Uncut.co.uk | Uncut Music Award 2008 - Post details: Introducing the Uncut Music Awards

Post details: Introducing the Uncut Music Awards

All the latest news about Uncut's prestigious new prize. Have your say here, too.

Introducing the Uncut Music Awards

2008-09-25 09:50:46

As you may have heard, we've just launched the Uncut Music Award, to find the most inspiring and richly rewarding album of the last 12 months. We'll be posting all the latest news about the award here, but first we should explain the details.

Continued...

Chosen from a longlist of 25 albums (see the full list below) released between September 1, 2007 and August 31, 2008, a ten-strong industry panel including Peter Hook and Edwyn Collins will choose the winner by ranking their five favourites from the year.

Other industry luminaries on the Uncut Music Award panel are: BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris, producer of Later With Jools Holland Alison Howe, radio presenter and former NME editor Danny Kelly, legendary promoter Vince Power, broadcaster and writer Mark Radcliffe, British folk artist Linda Thompson and chairman of the British Phonographic Industry and former EMI chairman Tony Wadsworth.

Naturally, chairing the judges, will be legendary Uncut editor Allan Jones.

Once the panel’s votes have been combined, a short list of eight albums will be generated. The panellists will then pick the very best to take the inaugural Uncut Music Award. The winner will be announced in early November.

Editor Allan Jones says: “We are extremely excited about the launch of the Uncut Music Award and the panel of judges we are assembling, whose votes will decide the eventual winner. With so much brilliant music released over the last year to chose from, argue over and champion, I predict only that the judging process will be combative, to say the least.”

The Uncut Music Award long list is as follows. Let us know what you think are the highs and lows of the 25 chosen albums, and to say which you think deserves our first annual prize.

KEVIN AYERS – The Unfairground
JAMES BLACKSHAW – Litany Of Echoes
BON IVER – For Emma, Forever Ago
ISOBEL CAMPBELL & MARK LANEGAN – Sunday At Devil Dirt
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS – Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS – Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
ELBOW – The Seldom-Seen Kid
THE FELICE BROTHERS - The Felice Brothers
FLEET FOXES – Fleet Foxes
PJ HARVEY – White Chalk
THE HOLD STEADY – Stay Positive
HOWLIN RAIN – Magnificent Fiend
JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN – To Survive
STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS – Real Emotional Trash
ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS – Raising Sand
PORTISHEAD – Third
THE RACONTEURS – Consolers Of The Lonely
RADIOHEAD - In Rainbows
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Magic
RACHEL UNTHANK & THE WINTERSET- The Bairns
VAMPIRE WEEKEND – Vampire Weekend
PAUL WELLER – 22 Dreams
WHITE DENIM – Workout Holiday
WILD BEASTS – Limbo, Panto
ROBERT WYATT – Comicopera

John Mulvey

Permalink 24 comments • Trackback (0)

Comments, Trackbacks:

Comment from: jamesewan [Visitor]

I think it has to be In Rainbows, the most consistent of my favourites from this list. After that I go for Bon Iver and Nick Cave, followed by Portishead. I'm not convinced by 'Sunday At Devil Dirt' - I think Micah P Hinson's 'Red Empire Orchestra' did this kind of revisionist high-jinx Americana better, personally.

Permalink 2008-09-25 @ 15:04

Comment from: Daniel Paton [Visitor]

I can narrow it to a top 5: Robert Wyatt, Bon Iver, James Blackshaw. Portishead, Radiohead.

Permalink 2008-09-25 @ 16:24

Comment from: Rob Smith [Visitor]

Should be The Felice Brothers, but they'll give it to The Hold Steady because they seem to know where the bodies are buried.

Permalink 2008-09-25 @ 19:58

Comment from: samantha gore [Visitor]

fantastic list. Congratulations Uncut for an award list which shames the mercury. I too can narrow this down to 5 after a lot of thought. Yes it is difficult. It would have to be though.......Kevin Ayers, Fleet Foxes, Isobel Cambell and Mark Lanegan, Stephen Malkmus and Robert Wyatt.

Permalink 2008-09-25 @ 22:34

Comment from: Will Walton [Visitor]

I don't agree with all of the list, but I do agree that it has honoured those that should have been listed for the Mercury's. Don't agree with Fleet Foxes. Yes it appealed at first but it has no legs. Bon Iver ditto. I would have a final eight of Kevin Ayers; Nick Cave; The Felice Brothers; The Hold Steady; Portishead; Radiohead; Paul Weller; Robert Wyatt.

Permalink 2008-09-26 @ 12:33

Comment from: jamesewan [Visitor]

I agree with Will in part about Fleet Foxes but not about Bon Iver, which I think will stand the test of time. I like the impressionist touches, that make it a more personal, more intimate listening experience. I find Fleet Foxes, while a decent album, draws too heavily on the past and has less of its own unique identity.

Permalink 2008-09-26 @ 13:24

Comment from: JayP [Visitor]

A disappointingly conservative and obvious list...think outside the box lads...and yet another issue with Dylan on the cover...YAWN.

Permalink 2008-09-26 @ 16:48

Comment from: Alex Cho [Visitor]

What an oversight! My favourite this year is definitely My Morning Jacket's Evil Urges. Listen to it again if you didn't get it the first time around. Other suggestions: Spiritualized's Songs in A & E. Tricky's Knowle West Boy. Please leave those 2007 releases out.

Permalink 2008-09-28 @ 09:41

Comment from: RC [Visitor]

I am happy to see both Fleet Foxes and Felice Brothers on the list - would plump for Felice if pushed. Radiohead????? Dylan cover (again)? Is it assumed that profits would drop if a new, fresh artist was on the cover? Seems to be a constant rotation of half a dozen or so cover stars.......

