The Albums of the Year 2004 revealed…

“This is an exceptional year, most dramatically illustrated by the emergence of several new and varied bands together with outstanding work by three powerful female singers,” says Simon Frith, the Chair of Judges. “The shortlist also recognises the continued good health of the gloriously eclectic world that is British and Irish music.”

Five of the twelve short-listed albums are debuts, heralding the arrival of significant new talents across a variety of musical styles. Among the newcomers are three bands - Franz Ferdinand with FRANZ FERDINAND, Keane’s HOPES & FEARS and The Zutons’ WHO KILLED… THE ZUTONS - who are joined by two rising young female vocal talents, Joss Stone with THE SOUL SESSIONS and Amy Winehouse’s FRANK.

British dance and urban music is represented by Basement Jaxx’s KISH KASH, Jamelia with THANK YOU and UK rapper Ty’s UPWARDS. The shortlist is completed by The Streets’ A GRAND DON’T COME FOR FREE, Snow Patrol with FINAL STRAW, Belle & Sebastian’s DEAR CATASTROPHE WAITRESS and CUCKOOLAND, the latest album by the legendary British musician Robert Wyatt.

The 2004 Albums of the Year are:

Basement Jaxx. Kish Kash (XL Recordings)

Belle & Sebastian. Dear Catastrophe Waitress (Rough Trade)

Franz Ferdinand. Franz Ferdinand (Domino)

Jamelia. Thank You (Parlophone)

Keane. Hopes and Fears (Island Records)

Snow Patrol. Final Straw (Fiction)

Joss Stone. The Soul Sessions (Relentless)

The Streets. A Grand Don’t Come for Free (679 Recordings)

Ty. Upwards (Big Dada Recordings)

Amy Winehouse. Frank (Island Records)

Robert Wyatt. Cuckooland (Hannibal/Rykodisc)

The Zutons. Who Killed…The Zutons (Deltasonic)

The Nationwide Mercury Prize provides a snapshot of the year in UK music. The shortlist was chosen from an entry of over 180 albums by British and Irish artists.

The winner of the 2004 Prize will be announced at the Nationwide Mercury Prize Show on Tuesday 7 September.

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Here’s some Mercury PR background to the nominated albums, and what the judges said, together with the briefest Shakenstir comments:

AMY WINEHOUSE ‘Frank’

Frank is the debut album by 20-year-old North Londoner, Amy Winehouse. Released in October 2003, the record features the singles Stronger Than Me, Take The Box and In My Bed. Frank entered the UK chart at the start of 2004.

‘An ebullient blend of raw emotions, sardonic sensibilities and an original take on jazz and R&B’

Shakenstir: Great voice, shame about the guitar. Carina Round where are you?

BASEMENT JAXX ‘Kish Kash’

Kish Kash is the follow-up to Basement Jaxx’s Mercury short-listed album, Rooty. The South London duo of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe have enlisted such talents as Mercury-winner Dizzee Rascal, Siouxsie Sioux and Me’Shell Ndegeocello to work on this album, released in October 2003.

‘British dance music is alive and kicking’

Shakenstir: Faultline and The Loose Canons were better.

FRANZ FERDINAND ‘Franz Ferdinand’

Franz Ferdinand is a Glasgow-based four-piece band. Their debut album has sold over a million copies worldwide since its release in February 2004. The album includes the hit singles Take Me Out and Matinee.

‘Art pop masterpiece’

Shakenstir: Okay, just Okay. Good live band.

ROBERT WYATT ‘Cuckooland’

Robert Wyatt has been one of the indomitable forces in British music over five decades. Starting with the Soft Machine in the late-Sixties, 59-year-old Wyatt has worked with such diverse performers as Brian Eno, Elvis Costello, Paul Weller and acclaimed jazz musician Annie Whitehead. Cuckooland - Wyatt’s first album in six years - straddles many genres, including jazz, folk and pop.

