The Mercury shortlist is unveiled on Wednesday night. Ahead of that, our critics pick the 12 albums they want to see named by the judges
In the 22 years since it was established by the BPI and the trade body of record shops, lest we forget the Mercury prize has come in for its share of criticism. Its too safe, too worthy, too willing to reward a narrow view of British music. Wheree the metal? Why do jazz and folk albums get nominated but never win? Then theres the fact that bands and labels have to pay to enter, meaning some worthy records never get considered because even the small fee is too much for many indies.
Nevertheless, the Mercury is still the prize considered to reward music, rather than sales figures. And while every Mercury shortlist is criticised and picked over, every one has also brought to wider attention albums that might have escaped notice. That said, we know what wed want to see announced on Wednesday so heres our list for 2014.
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by Tim Jonze, Michael Hann, Gwilym Mumford, Dave Simpson, Caroline Sullivan, Dorian Lynskey, Lanre Bakare, Kate Hutchinson, Paul MacInnes, Harriet Gibsone, Laura Barton and Alexis Petridis via Electronic music | The Guardian
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