Pete Paphides on who should have made the shortlist, and who could have been left off

It’s the album that won’t stay out of the headlines. When Radiohead gave away their new offering, In Rainbows, by internet honesty box last year, the band horrified record labels and impressed fans. Now the veteran rock group’s controversial album has won over music industry stalwarts and been shortlisted for the prestigious Mercury Prize.

But their history-making release has competition for the album-of-the-year prize from other high-profile artists who have also surprised the industry over the past year. Robert Plant shocked fans by ruling out a Led Zeppelin tour, after their lauded London reunion concert, in favour of teaming up with bluegrass musician Alison Krauss. Now the controversial pairing have been given the nod by Mercury Prize judges for their album Raising Sand.

Alex Turner raised eyebrows by taking a break from the highly successful Arctic Monkeys to record with The Rascal’s Miles Kane under the name The Last Shadow Puppets. Their critically acclaimed album The Age of Understatement is now shortlisted for the prize that Arctic Monkeys won in 2006 and were nominated for last year but lost to Klaxons.

But the established musicians have competition from young hopefuls Adele and Laura Marling. The toast of the new year, Adele’s debut album, 19, went to No. 1 on the charts, and propelled the 19-year-old to instant fame. Marling’s Alas I Cannot Swim garnered a wave of critical applause and produced shock waves when it was discovered she was just 18.

Other contenders for the Mercury Prize, which considers British and Irish albums, include the Brighton indie band British Sea Power, rock group Elbow, and Boom Bip and Gruff Rhys’s Neon Neon.

Estelle’s comeback album Shine will also compete for the gong, as will the less-known contenders Burial, Portico Quartet and Rachel Unthank and The Winterset.

The winner will be announced on September 9.

The Mercury Prize shortlist

Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid

Radiohead - In Rainbows

British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Raising Sand

Burial - Untrue

Estelle - Shine

Adele - 19

Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim

Rachel Unthank and The Winterset - The Bairns

Neon Neon - Stainless Style

Portico Quartet - Knee Deep In The North Sea

Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of Understatement

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