The show playlist can be found here (minus the White Lies track)

I’ll see you next week with fresh hot tracks and some out-landish Bestival news!!  Tara O.

I would’ve loved to have seen the looks on the audiences faces when Speech’s name was announced oo if i had a nickel for every dropped jaw… and fake smile…

Her CD “Speech Therapy” will definitely be a ‘new’ thing – even to those in the UK where it was released only on June 1, 2009 (though singles pre-dated this).

Well, good for her (though I still think Glasvegas should’ve won).  Wonder how she’ll spend her L20,000?

Heard she wants to start her own label.

Which leaves us with Florence…

-she’s talented (singer & songwriter)
-her CD missed #1 UK album spot ONLY cause MJ’s damn re-release came out that same wk (don’t even get me started on MJ)
- she great voice like Bat4lashes, and can also sound like La roux at times
- she’s almost as original as GV (and they’re friends. bonus!)
- her lyrics can be fun, or dramatic like GV’s or sexually confident like Lily’s
- her CDs songs are varied and well enough done, making it a solid cd all way thru
- she’s a critics/fan favorite
- her sound is …how to put this ‘uk-ish’ (say unlike FF who admittedly’s got some latino influence & heading there more n more
- plus, everyone’s raggin on the Invisible (so *what if they sound like TV on the radio. damn hard to not sound like someone these days!) so they can’t win
- Speech debelle‘ll be happy just to be nominated, as will Sweet Billy Pilgrim (who’ll also get dinged for being little too close in style to last yrs CD winner Seldon Seen Kid)
- led bib is great for advancing jazz but.. end of the day, it’s still jazzzz (i’m just sayin!),
- that leaves La roux (great in the moment but not what judges want uk music to be remembered for in years to come)
- the horrors, kasabian (Not sure why either made the list… the requisite rock bands included?) – and lisa hannigan from ireland –I hear good things about her, she’s a talented multi instumentatlist – and she might win instead – if judges go the surprise route.

…so if i’m right, what do *I win??

We were promised jetpacks
CD These 4 walls
- quiet little voices

Popular workshop
- her birthday (single)

Super Furry Animals
CD dark days light years
- crazy naked girls

Eugene McGuiness
CD Eugene McGuiness
- fonz

Lily Allen
CD Alright, still
- Ldn

Speech Debelle
CD Speech Therapy
- bad boy

Florence and the Machine
CD Lungs
- my boy builds coffins

Wake the President
CD You can’t change that boy
- remember fun

La Roux
CD La Roux
- in for the kill

The Maccabees
CD WAll of arms
- kiss and resolve

Pete Doherty
CD Grace/Wastelands
- a little death around the eyes

Future of the Left
CD Travels with myself and another
- stand by your manatee

Noise Annoys simon
CD you say it i’ll know it
- all her beauty

Maximo Park
CD quicken the heart
- tanned

The Brakes
CD Touchdown
- Hey Hey

Enjoy ya summer!

What it is…
The Mercury Prize recognizes the year’s best album by a British or Irish artist

It’s a £20,000 (about $35,000 Cdn) prize and comes with a tremendous growth in industry and fan recognition. Even shortlisters see their CD sales rise. The 2009 winner will be announced at a London ceremony on Sept. 8

My interviews and pics with some shortlisters…
Here are recent interviews with two of the shortlist nominees: Glasvegas and Friendly Fires.

My prediction:
Even though Glasvegas *should win, I predict (a riot.ha) that Florence will win- who almost deserves it as much. If not, then Lisa Hannigan’ll get it. argh!

ps. Where’s White Lies, Micachu & the Shapes and Super Furry Animals in this list… Better be cause they missed the deadline!

The 2009 nominees:
* Bat For Lashes – Two Suns
* Florence And The Machine – Lungs
* Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires
* Glasvegas – Glasvegas
* Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
* Led Bib – Sensible Shoes
* Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew
* The Horrors – Primary Colours
* The Invisible – The Invisible
* La Roux – La Roux
* Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy
* Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men

MERCURY PRIZE ODDS
· Kasabian – 5/1
· Florence and the Machine – 5/1
· Bat For Lashes – 6/1
· Glasvegas – 6/1
· La Roux – 6/1
· Lisa Hannigan – 8/1
· Speech Debelle – 8/1
· The Horrors – 8/1
· Friendly Fires – 8/1
· The Invisible – 10/1
· Sweet Billy Pilgrim – 10/1
· Led Bib – 10/1