The shortlist for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize has been announced in the UK.
The xx and Dizzee Rascal are hotly tipped to battle for the British Album Of The Year prize, but will be challenged by a strong list of ten other acclaimed artists.Along with the xx's self-titled effort and Dizzee Rascal's Tongue N' Cheek, the other nominees are:
Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions
I Am Kloot - Sky At Night
Paul Weller - Wake Up The Nation
Corinne Bailey Rae - The Sea
Villagers - Becoming A Jackal
Kit Downes Trio - Golden
Foals - Total Life Forever
Laura Marling - I Speak Because I Can
Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
The British award comes with £20,000 in prizemoney.
Previous winners include Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, PJ Harvey, Badly Drawn Boy, Elbow, and Antony And The Johnsons.
Speech Debelle won the 2009 prize with her album Speech Therapy.
The winner will be announced on September 7.
