The chasm between British and American rock 'n' roll grew miles wider on Tuesday, when the English music industry announced its candidates for the 1998 Technics Mercury Music Prize -- one of the U.K.'s most prestigious entertainment awards. |
Mildly popular and downright unknown in the U.S., artists such as 4 Hero, Robbie Williams and Catatonia topped the list for best U.K. album, along with international contenders like Massive Attack, Propellerheads and the Verve.
Celebrating their 20th birthday this year, Pulp graces the top of the heap for the third time with This is Hardcore. A true British sensation, Pulp headlined the Glastonbury festival in 1995, the same year that frontman Jarvis Cocker and mates released their critically applauded album Different Class in the UK.
Regarded as an artistic triumph, This is Hardcore catapulted Pulp up the British charts once again, but failed to shake American listeners out of their Titanic/Will Smith daze. Regardless, the band is confident that its suave brand of glam rock will sweep the competition again this year.
"It's obviously an honor to be nominated for the Mercury Music prize for the third time," Pulp said in a prepared statement. "We've won it before and some have said This is Hardcore is our best album to date ... who's to say we can't do it again."
Despite their impressive track record, Pulp is not a sure thing this year. Gamblers overseas are putting their money on the Verve, who launched their North American tour in Chicago Tuesday night. Ironically, Urban Hymns shares the favored spot with Mezzanine by Massive Attack, the 10-year-old trip-hop outfit that backed out of an opening slot for the Verve just last month.
Trailing those acts is Life Through A Lens by Williams, then the Asian Dub Foundation's Raffi's Revenge and Bring It On by four-star newcomer Gomez. Other underground achievers include the Welsh band Catatonia, which debuted with International Velvet this year, and Cornershop, who received a nod for their fourth album, When I Was Born for the 7th Time. The underdogs include 4Hero's 2 Pages and Eliza Carthy's Red Rice as well as jazz fusionist John Surman's Proverbs and Songs.
Last year, virtual newcomer Roni Size/Reprazent claimed the gold trophy with New Forms, which beat out critics' darlings Radiohead, as well as the Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Primal Scream and Suede.
One of this year's 12 nominees will collect their £20,000 (approximately $33,000) prize at the 7th annual Mercury Music ceremony on Sept. 16. (Anni Layne)
