July 18, 2006 11:30

Mercury music prize short list announced

Check out 2006’s runners and riders now

The nominations for this year's Nationwide Mercury music prize have been revealed this morning (July 18).

At a small ceremony at the Royal Commonwealth Club in London, Jools Holland announced the 12 albums that will battle it out for this year's prize.

The nominations are:

Arctic Monkeys - 'Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not'
Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan - 'Ballad Of The Broken Seas'
Editors - 'The Back Room'
Guillemots - 'Through The Windowpane'
Richard Hawley - 'Coles Corner'
Hot Chip - 'The Warning'
Muse - 'Black Holes & Revelations'
Zoe Rahman - 'Melting Pot'
Lou Rhodes - 'Beloved One'
Scritti Politti - 'White Bread Black Beer'
Sway - 'This Is My Demo'
Thom Yorke - 'The Eraser'

Revealing this year's nominees, chair of judges Simon Frith hailed the artists for reflecting contemporary life.

“Above all, this year’s shortlist for the Nationwide Mercury prize is about the art of the songwriter," he said. "If you want to know what life is like in Britain today, listen to the country’s musicians!”

The overall winner of the £20,000 prize will be announced on September 5.

Following the announcement bookies William Hill have immediately installed Arctic Monkeys and Thom Yorke as 5-1 joint favourites, with Muse, Editors and Guillemots are close behind them at 6-1.

Last year's prize was won by Antony & The Johnsons for the album 'I Am A Bird Now'.