Roland:

I’d go back further and blame everything on Paul Weller. He’s a po-faced miserable git who wouldn’t know a decent tune if you smacked him round the head with it. Everything he’s ever done has been an inferior imitation of earlier, better acts. Even The Jam were a watered-down version of The Who – and why would anyone want to water down The Who? Yet the guy seems to be revered as a god…

He’s the musical equivalent of the ash cloud from Mount Doom, turning Britain into a musical Mordor.

By: Barry Beatmaster

Barry Beatmaster — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:30:34 +0000

who’s on the judging panel? and why should anyone care what they think?
I seem to recall them being rather cagey about revealing who was judging it.
you can’t really expect much if that dunce Conor Mcnicholas (now editor of Top gear mag) is still on the panel.

By: Fat Roland

Fat Roland — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:29:01 +0000

Actually, do you know who I blame? It’s not Slimey Cowell. It’s the Stereophonics. Travis. Oasis. Bands that had blinding first albums, smelled the money, then blanded it out for the new Stella-n-footie dad generation.

By: Fat Roland

Fat Roland — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:24:30 +0000

I don’t know – I hear Willy Hague’s a sucker for a bit of Slayer. I think there have been some very good shortlisted nominations in the past, but if you look down the full list over the years, there’s definitely a strong streak of beige going on.

By: Iain Weetman

Iain Weetman — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:10:24 +0000

I never watch these mainstream things – you can bet every year that it’s an award for another bunch of talentless indie hipsters. I couldn’t believe how bad they were – & all too predictably, Bowman & Whiley’s Geordie partner in crime – wasserface – was saying how brilliant she thinks they are! Give me strength!
The BBC music programmers need a hefty kick in the spuds too – from Jools H’s show to their selective ‘only indie friendly’ coverage of bands at mainstream festivals (Coheed & Cambria were on at Glasto but OBVIOUSLY they wouldn’t show it – can’t have anything un-indie hipster now can we!?!?!). It must be very frustrating for musicians in the metal, rock, prog & blues genres to know they will never, ever (despite their talent) achieve the same exposure as 2 pointless twins with stupid pointy haircuts who neither, write or play instruments, yet even as ‘talent’ show failures, they still have their own TV show.
We are truely going to hell in a tuneless handcart.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:29:00 +0000

Somehow thought you’re appreciate that one, Jonana.

My task in life seems to be reading through 200+ long comment threads on Guardian blogs, so that you don’t have to

By: jonanamary

jonanamary — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:15:27 +0000

!!!!

Nothing more to add to this, really. Although there are some excellent UK/Irish metal bands out there – both Fen and Altar of Plagues are recording new albums as we speak