Antony and the Johnsons win the 2005 Mercury Prize.
The Nationwide Mercury Prize is one of the most prestigious awards given in the U.K. to musicians. The prize is designed to recognize the 12 top albums released during the year by British or Irish artists and name one of the albums the "Album Of the Year." The prize is sponsored by Nationwide, a financial firm. The "Album Of the Year" award will be presented in early September. The 2005 list of 12 is as follows:
- Antony and the Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now -
Antony is an avant-garde sexually ambiguous performer blessed with one of the most unique voices in popular music. This stunning album includes guest performances from Rufus Wainwright, Boy George, and Lou Reed.
- Bloc Party - Silent Alarm -
Bloc Party are perhaps the most critically acclaimed of the new bands heavily influenced by early 80's post-punk by the likes of New Order and Gang Of Four. This is an impressively self-assured and polished debut album.
- Coldplay - X&Y -
This is the 3rd Mercury Prize nomination for Coldplay. Perhaps this album's greatest achievement is that it lived up to tremendous expectations.
- Hard-Fi - Stars Of CCTV -
This album was just released in July 2005 and is the debut release by a band that creates guitar rock influenced by ska.
- Kaiser Chiefs - Employment -
The Kaiser Chiefs play music that brings back the memory of groups such as the Jam with music that sounds like punk turning into new wave. This is their debut album.
- KT Tunstall - Eye To the Telescope -
Tunstall is an alt-rock singer-songwriter who ranges from gentle acoustic guitar pop to music with electronic flourishes and touches of rock. This is her debut album.
