2005 Nationwide Mercury Prize Shortlist Unveiled

The winner is decided by a panel of music business experts, writers, and artists, and will be announced September 6 at the Albums of the Year gala in London. The lucky artist will pick up £20,000, and while we've yet to translate that sum into American currency, we're taking all the zeros as a good sign.

Not only do the British love awarding prizes, but they also love gambling and making odds. British betting house Ladbrokes made Kaiser Chiefs' debut album Employment this year's early favorite with opening odds of 4/1. "Kaiser Chiefs went into the Ladbrokes in Trafalgar Square this morning and backed themselves to win with £2 at odds of 4/1," Ladbrokes spokesman Warren Lush told NME.com. Following Kaiser Chiefs were Bloc Party's Silent Alarm checking in at 5/1, and Coldplay's X&Y; at 6/1. That is, of course, until Mr. Martin begins his campaign.

Other Pitchfork favorites include the Go! Team, Antony and the Johnsons, Maxïmo Park, and M.I.A. Past winners include Franz Ferdinand, Dizzee Rascal, Pulp, Badly Drawn Boy, and Talvin Singh. Who? Exactly.

And now, the full artist/album list for your viewing and pondering pleasure:

Antony and the Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Coldplay - X&Y;
The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Hard-Fi - Stars of CCTV
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
Seth Lakeman - Kitty Jay
The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers
M.I.A. - Arular
Maxïmo Park - A Certain Trigger
Polar Bear - Held on the Tips of Fingers
KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope

Nationwide Mercury Prize: http://www.nationwidemercurys.com/