One of the greatest joys of the year, when you reprint lists of albums for a living, is the announcement of the shortlist for the annual Mercury Prize, the UK music prize for aesthetic excellence, because the Brits share our Vegas-styled love for making everything into an opportunity to gamble. William Hill sets the odds the second the award's field has been narrowed to the lucky dozen, so like last year here they are, in order of their likelihood to net you a small return on your bet.
Dizzee Rascal – Tongue N' Cheek (4/1)
The xx – xx (4/1)
Paul Weller – Wake Up the Nation (6/1)
Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea (6/1)
Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More (6/1)
Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can (6/1)
Foals – Total Life Forever (8/1)
Wild Beasts – Two Dancers (8/1)
Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions (8/1)
Villagers – Becoming a Jackal (10/1)
Kit Downes Trio – Golden (10/1)
I Am Kloot – Sky at Night (10/1)
(odds via Guardian)
Wild Beasts put out a tremendous record, and Dizzee's already a winner (see 2003), but I've got a case of Dos Equis on the xx. Who's in?
Winners announced at a ceremony in London on September 7th.
