Another year, another shortlist for the Mercury Prize, another exciting way to tap your line of credit with the bookie. 2007 belonged to Klaxons’ Myths Of The Near Future, who went on to collaborate with Rihanna, so you know this prize has clout. This year’s Mercury Prize — brought to you by Nationwide, honoring the best UK album of the year — offers a fairly classy shortlist, with a special nod of approval from us for the inclusion of Burial’s great Untrue album. And it gets even better for the anonymous DJ: Not only is he (she?) shortlisted, but according to the oddsmakers at William Tell, he (she?) is the odds-on favorite. Here’s a full list of odds and noms (amazingly it does NOT include Portishead):

  • Burial – Untrue (7/2)
  • Radiohead – In Rainbows (4/1)
  • The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age Of The Understatement (6/1)
  • Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid (6/1)
  • Laura Marling – Alas I Cannot Swim (10/1)
  • Estelle – Shine (10/1)
  • British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music? (10/1)
  • Adele – 19 (10/1)
  • Robert Plant And Alison Krauss – Raising Sand (12/1)
  • Neon Neon – Stainless Style (12/1)
  • Rachel Unthank And The Winterset – The Bairns (14/1)
  • Portico Quartet – Knee-Deep In The North Sea (16/1)

It’s the fourth nomination for Radiohead (every studio album back to OK Computer, but for Kid A), the second for Elbow (Asleep In Black got a nod in ’01), the second for Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals’ Rings Around The World was shortlisted in ’01), and it notably continues the Mercury Prize’s crush on Alex Turner, who’s received a nomination for every album he’s released (both Arctic Monkeys records, winning for their debut, and now again in the ring with The Last Shadow Puppets).

Winners are announced September 9th. Place yer bets.

Comments (5)
  1. gobbeldy  |   Posted on Jul 23rd, 2008

    so, what are the odd for in rainbows? and, how did kid a not get a nomination?

  2. The key with the Mercury prize is to pick the most unlikely/left-field nominee. My money is on Estelle.

  3. Although I consider myself an Alex turner fan, I think that this year I am pulling for Radiohead. How is it possible that they’ve never won a Mercury Prize? This year I think they’ll win it for sure.

  4. catherine  |   Posted on Aug 7th, 2008

    im only twenty but id really love if krause/plant won. i think they’re album is unique and wonderful. my crush on alex turner is waning, i HATE that last shadow puppets nonsense. adele is rubbish in my opinion, she over uses her voice. estelle is kinda cool, she’s made an impression this year in quite a big way. i think radiohead deserve it but ultimately i love the raising sands album, it’s just magic!!

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