Arctic Monkeys amongst Mercury Prize 2018 shortlist

The band's sixth studio release 'Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino' was their most polarising album to date and sees them nominated for the gong for the fourth time in their careers.

Date published: 26th Jul 2018

Image: Zackery Michael (credit)

Arctic Monkeys' Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino is one of 12 albums that have been nominated for this year's Mercury Music Prize, which is set to be awarded at a London ceremony on 20th September.

The album is the Sheffield four piece's most polarising to date, with Alex Turner's new found passion for the piano the catalyst for a concept album that features battles between the lead singer and his endless line of caricatures, along with observations on Trump, technology and dreams of building taquerias on the moon.

It's an album that has caused many fans of the band's earlier work to shun them completely, while others have lauded its bravery and brilliance, and it is for this reason that the Monkeys have been recognised for this year's Mercurys, and are now the joint second most-nominated act in the prize’s history with a total of four nominations. 

The rest of the long list sees lots more deserved recognition; notably Wolf Alice's stunning Visions Of a Life which has taken the band to new found heights, and makes them deserving of huge live shows in the near future, while Everything Everything's power electro pop sonics on A Fever Dream haven't gone unnoticed as they are nominated too.

Jorja Smith and her eagerly awaited debut Lost and Found - a finely executed release of soulful R'n'B jams  also make the list, while Novelist, also via his debut release, proved he is a man of serious talent with his self-written, self-produced and self released Novelist Guy.

Household names such as Florence and the Machine, Lily Allen and Noel Gallagher also made the cut.

Check out the full Mercury prize 2018 shortlist below -

Lily Allen: No Shame

Arctic Monkeys: Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino

Everything Everything: A Fever Dream

Everything Is Recorded: Everything Is Recorded

Florence + the Machine: High as Hope

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds: Who Built the Moon?

King Krule: The Ooz

Novelist: Novelist Guy

Nadine Shah: Holiday Destination

Jorja Smith: Lost and Found 

Sons of Kemet: Your Queen is a Reptile

Wolf Alice: Visions of a Life