Mercury Rising: The contenders

[Ghost]

Despite digital downloads, the traditional 50-minute pop album is still alive and kicking - and the well balanced shortlist for the 2007 Nationwide Mercury Prize, announced this week, is a tribute to a format that refuses to die.
As always, there are glaring omissions - Where are Mika, The maccabees or The enemy? - but judges have at least avoided last years mistake - too many finge candidates at the expense of albums people might actualy want to hear. Here is a list of everyone, who do you think will win it?

Arctic monkeys - Favourite worst nightmare (Domino)
Would be the first band to win trhe prize twice. Their second album added more Sheffield steel but where were the tunes?
My score - 7/10

Amy Winehouse - Back to black (Island)
Winehouse shunned jazz in favour of finger-popping soul and was rewarded with her biggest hit to date.
My score - 9/10

Dizzee Rascal - Maths + English (XL)
Dizzee has lost none of the freshness that helped him to win the prize in 2003. He spans an array of genres, from hip-hop to grime. Anothe contender.
My score - 8/10

Bat for lashes - Fur and gold (Echo)
A good outside bet. BFL is the alter-ego of Brighton-based singer Natasha khan, who blends folk with English eccentricity.
My Score - 8/10

Jamie T - Panic prevention (Virgin)
Recorded on a laptop in Jamie Treay's Wimbledon bedroom, a wonderfully haphazard blend of punk reggae and hip-hop
My Score - 7/10

Young Knifes - Voices of animals and men (transgressive)
Formidableguitar-pop trio whose hook-heavy songs hark back to classic pulp
My score - 7/10

Klaxons - Myths of the near future (Polydor)
This fine debut augmented Klaxon's dance frenzy with pop hooks and harmonies.
My score - 8/10.

The View - Hats off to the buskers (1965)
Despite Kyle Falconers caustic rasp, this ramshackle Dundee foursome are Mercury outsiders.
My score - 6/10.

Maps - We can create (Mute)
One-Man-Band James chapman made this album in his Northampton bedroom delving into widescreen, shoe-gazing rock.
My score - 6/10.

Basquiat Strings with seb roachford - Basquait strings (Fire)
No Mercury shortlist would be complete without an avart-garde jazz record nobody has heard of. And here it it.
My score - 5/10.

New young poney club - fantastic playroom (modular)
The second album here with new rave associations , MYCP's debut put an art-rock slant on jittery funk.
My score - 7/10.

Fionn Regan - The end of history (Bella union)
Irish tunesmith Regan has been likened to Damien rice, but his intense songs lie closer to u.s. indie icon Conor oberst. He could sprig a suprise.
My score - 8/10

Now that's my list. Everyone review and score as many as you want and tell us who you think will win!!.

The Winner will be announced September 4.

[Scott]

That's one big post. I hope the View win ('cause their scottish)

[Apocalypse]

Go Fall Out Boy.

[Scott]

I don't think they are in it. Because all those bands seem to be british