The shortlist for this year’s prestigious Nationwide Mercury Prize has just been announced – and a few of our favourite chart types have made it in, along with a few more typical muso-ish offerings. Adele’s lovely 19 album and Estelle’s Shine join Radiohead, Elbow and Last Shadow Puppets on the list – and the winner will be announced at the awards do on 9 September. “This turns out to be a remarkably rich year for British music,” says Simon Frith, Chair of Judges, who’s obviously heard the Samanda single. Here’s the full list of nominations – who do you think will win? And are there any glaring omissions?
Adele: 19
British Sea Power: Do You Like Rock Music?
Burial: Untrue
Elbow: The Seldom Seen Kid
Estelle: Shine
Laura Marling: Alas I Cannot Swim
Neon Neon: Stainless Style
Portico Quartet: Knee-Deep In The North Sea
Rachel Unthank & The Winterset: The Bairns
Radiohead: In Rainbows
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss: Raising Sand
The Last Shadow Puppets: The Age Of The Understatement