‘Robert Wyatt’s take on the world is gloriously idiosyncratic, passionate, gentle and inspiring’

Shakenstir: Vintage stuff.

TY ‘Upwards’

London-based rapper Ty is one of the stalwarts of the UK hip-hop scene, with a burgeoning reputation emanating from his acclaimed club appearances. Upwards is Ty’s second album, released on the renowned Big Dada label also responsible for previously shortlisted artist, Roots Manuva. Upwards was released in September 2003.

‘A very British rap record - down to earth, musically diverse and invigoratingly upbeat’

Shakenstir: Who?

SNOW PATROL ‘Final Straw’

Snow Patrol is a Northern Irish quartet now based in Scotland. Final Straw is the band’s third album and has been a regular in the UK chart since its release in August 2003. The album features the singles Run, Spitting Games and Chocolate.

‘An album with massive presence, immediately engaging the listener in the band’s emotionally-charged songs’

Shakenstir: Irish acts Bell X1, Damien Dempsey and Paddy Casey produced better albums. But Snow Patrol did release the pop single of the year by a country mile, and this is the band’s best album yet. And it would be great to see an Irish act win.

THE STREETS ‘A Grand Don’t Come for Free’

This is the second album by The Streets, aka 25-year-old Mike Skinner. His first, ‘Original Pirate Material’, was a Mercury short-listed album in 2002. ‘A Grand Don’t Come for Free’ – featuring the hit singles Fit But You Know It and Dry Your Eyes – reached number one in the UK chart in July 2004.

‘A touching, funny and gripping story of life’s frustrations in modern Britain’

Shakenstir: Nice album cover.

KEANE ‘Hopes and Fears’

Hopes and Fears is the first album by East Sussex trio Keane, who feature the unconventional rock line-up of vocals, piano and drums. The album – a number one in the UK – includes the hit singles Somewhere Only We Know and Everybody’s Changing (a song originally released on the famed Fierce Panda label).

‘A supremely confident debut unveiling a stunning new British rock voice on a formidable collection of songs’

Shakenstir: A very nice album but not a great album, and just a tad repetitive.

JAMELIA ‘Thank You’

Thank You is the second album by 23-year-old Birmingham R&B singer and songwriter Jamelia. The album includes the hit singles Superstar, Thank You and See It In A Boy’s Eyes - the latter co-written with Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

‘British urban music that sparkles with unusual subtlety and depth’

Shakenstir: ‘Thank You’ is a fresh-sounding single, but one good song an award-winning album does not make…

THE ZUTONS ‘Who Killed… The Zutons’

This five-piece band are charter members of a burgeoning Liverpool scene. Who Killed… The Zutons was produced by Ian Broudie and the album includes the singles You Will You Won’t and Pressure Point.

‘Welcome to the eccentric, exhilarating and spiky world of The Zutons, inhabited by catchy songs, primal guitars and saxophone’

Shakenstir: The Mercury Music Prize…

JOSS STONE ‘The Soul Sessions’

The Soul Sessions is the 17-year-old Devon singer’s debut album. Produced by soul legend Betty Wright, the album has been widely acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic since its release in November 2003. It features the singles Fell In Love With a Boy and Super Duper Love.

‘Remarkable showcase of classic soul power’

Shakenstir: Good voice but ordinary songs.

BELLE & SEBASTIAN ‘Dear Catastrophe Waitress’

The latest album by the celebrated Scottish seven-piece led by singer and songwriter Stuart Murdoch. Dear Catastrophe Waitress was produced by Trevor Horn. The album includes the singles I’m A Cuckoo and Wrapped Up in Books.

‘An enchanting reminder of the romance of witty and elegant pop songs’

Shakenstir: At last!

So, WHAT DO YOU THINK? and WHO ISN’T LISTED THAT SHOULD BE?. Please contact us with your thoughts and we’ll put them on the site.

ED