Gallagher album makes Mercury Prize shortlist
EVERYTHING EVERYTHING ALSO NOMINATED IN PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
NOEL Gallagher and Everything Everything are among the nominees for this year’s Mercury Prize.
The former Oasis star is shortlisted for his latest High Flying Birds album Who Built the Moon, which reached number one on its release last November.
It is his first solo nomination for the prestigious award. He made the shortlist with Oasis twice, for their debut album Definitely Maybe in 1995 and follow-up (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? in 1996. Manchester-based band Everything Everything have scored their second Mercury Nomination for last year’s release, A Fever Dream. Their debut album Man Alive was shortlisted for the 2011 prize.
It’s the strongest Manchester contingent the shortlist has seen in years. Last year, Stockport band Blossoms were in the running but lost out to soul singer-songwriter Sampha. Other local nominees in recent years include The 1975 (2016) and Go-Go Penguin (2014).
The coveted prize, which recognises the best album of the year, has not been won by a Manchester act since Elbow brought it home with The Seldom Seen Kid in 2008.
Noel and Everything Everything will be up against Lily Allen, Arctic Monkeys, Everything is Recorded, Florence + the Machine, King Krule, Novelist, Nadine Shah, Jorja Smith, Sons of Kemet and Wolf Alice for this year’s prize.
The judging panel, made up of leading musicians and industry figures, said: “This year’s Hyundai Mercury Prize celebrates albums by musicians at all stages of their careers, but with a shared belief in the importance of music for navigating life’s challenges – whether personal or political, falling in or out of love, growing up or looking back, angry or ecstatic. The music here is funny and inspiring, smart and moving. 12 amazing albums!”
Noel’s Who Built the Moon is joint favourite to win with Arctic Monkeys’ Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino and Florence’s High As Hope, with odds of 4/1 according to betmaker William Hill.
Everything Everything are odds of 8/1 together with King Krule and Everything is Recorded, behind Lily Allen, Jorja Smith and Wolf Alice at 6/1.
“There are 12 excellent albums here – highlighting artistic achievement from UK artists across a diverse range of music genres,’ says Rupert Adams of William Hill.
“This quality is reflected in the closeness of the odds that we’ve given to the 2018 Hyundai Mercury Prize Albums of the Year – every album here could be a winner.”
The winner will be announced on September 20 at a ceremony at London’s Eventim Apollo.