Yeah yeah it's a rubbish competition or whatever... but I don't really want to debate that. The idea is to pick 5 glaring omissions from the Mercury Prize list of nominations (not just winners) - and a full list of all nominees can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_prize
RULES: The first prize was held in 1992 and included albums from the second half of 1991. So to round it off we'll have any time in 1991 as the start point, right up to the present. I'm sure we can all name a load of bands we like who sold about 5 copies of handmade vinyl they released themselves, but I was thinking about keeping this to bands that most people will generally have heard of, not just a list of obscure bands. But rules are there to be broke so pick whatever. Obviously only British and Irish bands count, but if only part of the band fits that category that's allowed (example: Razorlight *shudder* would qualify even though at least one of them was Swedish or something). Plus British and Irish born artists are fine (example: Antony & The Johnsons won even though he spent most of his life in America - so I guess you could include Guns N' Roses as Slash was born in Stoke!)
But you get the idea. Feel free to suggest an album too.
Five from me:
1) Spiritualized - difficult to believe they've NEVER been nominated, I'd pick any of their albums, but let's go for Ladies & Gentlemen...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEXO15RX36Y
2) Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuQUrk8nhPw
3) Teenage Fanclub - again take your pick, I'll go with Songs From Northern Britain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mMPxxDb7xY
4) The Duke Spirit - Neptune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llWh9JBsLuc
5) The Stone Roses - The Second Coming - don't care what anyone says, this is a great album
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI6RdZTujL0
Others in contention were The Beta Band - The Three EPs which I don't think would count as it's technically a comp.
It's Jo & Danny - Lank Haired Girl To Bearded Boy a great lost album, I had it down at #6 when I did an albums of the decade list a few years back, a bit obscure though...
Spacemen 3 - Recurring was Feb 1991 so was cutting it fine, plus they'd already split by then, the album was recorded in 1990 mostly.
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- (joking aside, I love it and I love him.