mercury's.

so it's that time of year again when the Mercury's are just around the corner (ish).

the nominees and their nominated albums are:

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare (i'm thinking: they can't win two years in a row can they?)

Dizzee Rascal - Maths and English (i'm thinking: good contender, but there's better)

The View - Hats Off to the Buskers (i'm thinking: no comment)

Maps - We Can Create (i'm thinking: i haven't listened to this album)

Bat For Lashes - Fur and Gold (i'm thinking: breathtaking album, definitely worthy of winning)

Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future (i'm thinking: no no no no no no, if this wins i'll eat my own head)

Jamie T - Panic Prevention (i'm thinking: bundles of talent, quality album but bring on the new material)

The Young Knives - Voices of Animals and Men (i'm thinking: very good album, but again bring on the new material)

Fionn Regan - The End of History (i'm thinking: i haven't listened)

Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford - Basquiat Strings (i'm thinking: see above)

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (i'm thinking: don't give Wino Winehouse £20K, she'll just drink it or snort it away)

New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom (i'm thinking: what a hideously boring album)

Bat For Lashes - Trophy

on sunday i went to the finale of Manchester International Festival which was Unknown Pleasures at The Lowry.

overall, it was a disappointing day. it rained (surprise surprise), and although i had my trusty £3 massive umbrella from Primani i had to endure the heckling of SHORT PEOPLE behind me telling me to put my umbrella down. my suggestion is to grow a bit or don't stand behind me?! ugh. anyway.

The Whip put in a brilliant performance after the dreadfulness that was Gasperilla. New Young Pony Club were sufficiently boring. The Horrors, although amusing to watch, just sounded like a whole lot of noise. The Gossip were good (loooooving that Aaliyah cover!) but only played for 30 minutes despite being scheduled to play for an hour as headliners. there's a more detailed review and photographs of the day over at Tourista de Mancunia.


The Gossip - Are U That Somebody? (Aaliyah cover, live at The Barfly in May)

food was expensive, pink skinny jeans were everywhere, there were quite a few idiots in the crowd including a middle aged woman who stole some 13 year old's mobile phone, and there were probably less than 2000 people there despite there being 5000 tickets available.

well well well, Manchester International Festival i can safely say you felt nothing like a festival at all. bring on D Percussion!