We have the short list for the UK’s 2024 Mercury Prize

The Mercury Prize was the template for Canada’s Polaris Music Prize. A bunch of music industry boffins nominate, debate, and then vote on a bunch of albums until things get whittled down to a short list of finalists. While Canada has ten on the final list, the Mercurys have a dozen.

Here are the finalists for 2024.

Corinne Bailey Rae – Black Rainbows
Barry Can’t Swim – When Will We Land?
Berwyn – Who Am I
Cat Burns – Early Twenties
Charli XCX – BRAT
CMAT – Crazymad, for Me
Corto.alto – Bad with Names
English Teacher – This Could Be Texas
Ghetts – On Purpose, with Purpose
Beth Gibbons – Lives Outgrown
The Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy
Nia Archives – Silence Is Loud

Me? I really like the Beth Gibbons album as well as the debut from The Last Dinner Party. But we’ll see, right?

For whatever reason, there will NOT be a public ceremony for the Mercury Prize this year, a break with a 32-year tradition. We’ll just get an announcement in September.