This year's Mercury Prize shortlist includes the expected nods for Arctic Monkeys, Muse, Editors and Thom Yorke, as well as surprise nominees Lou Rhodes (formerly of Lamb) and Scritti Politti. Also on the shortlist: Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, Hot Chip, Sway, Richard Hawley, Guillemots, and Zoe Rahman.
Who's missing? Well, Corinne Bailey Rae seemed like an obvious choice, along with the reinvigorated Morrissey and Kate Bush.
Arctic Monkeys and Muse will be the favorites, but the Mercury Prize, the British equivalent to the Album of the Year Grammy, is always hard to predict. Last year, it went to Antony and the Johnsons over Coldplay and Kaiser Chiefs.
Watch Arctic Monkeys' "I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor" here.
Watch Editors' "Blood" here.
Listen to Muse's "Knights of Cydonia" here.
Listen to Guillemots here.