As always they're are plenty of suprises and omissions:

Nominations for the Mercury prize 2009 (with odds from bookmaker William Hill)


Florence and the Machine – Lungs 5/1

Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum 5/1

Bat for Lashes – Two Suns 6/1

La Roux – La Roux 6/1

Glasvegas – Glasvegas 6/1

Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy 8/1

Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires 8/11

The Horrors – Primary Colours 8/1

Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew 8/1

The Invisible – The Invisible 10/1

Led Bib – Sensible Shoes 10/1

Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men 10/1

Of what I have heard, I'd favour the bookies and put myself behind Florence + The Machine (which I've been listening to loads)

La Roux have some great singles but a patchy album and the Friendly Fires are fun and danceable but hardly album of the year fare. People seem to be into the Kasabian album but I've not heard it.

Thoughts?

Florence and the Machine – Lungs 5/1 'tis good

Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum 5/1 starts off well and then goes downhill

Bat for Lashes – Two Suns 6/1 on only one listen, good

La Roux – La Roux 6/1 meh! it's no Little Boots

Glasvegas – Glasvegas 6/1 a real grower

Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires 8/11 it's alright

The Horrors – Primary Colours 8/1 sounds like Psychedelic Furs. not a bad thing

And don't think I've heard anything by....

Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy 8/1

Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew 8/1

The Invisible – The Invisible 10/1

Led Bib – Sensible Shoes 10/1

Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men 10/1


Not exactly a classic year for music so far this year.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz and Doves - Kingdom of Rust are the other two albums I think should have made the list.

Other than that, it has been a bit sparse for really good new music. I really liked Lily Allen's album as well but that's about it (so far)

Except Yeah Yeahs Yeahs are American (and very average )

Now you mention it, Lily Allen not on the list is rather ridiculous. It's a great album.

YYY's wouldn't have been nominated since the nominees have to be British.

I wasn't impressed with Kingdom of Rust, but then again I haven't really liked anything Doves have done since The Last Broadcast so that's hardly surprising.

I've heard Bat For Lashes' album, which I like a lot, and The Horrors' album, which I liked more than I expected since I hated them when they first appeared a few years ago, but that's about it. I've just not had time to listen to music over the last year.

I really want to get Florence and The Machine's album, though, what I have heard I have liked a lot.

Edit: Bah, Sostie got in there before me.

I will take you to task on the average thing Sos, I think they're great.

Can't really argue about the American thing though. D'oh.

Kingdom of Rust is a grower, I think. I wasn't that into Some Cities at first but after a few spins I found myself liking it a lot.

The fact that Oasis are more popular than Doves proves that the world is all wrong.

They're not terrible, just to me not that remarkable. There's a few good tracks on the album, but all I hear really are Siouxsie & The Banshees tracks.

I thought Glasvegas' album had been out for yonks, but clearly not. Most surprised by Kasabian's inclusion - I thought they were considered industry jokes. Granted, I very much like the first album and haven't really heard the others so I'm not one to judge, but that's what I had intonated.

I'd say Florence to win, but I haven't actually heard any albums listed. Shows what I know!

I've only heard the Glasvegas album (a bit meh) but I'm going for Bat For Lashes to win.

One of the albums of the year for me is "A Woman A Man Walked By" by P J Harvey & John Parish. Considering Harvey is a bit of a Mercury darling I'm surprised she's not on the list.

Was Camera Obscura's album released over the last year?

My Maudlin Career was April this year. They are still one of my favourite bands. Mad they and Lily should be missing. I'm not her biggest fan but girl done good of late.

I'd like either Florence (she is a dynamo) or Natasha BFL (i've liked her for years now) to win.

Of those I only know:

Florence and the Machine – Lungs 5/1 - heard a tiny bit which sounded good

Bat for Lashes – Two Suns 6/1 - heard a tiny bit which sounded good

La Roux – La Roux 6/1 - Electro-balls

Glasvegas – Glasvegas 6/1 - derivative balls

Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires - great fun but not award-worthy

The Invisible – The Invisible - same as above.

Heavyweight opinions, there.

Heard the list yesterday morning and immediately thought a solo artist would get it this year. I love Florence, I think she's brilliant, but my mind is being pulled towards Bat For Lashes for this one.

I'd hope for Bat For Lashes to win it since artists with an album or two under their belts seem to handle the pressure of winning better than new artists. I'd hate for Florence and the Machine to succumb to the Mercury curse since they show a lot of promise. I don't want Bat For Lashes to succumb, either, but I imagine that Natasha Khan would be able to handle the spotlight a tad better.

I'd have to agree about Bat for lashes, heard both albums and love them both, Khan is a great song writer and i think she will continue to turn out great concept albums.
Florence and the machine would be a close second, Florence Welch has great stage presence and a belting voice even if it does verge on the shouty at times.
I love this return to real song writing and stage performance, don't get me wrong, I love electronic music and it will always have a place in my heart but you just can't beat a live stage performance.