I'm not a big xx fan, and certainly did not get caught up in the hysteria that went with their debut album, released over a year ago now. I always find that when one of their songs is on I find myself thinking this isn't bad, it's quite interesting and a bit different to most indie-pop (shite) around at the moment. Listening to the album through however, I find an extreme lack of diversity and although I hate saying it in regards to anything-it does all sound the same (or at least too similar). I can understand why they won though (especially after the fuss over Speech Debelle's win last year). The xx were the obvious and inevitable choice for this year, and I don't think too many were disappointed. I did feel however, that there were more deserved winners.
All the talk in the 'build up' was over Weller. The bookies were apparently taking it as a given that he was going to win, although this always seemed like a bit of a nonsense. I'm a huge Weller fan, however I wasn't as impressed with 'Wake Up The Nation' as everybody else. I prefer '22 Dreams' and still found that struggled quite a bit at times. Realistically, he hasn't written a brilliant album since 'Stanley Road' 15 years ago, so it would have been a bit of a backwards step for him to win.
Personally I loved two of the albums nominated this year, with one deserving to win. The debut album from Irishman Conor O'Brien (better known as Villagers) was brilliant. I found myself telling everyone to listen to it and getting caught up in its lyrics and dark melodies for days on end. Winner of the Mercury award? Probably not.
When a band is from Oxford, I usually take notice. 'Antidotes', the debut from Foals, really didn't do much for me. I found that it was very fashionable, and if I'm honest, pretty irritating in parts. They did however, completely turn it around with 'Total Life Forever', and should've won the prize. I don't want to praise the pants off the record as it's by no means perfect, and not my favourite of 2010...but I do think it ticked more boxes than any of the other albums nominated, therefore deserving to win the prize.
It's over now, and will be forgotten by next week; but it is one of the few music awards that matters to me, and one that rewards interesting over 'perfect for BBC Radio 1'.
Nothing interesting about I Am Kloot? Have you any idea of the story of John Bramwell? Have you every sat and listened to his anecdotes? His story could be made into a film. I wonder if any member of Foals (or The XX, for that matter) will ever be able to realistically make such a claim...
ReplyDeleteJudging purely on the music....which I find relatively uninteresting. I don't form my opinions on a band by looking at the personal or public lives of their frontmen. It may make the man, or indeed the band (as an entity) more interesting, but not their music...unless it is reflected there...unfortunately I don't believe it is.
ReplyDeleteI can think of many a man/woman whose life I'd like to see in film...doesn't mean they're worthy of winning a music prize...
The quote in your original blog said 'there's nothing interesting about them', as opposed to there being nothing interesting about the music, hence my response. I find the music extremely interesting, both lyrically and musically but we all have our opinions...
ReplyDelete