The Hold Steady At First Ave. Tonight, Mercury Music Prize Shortlist Announced

So, I think I've sufficiently recovered from Sunday's late night Fleet Foxes show, and now it's on to tonight's very sold out Hold Steady show at First Avenue. I'll always consider these guys to be a local band, since many of them grew up here, and their songs are so steeped in Twin City references. So this is a homecoming show, of sorts. These guys love coming back here, and their local shows are always quite memorable. I have finally been won over by the new record, and, while not being as immediately accesable as their previous two albums (and quite darker in theme and tone), I feel these new tracks are going to fit seamlessly into their set of older songs, and the show should be a boozy blast. I've been looking forward to this concert for quite a while. So, once my head gets cleared on the morrow, I will do my best to remember the show enough to write a proper review. So look for that.

Also, this morning the shortlist for the UK's Mercury Music Prize was announced in Covent Garden in London. This award is bestowed upon the finest album from the previous year by a British or Irish artist. A few big names made the shortlist, like Radiohead and Robert Plant/Alison Krauss. Also, the Arctic Monkey's Alex Turner has been nominated for the third successive year for his work with The Last Shadow Puppets. A few surprises, as well, regarding who was left off the list-most notably, best-selling artist Duffy did not receive a nomination for her record 'Rockferry,' Portishead's excellent 'Third,' their first studio album in 11 years, and Coldplay, who failed to receive a Mercury Prize nomination for one of their albums for the first time in their career. I have 9 of the 12 records on the list this year, which is considerably more than in years past (with all their obscure jazz nominations), and love quite a few of the albums up for the award (Radiohead, of course, Elbow, Last Shadow Puppets, and British Sea Power), but my money is on 'Untrue' by the mysterious UK DJ Burial. The record is the sound of London at night, in my opinion, and is far and away the best electronic album I've heard in years. I think that Burial's mystique will also factor into the vote, with no one quite sure who he is and what he looks like, they might give him the award in hope that he just show up to the award ceremony. I'm not sure if this is an 'official' video, or not, for the track 'Archangel,'  but either way, the song is good, and the dark theme of the video does the track justice.
Here is the full list of nominee's. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on September 9th.


Adele - '19'
British Sea Power - 'Do You Like Rock Music?'
Burial - 'Untrue'
Elbow - 'The Seldom Seen Kid'
Estelle - 'Shine'
The Last Shadow Puppets - 'The Age Of The Understatement'
Laura Marling - 'Alas I Cannot Swim'
Neon Neon - 'Stainless Style'
Portico Quartet - 'Knee-Deep In The North Sea'
Robert Plant And Alison Krauss – 'Raising Sand'
Radiohead - 'In Rainbows'
Rachel Unthank And The Winterset – 'The Bairns'