Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2014 Winner Announced

And the 2014 winner of £20,000, bragging rights, and a maybe curse is…

October 29, 2014

And the 2014 winner of £20,000, bragging rights, and a maybe curse is Young Fathers.

Scottish alt-hip-hop trio Young Fathers took home the top prize for their album Dead, beating out critic and fan favorites like FKA twigs and Jungle, who were also included on the Barclaycard short list. While all awards are subjective (and half the fun is arguing about the results), the Mercury Prize continues to be held with high regard because instead of a fan vote, the recipient is chosen by an esteemed panel of UK music industry members including fellow musicians, DJs, and critics. No Ryan Seacrest–types allowed.

Now Young Fathers will go down in history with other Mercury Prize winners including Pulp (Different Class), Franz Ferdinand (Franz Ferdinand), and Alt-J (An Awesome Wave). Feel band for the artists that didn’t make the top spot? Don’t. They’ll now live alongside other “losers” like Blur (Parklife), Oasis ((What’s the Story) Morning Glory?), and Radiohead (OK Computer).

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