Mercury Prize Noms Mix Rock, Rap, Jazz

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 21, 2009 10:26 AM CDT
Mercury Prize Noms Mix Rock, Rap, Jazz
Natasha Khan of Bat for Lashes performs at the Glastonbury Festival. Her album 'Two Suns' was nominated for the Mercury Prize today.   (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)

Scruffy rockers Kasabian and indie darling Florence and the Machine lead this year's nominations for the Mercury Prize, Britain's most prestigious musical award. The $33,000 gong, previously won by PJ Harvey and the Arctic Monkeys, is famous for its eclectic shortlist. True to form, this year's nominees include a largely unknown female rapper and an eccentric jazz quintet, but not stars such as Lily Allen.

For clips of the nominated albums and the full shortlist, click the BBC link below.
(More Mercury Prize stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X