Anthony & the Johnsons

440Hz · 07-09-2005 4:08pm #1

mercury prize - surprising! tbh ive only heard what ray d'arcy has played, and some clips from 'Anthony and the Johnsons' (1st album) on iTunes. I'm not sure what I think - normally I would just chance it and buy the album, but this one is such a wild card I think I need some feedback before taking the plunge!

reviews?

Jonny Arson · 07-09-2005 5:19pm

They won it on a technicality. They are an American band and only won it becasue their singer was born in Britain and has not lived their in 20 years. I think this has probably taken some of the prestige off the award. Hard-fi shoulda won!

Pacifico · 07-09-2005 6:36pm

Zane from MTV2 wrote:

They won it on a technicality. They are an American band and only won it becasue their singer was born in Britain and has not lived their in 20 years. I think this has probably taken some of the prestige off the award. Hard-fi shoulda won!

Prestige? Hmm.....

Its a crap award anyway......

shuushh · 07-09-2005 7:55pm

yes the prestige :eek:

they won it because their album is very good not just on a technicality

just get I Am A Bird Now since thats the album that they won the prize for

Karlusss · 07-09-2005 10:06pm

Antony, no H

May have been a "technicality", but the album is by a bit the best one nominated.

Ann Elk · 08-09-2005 1:15am

What are the criteria for nominations?? I really thought 'c'mon, feel the Illinoise' by Sufjan Stevens would have been nominated this year. Fwiw i uite like what i've heard of Anthony & the Johnsons although there is a caetain amount of validity i the posts criticising the award, is it not dubious giving an award to a band who have released so little, what happens if everything they release afterwards is ****e? - Look at Miss Dynamite

HarryHoudini · 08-09-2005 8:09am

Yes, he got it on a technicality, but to be fair the best album won.
I am a bird now is an absolutely fantastic album. He has such an original voice, its good to see the Mercury Panel taking a risk and giving it to him, knowing the backlash it would cause. They could have played it safe and given it to the Magic Numbers or Kaiser Chiefs or whoever but they're not deserving of the award.

Serbian · 08-09-2005 9:04am

I am a fan of Antony & the Johnsons (someone from Boards recommended them a while back) and award or no award, their album is still excellent and worth listening to. It's not everyone's cup of tea - it's not most people's cup of tea probably

, so I don't think it would be a good idea to impulse buy the album. See if you like them first by listening to the MP3 samples on their site.

Ann Elk wrote:

is it not dubious giving an award to a band who have released so little

The award is based on the album that is nominated and solely on that album. What comes before or after is irrelevant.

440Hz · 08-09-2005 9:11am

thanks serbian! i dont tend to go for the 'everybodys cup of tea' music anyway. just listened to some of those clips from the link you gave, and I think I'll make my purchase at lunch-time! cheers

08-09-2005 9:20am

Ann Elk wrote:

What are the criteria for nominations?? I really thought 'c'mon, feel the Illinoise' by Sufjan Stevens would have been nominated this year. Fwiw i uite like what i've heard of Anthony & the Johnsons although there is a caetain amount of validity i the posts criticising the award, is it not dubious giving an award to a band who have released so little, what happens if everything they release afterwards is ****e? - Look at Miss Dynamite

Like Serbian said, it's an album award, not an artist's award. Only criteria is they have to be British or Irish, but as people have pointed out, that can be bended. And learn to make readable posts.

SprostonGreen · 08-09-2005 10:20am

If he was born in Britain, that makes him British and as such qualify, I would've thought.

lordgoat · 08-09-2005 1:53pm

Born there and lived there for most of the first 20 years of his life, its just KAiser chiefs or other non-bands fans that have a gripe with A&J's winning, they prob don't get it cos their not trendy enough.... yet

Get the Album you will not be dissappointed

SBob · 08-09-2005 1:59pm

Hmm.. Was hoping Bloc Party would win but I knew it wasn't going to be the Kaiser Chiefs- they never go for the obvious ones and its not an exceptional album anyway.

In the past i think they've always picked really good albums so i'll definitely give this one a shot

SprostonGreen · 08-09-2005 2:46pm

SBob wrote:

In the past i think they've always picked really good albums so i'll definitely give this one a shot

'cept for M People !!

Karlusss · 08-09-2005 6:13pm

I think it's a good way of reasserting that the award goes to the best album - not the hippest band, or the biggest band, or historically the best band.

And the fact that Antony lives overseas and won - over a worse-than-average field - shows what the NME's crap-spouting and scene-mongering has done to British music... i.e. made it crap

My friend said "why weren't Arcade Fire nominated?" today. I said it was because Canadian music isn't crap. Dunno what I meant by that, but they're way better than the whole British and Irish field of contenders.

eth0_ · 08-09-2005 6:18pm

Zane from MTV2 wrote:

Hard-fi shoulda won!

I really, REALLY hope this is a joke?

mentalimplosion · 08-09-2005 8:20pm

either bloc party or MIA should have won it. i don't think it's fair antony and the johnsons won, not just because they're ****e, but because they don't feel british... i always think the album winning should really feel british...

John · 09-09-2005 10:56am

Fair play to Antony and to the Mercury people for having the balls to pick the best album. Antony got in on the same "technicality" that the Kaiser Chiefs got in on. I'm sure other Mercury prize winners have lived outside of the British Isles. Antony has released two great albums and several EPs of highly original and distinctive material, toured the world several times on his own and as part of Lou Reed's band. Kaiser Chiefs can't decide if they want to be a Blur tribute band or a Clash tribute band. Granted Bloc Party are pretty good but they're no Antony

lordgoat · 09-09-2005 1:22pm

mentalimplosion wrote:

either bloc party or MIA should have won it. i don't think it's fair antony and the johnsons won, not just because they're ****e, but because they don't feel british... i always think the album winning should really feel british...

they don't feel british? so to you to cock-party feel British? how does one feel a nationality? texture?

this sounds like one of those things people say when they don't like what they are hearing and try to voice an opinion but just end up sounding... silly.

John · 09-09-2005 1:24pm

what about an Irish artist that wins, should they sound British?

goo · 09-09-2005 1:42pm

John2 wrote:

what about an Irish artist that wins, should they sound British?

I'm sure he means that they should feel British (Isles) ish. You know what he means, instead of saying he feels too American he said he doesn't feel English enough.

lordgoat · 09-09-2005 1:50pm

Who cares what they sound like it's how they 'feel' - right?

dalk · 09-09-2005 2:07pm

Next years qualifying rule (expanded):

An act can only be nominated if they were born in Ireland & UK*.

*They must reside in the mentioned areas. This could be akin to taxation rules, you have to spend x amount of the year to be considered a resident and not 'just' a passport holder (would also keep out those "passports for cash" citizens/subjects or worse from winning). Also that their music 'sounds' like it came from the above mentioned areas (whatever that means). Finally, Acts should possibly be 'felt' up to establish worthiness for Competition entry

...or maybe the judges should just pick what they think is the best album.

SprostonGreen · 09-09-2005 2:34pm

Talvin Singh didnt sound very British, more Indian what with all the sitaars etc. Nationality is a load of boll**ks!!

Anthony & the Johnsons

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