From yahoo:
LONDON - Antony and the Johnsons won the annual Mercury music prize for best album in Britain, but the decision sparked a controversy because of the group's origin.The band, fronted by British-born but U.S.-raised Antony Hegarty, was viewed by critics as more of an American ensemble than British.
Regardless of Hegarty's national heritage, judges said the band's 2005 album, "I Am a Bird Now," was the best of the 12 groups nominated, beating out Coldplay and Kaiser Chiefs, among others.
Antony's second album was up against the likes of Coldplay, M.I.A. and Kaiser Chiefs, to name a few. The bookmakers had their money on Kaiser Chief's debut album Employment. But it was Antony's one of a kind voice and nakedly personal songs about sexuality and love that garnered the love needed to bag the roughly $37,000 prize.
Pictures and commentary from Brooklyn Vegan, one of my favorite music blogs.
Here were the nominees:
Kaiser Chiefs Employment
Coldplay X&Y
Bloc Party Silent Alarm
KT Tunstall Eye To The Telescope
The Magic Numbers The Magic Numbers
Hard-Fi Stars On CCTV
Antony And The Johnsons I Am A Bird Now
Maximo Park A Certain Trigger
M.I.A. Arular
Polar Bear Held On The Tips Of Fingers
Seth Lakeman Kitty Jay
The Go! Team Thunder Lightning Strike
My review of Antony's new album.
My review of Kaiser Chief's album.
My review of Coldplay's album.
My review of Bloc Party's album.
More music and other stuff from The BM Rant.
Article comments
1 - darci
Antony, what is all of this about not being British? The man drank milk in his tea in 1985 for god's sake! Only an English person would do that. The British media, as usual are whipping up a frenzy stating that you have an American accent, well, when I heard you on the telly, it was definitely an English one. ANYWAY, all publicity is awesome publicity! with love,
Darci