Mumford & Sons - NEW SONG at Grammy Pre-party

Mumford and Sons new song, which they performed at the Grammy pre-awards party.

If you believe what you read Marcus Mumford and Laura Marling broke up at Christmas. I wonder if this is about her. I suppose it is none of our damn business. The lyrics are nice and Marcus, as ever, isnt happy unless he is playing at least two instruments at the same time and so brings in a nice bit of bass drum at the end.

Mercury Nominations 2010

Mercury nominations were announced today and I am very excited about these four in particular:

Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
The xx - xx
Villagers - Becoming A Jackal 

I am excited for different reasons. Mumford and Sons are fun and talented although I am not crazy about their album. Marcus Mumford supported Laura Marling when I first saw her in Whelans and he was personable and skillful, hopping between instruments with ease. As part of the anti-folk movement it is great to see them recognised though I doubt their album is strong enough to win. With the Villagers being Irish and Conor being a soulful little munchkin it would be amazing if they won. Especially with such new material. I saw him play on Saturday in the Iveagh gardens supporting Josh Ritter and he sounded just as hauntingly moving as he did on Later with Jools Holland recently.

My bet though is on either Laura Marling or The xx. If you have read a little of my blog you will know that I have a bit of a crush on her. 'I Speak because I can' is such an accomplished album and is my most listened to album ever. I have started to feel sheepish when I pop on my headphones each morning on the walk to work and Laura starts singing. As if people can somehow tell how many times I have played the album, I half expect to hear a shout of 'there is other music you know!?'.

The difficulty for the judges could be choosing between those two. The xx album is excellent. Their sound is so unique, underground but with a summery vibe. Crystalised is easily one of the best new songs to emerge recently and is on my most played list, right after Laura of course. (Am I making you sick of her yet?...)

Of course, knowing the Mercury Prize's penchant for surprising, I could be completely wrong and Dizzee Rascal could swoop in and steal it. (Please god no!) . Lets just compare some lyrics shall we?

Laura-
beaten, battered, and cold
my children will live just to grow old
but if i sit here and weep
i'll be blown over by the slightest of breeze

and the weak need to be lead
and the tender i'll carry to their bed
and its a pale and cold affair
i'll be damned if i'll be found there

Dizzee - I know you're really busy and I know you've got plans
But are you really too busy for a sun tan?
I ain't talking about walking down the high street
I'm talking about laying on a bright white beach

Nuff said.