Permalink 2008-09-29 @ 12:38

Comment from: K'fisher [Visitor]

Hit & miss - Micah P Hinson, Vetiver, Bowerbirds would all have been worthy of a mention, and I cannot, cannot accept Radiohead, Paul Weller making the list? Was Laura Marling overlooked, or released too early?

Permalink 2008-09-29 @ 12:42

Comment from: Jon [Visitor]

Yay ! Dylan on the cover ! This is in fact what I want - ignore the nay sayers ! Top 3 only on the list - mainly because I'm unfamiliar with about half of it. Fleet Foxes, Alison Krauss & Robert Plant, Howling Rain.

Permalink 2008-09-29 @ 13:09

Comment from: Matt Roberts [Visitor]

Weller, Springsteen, Hold Steady, Radiohead and Plant / Krauss are all superb albums but the Elbow album must walk away with the award. It's not been such a bad year though looking at that list.

Permalink 2008-09-30 @ 08:44

Comment from: Polythene Pam [Visitor]

Why aren't DR. DOG's "Fate" or THE EXPLORERS CLUB's "Freedom Wind" on the list. Those are the best albums that have come out this past year.

Permalink 2008-09-30 @ 17:36

Comment from: Duncan Park [Visitor]

I'll say that the three greatest albums of the year this far are: Black Mountain "In the Future", Conor Oberst "Conor Oberst" and The Mars Volta "Bedlam in Goliath". However, seeing as none of those are on the list(which is undoubtedly the finest list of "best albums" i have seen this year in any magazine/website), i'm going to have to go with Mark Lanegan & Isobel Campbell, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Fleet Foxes, Radiohead, The Hold Steady and PJ Harvey. much respect uncut... truly the best music magazine around these days... and i'm 18 years old.

Permalink 2008-10-02 @ 14:15

Comment from: John Campbell [Visitor]

much respect to uncut for coming up with a list of music which means something and does not limit itself to age of artist or whether he/she is this moment's hype, just great and long lasting good music. I am going to have to say my 8 are: The Hold Steady, PJ Harvey, Kevin Ayers, Drive-by Truckers, Fleet Foxes, The Felice Brothers, The Raconteurs and Stephen Malkmus. And the top prize should go to Kevin Ayers because what an amazing album to do after all these years, it unites many different generations with the musicians who worked on it and he was a true pioneer and different person. Outside chance I guess, but I bought the new album after someone gave me Joy of A Toy and I love them both.

Permalink 2008-10-02 @ 19:09

Comment from: harris [Visitor]

This is truly a great list, but i believe that "Saturnalia" by the Gutter twins should be included.The combination of M.Lanegan's voice with the lurics of G. Dulli produced a fine record.

Permalink 2008-10-06 @ 11:50

Comment from: Sexy Sadie [Visitor]

I note the lack of reference in these comments to The Bairns by Rachel Unthank & The Winterset. It is becoming common knowledge that at the Mercurys, it came down to a two horse race in the judging room between Elbow and Rachel Unthank & The Winterset. I'm sure that the album is still relatively unknown by the majority of readers, which would explain the lack of comment, but I would wager that anyone who gave The Bairns some considered listening would find it to be a staggering work of art, in terms of its emotional and musical honesty and impact. It's a true original if nothing else, and you can't say that very often these days. You are likely to either get it in a huge way, or not at all. They've had a lot of press, and some might say that they're very presentable, but if Robert Wyatt put The Bairns in his personal top ten albums of the year, they've got to be more than pretty faces. And Radiohead said The Bairns should have won the Mercury! And Joan As Policewoman is a fan! What an Uncut Music Award love-in!

Permalink 2008-10-06 @ 13:21

Comment from: John Mulvey [Member]

Wow is that a Rachel Unthank street team in action there? Weird post. . .

Permalink 2008-10-08 @ 16:26

Comment from: kemmysunshine [Visitor]

Sexy Sadie; whether street team or not (as I suspect)is bang on target. "The Bairns" is everything she says..and more....try listening to it and you may well fall under it's spell. A truly magical album.

Permalink 2008-10-23 @ 17:13

Comment from: bri k [Visitor]

not heard much from the list but what i do know and yes i am a fan weller has delivered an album that not only put two huge mod fingers upto the press but have completely fooled even his most die=hard of fans! me included. there is some of his finest compostions to date a nugget and rarity that an artist still 30 years later folks can still produce it mean it and want it. keep the faith now weller make me that all out soul album just for me!!!!see u in the liverpool roll on.

Permalink 2008-10-26 @ 20:30

Comment from: aidan burke [Visitor]

Dunno what anyone else is on bout but without doubt Fleet Foxes,without any doubt,seen them twice in Hammersmith an this band has finally made me let go a the 60s a little bit,there the first modern day album i've bought in God knows how long an they've actaully got me excited bout music again,without any shadow of a doubt..FLEET FOXES

Permalink 2008-11-12 @ 23:20

Comment from: William [Visitor]

As a post-script what happened to Manu Chao? I've just checked and "La Radiolina" qualifies for this award, so why was it missed off? A seriously glaring ommision IMHO.

Permalink 2008-11-13 @ 09:50

Comment from: Nickbert [Visitor]

I am truly surprised that the magazine that IMHO has the best reviews of any published, would not use its talented critics to debate the discs ... the level of discussion (and lack of knowledge) between the judges is truly sad. Thank god these - wankers is a brit term right> - did not pick the 25 at least it's fairly good ... maybe that's where their excellent regular reviewers came in?

Permalink 2008-12-07 @ 04:47

Comment from: Luis Gonzalez [Visitor]

Portishead, Radiohead... Is TV on the radio out because of the date?

Permalink 2008-12-17 @ 02:30

This post has 1 feedback awaiting moderation...