Race for the Prize - 2009 Version

Nominations for 2009 Mercury Music Prize Announced

Tis the season of the music prize dear reader and the venerable British version was announced earlier today. The judges who preside over the annual Mercury Music Prize are soon to commiserate in an attempt to figure out the best album by a British artist in 2009. The methodology behind the award’s designation is a closely guarded secret, with a handful of music industry types deciding who should win the prestigious award.

The prize of £20,000 (approx. $36,200 C) is considerable, and will help out any artist in these recessionary times. The favourites to win this year are Florence and The Machine and Kasabian, although Bat for Lashes, Glasvegas and The Horrors have all got a good chance of taking home the prestigious award.

The winner of the prize will be announced on September 8th. The full list of nominees reads as follows:

Florence and the Machine – Lungs
Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Bat for Lashes – Two Suns
La Roux – La Roux
Glasvegas – Glasvegas
Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy
Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires
The Horrors – Primary Colours
Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew
The Invisible – The Invisible
Led Bib – Sensible Shoes
Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men

Any ideas on whom you think will take the purse this year? I think that Florence and the Machine will be hard to beat.