The Shortlist Prize for Artistic Achievement in Music, something of a US version of the Mercury Music Prize, have announced their shortlist for 2002, though with 75 albums on it it’s more of a long list. Like the Mercury Music Prize it’s an eclectic mix of albums – Zero 7's ‘Simple Things’, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead’s ‘Source Tags & Codes’, rap veteran Masta Ace's ‘Disposable Arts’ and Tom Wait’s ‘Blood Money’ all appear in a list voted on by 23 names from the worlds of music, media and film, including Alanis Morissette, U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr, Iggy Pop, Beck, Mos Def, Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, Paul Oakenfold, Jill Scott, and film directors Baz Luhrmann and Spike Jonze.
"Think of the Long List as your adventurous CD shopping list," project co-founder Greg Spotts said in a statement. "There is something on the list for everyone, and each album was hand-picked by a well-known artist, producer, or journalist." Panel members will now pare the list down by selecting 10 albums each, with the top vote-getters becoming Shortlist finalists. The winner will be selected by the listmakers at an awards ceremony in LA on 29 Oct.
This is only the second year of the award – last year Iceland’s Sigur Ros' ‘Agaetis Byrjun’ was overall winner. The full list of 75 is at www.shortlistofmusic.com