Shortlist nominations for the 2018 Mercury Prize announced

The Mercury Prize is the UK equivalent of Canada’s Polaris Music Prize: An attempt to name the best British or Irish album of the past year regardless of genre or commercial success. And as with Polaris, there’s a cash prize for the winner. Among the jury members who will be entrusted with naming a winner is Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons.

Oh, and it’s officially now The Hyundai Mercury Prize.  The ceremony will take place in London on September 20. Here’s the short list. The numbers at the end are the opening odds of winning from the bookies. (The Brits will bet on anything.)

Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (4/1)
Everything Everything – A Fever Dream (8/1)
Everything Is Recorded – Everything Is Recorded (8/1)
Florence And The Machine – High As Hope (4/1)
Jorja Smith – Lost & Found (6/1)
King Krule – The Ooz (8/1)
Lily Allen – No Shame (6/1)
Nadine Shah – Holiday Destination (10/1)
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Who Built The Moon? (4/1)
Novelist – Novelist Guy (10/1)
Sons Of Kemet – Your Queen Is A Reptile (10/1)
Wolf Alice – Visions Of A Life (6/1)