Record-breaking star Adele has been nominated for this year’s Barclaycard Mercury Prize – and immediately installed as joint favourite to win.
Her second album, 21, is already the biggest-selling album of the year and set a new record for an unbroken 11-week stint at the top of the charts. She will battle it out with two previous winners, PJ Harvey and Elbow, and nine other acts for the prize.
Head of judges Simon Frith described 21 as “an astonishing album for many reasons”.
He said: “Clearly from the odds and common sense there are two people on the list who are favourites for good reason. One is Adele, because that record has quite clearly been in lots of other ways the record of the year, and the other is PJ Harvey because she’s won it before and she is an outstanding artist.”
Bookmakers William Hill have made Adele and Harvey 4/1 joint favourites.
It is the second time Adele has been up for the prize, with her debut 19 missing out in 2008 to Elbow’s The Seldom Seen Kid.
PJ Harvey won in 2001 for Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea on the night of 9/11. She is in the running this year for her acclaimed album Let England Shake.
The shortlist also includes double Brit winner Tinie Tempah who is nominated for Disc-Overy.
The Mercury Prize – won last year by The XX – is held in high esteem within the industry, but more importantly it can boost sales of nominees and winners.
It revitalised the career of Elbow, this year nominated for Build A Rocket Boys!, when they won three years ago.
Among the acts shortlisted for their debut albums are Everything Everything, Anna Calvi, Katy B, dubstep producer James Blake and rapper Ghostpoet.
Among the acts to miss out on a nomination are previous winners Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, who have been up for the prize for their past three releases. The prize usually includes a nod to jazz and folk artistes and this year is no exception. Jazz hopes are carried by pianist Gwilym Simcock, while the folk interest comes from the collaboration between King Creosote – Scottish musician Kenny Anderson – and Jon Hopkins.
Also included in the list is Metronomy, nominated for their album The English Riviera.
Mr Frith said he was “happy” with the shortlist. Several of the acts are known to each other with both James Blake and Katy B graduates of Goldsmiths College in New Cross, south London. Adele and Katy B also attended the Brit School in Croydon together.
Gennaro Castaldo of retail chain HMV said the effect of being shortlisted cannot be overestimated.
“Because it’s widely viewed as being such a credible award, the Mercury Prize can shine a very bright on the nominees and on new talent in particular.
“The increased exposure in record stores and in the media can have a hugely galvanising effect on demand for your music – both for your CDs and downloads, which can easily more than double or treble overnight and see your chart position surge.”
Nominees were announced by presenter Lauren Laverne at the Hospital Club in London on Tuesday.
The 12 acts in running for prize
Metronomy – The English Riviera
The band was first formed by Joseph Mount in 1999 in Totnes, Devon, later relocating to Brighton and going through a number of personnel changes.
The English Riviera is the electronic pop group’s third album and was recorded in London and Paris. Mr Mount has also established a reputation as a producer and remixer.
The judges said: “A beautifully realised electro-pop dream about growing up on an imagined English Riviera – sparkling, sophisticated and full of intrigue.”
Adele – 21
Adele rose to prominence when she landed the first Critics’ Choice prize at the Brit Awards in 2008, and her acclaimed debut 19 was nominated for the Mercury that year. Her return this year got off to an astonishing start thanks to a performance of single Someone Like You at this year’s Brits which led to huge sales for 21 and made it the biggest album of the year so far.
The judges said: “An extraordinary achievement. An emotional set of remarkable love songs brilliantly performed.”
Everything Everything – Man Alive
Manchester-based Everything Everything – whose members come from as far apart as Northumberland, Kent and Guernsey – formed in 2007. The quartet’s intriguingly-titled singles MY KZ, UR BF and Photoshop Handsome earned recognition for their songwriting prowess at the Ivor Novello Awards this year.
The judges said: “An exuberant musical adventure. A thrilling clash of electro, guitar pop, tight rhythms and smart wordplay.”
Ghostpoet – Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam
Ghostpoet is London-born rapper Obaro Ejimiwe and his debut album was written while at university in Coventry. A favourite of Mike Skinner (The Streets), he has been championed by Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson who released the album on his Brownswood Recordings label.
The judges said: “Mesmerising homemade hip-hop: Endlessly inventive beats, laid-back delivery and rueful stories. Completely engaging.”
Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi
Ms Calvi has been championed by producer Brian Eno and has landed support slots for acts such as Interpol and Nick Cave. She played in bands before taking centrestage and capturing the attention of acclaimed indie label Domino which has been behind bands such as Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys, both of whom have won the Mercury.
The judges said: “Anna Calvi marks out a unique dramatic territory with formidable vocals and powerful guitar. A passionate and atmospheric debut.”
Tinie Tempah – Disc-Overy
Patrick Okogwu, from Plumstead in south London, has already landed a pair of Brit Awards this year, best British breakthrough and best single for his chart-topper Pass Out. Other hits included Written In The Stars, which made him the first UK rap act to have a million-selling single in the US.
The judges said: “A brilliant new voice in British urban music. Witty, eclectic, charismatic - Disc-Overy is completely irresistible.”
Elbow – Build A Rocket Boys!
The quintet, formed in Bury two decades ago, is nominated for the Mercury for the third time with their fifth album. Previous release The Seldom Seen Kid won in 2008 and provided the band, fronted by charismatic raconteur Guy Garvey, with a huge career boost.
The judges said: “Another compelling collection of songs from one of Britain’s greatest bands. Generous in spirit, brilliantly observed and musically uplifting.”
Gwilym Simcock – Good Days At Schloss Elmau
Pianist Simcock from Bangor, Wales, trained at the Royal Academy of Music and has performed and recorded with jazz acts such as Acoustic Triangle and Bill Bruford’s Earthworks as well as fronting his own trio. The album’s title comes from the recording location in Bavaria.
The judges said: “On his first album as a solo performer, internationally acclaimed pianist Gwilym Simcock takes listeners on a spell-binding, lyrical and absorbing musical journey.”
James Blake – James Blake
Mr Blake is a Goldsmiths College music graduate who wrote and recorded his album of dubstep and electronica at his home in New Cross, south east London.
He found wider recognition ahead of his album release when he came second in the BBC’s Sound of 2011 poll which predicts the next big acts for the year ahead.
The judges said: “A strikingly original album. Late night songs, delicate sound fragments, intimate and haunting.”
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Polly Harvey has been a prominent artiste for 20 years and previously won the Mercury in 2001 with Stories From The City, Stories From the Sea. Let England Shake, which prominently features an autoharp, is infused with the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The judges said: “PJ Harvey confirms her status as one of Britain’s most creative artists with another landmark album. Musical meditations on history, war and Englishness: Gripping and profound.”
Katy B – On a Mission
The debut album from Kathleen Brien, from Peckham in south London, and another former Goldsmiths student and classmate of Blake. She is also a former student of the Brit School, attended by Adele. Her album features the top five singles Lights On and Katy On a Mission.
The judges said: “Katy B fashions a wonderfully fresh and vivid pop album from the sounds and encounters of contemporary club culture. Immediate and exhilarating.”
King Creosote and Jon Hopkins – Diamond Mine
Prolific artist Kenny Anderson – who records under the name King Creosote – has release more than 40 albums over the past few years on various labels including his own, Fence. For Diamond Mine, he teamed up with composer and producer Jon Hopkins, who has previously worked with Brian Eno and Coldplay.
The judges said: “Jon Hopkins creates the perfect soundscape for King Creosote’s beautiful songs of life in a Scottish coastal village. Gentle, evocative and moving.”