Nationwide Mercury Prize Albums of the Year Shortlist Revealed

Among the debut albums on the list are This is My Demo by the brilliant young London urban artist, Sway, and Beloved One, on which former Lamb singer Lou Rhodes returns to her acoustic roots, while Thom Yorke's The Eraser is his first album outside the context of Radiohead.

The shortlist is completed by Black Holes & Revelations, Muse's UK number one album, The Warning by electropop five-piece Hot Chip, Melting Pot by the acclaimed jazz pianist Zoe Rahman and White Bread Black Beer which heralds the return of one of the most influential figures in UK music, Green Gartside, better known as Scritti Politti.

The Nationwide Mercury Prize celebrates the year in music. The shortlist was chosen from an entry of over 200 albums by UK artists and announced at the Commonwealth Club in London. The winner of the 2006 Prize will be announced at the Nationwide Mercury Prize Show on Tuesday 5 September. There will be programmes on Radio 1, BBC 2 and BBC 4.

The Nationwide Mercury Prize is open to UK albums from all music genres. The Prize focuses on the music on the album - it does not take into account album sales, media exposure or live performances. Each year the shortlist celebrates a range of styles and genres of UK music.

Nationwide's long-term sponsorship of the Prize highlights their support of UK culture and has resulted in exciting new initiatives such as the Nationwide Mercury Prize student art competition and exhibition. page << 1 2 3 >>