Mercury Prize Noms Mix Rock, Rap, Jazz

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.)