The 2006 Mercury Music Prize nominations are out. They have a tradition of nominating loads of worthy contenders, then giving it to a really obscure, and probably godawful act. Last year was a prime example- Anthony and the Jonsons ( a fat whiny American Transvestite who really didn't deserve it). This year is however is different. The nominations in full, courtesy of xfm:

• Arctic Monkeys ‘Whatever People Say I Am, Thats What I'm Not’
  
• Thom Yorke ‘The Eraser
  
• Muse 'Black Holes And Revelations'
  
• Editors 'The Back Room'
  
• Guillemots 'Through The Window Pane'
  
• Hot Chip 'The Warning'
  
• Sway 'This Is My Demo'
  
• Richard Hawley 'Coles Corner'
  
• Isobelle Campbell & Mark Lanegan 'Ballad Of The Broken Seas'
  
• Scritti Politti 'White Bread Black Beer'
  
• Lou Rhodes 'Beloved One'
  
• Zoe Rahman 'Melting Pot'
  

Different how? They candividedided into three sections: those I've never heard of (Zoe who?), those I've heard and doparticularlylary rate (So far I really like one Editors track, really unfussed on the others) and the Arctic Monkeys. Contrary to what you might expect based on the simian-connection, I find them to be the most overhyped, overrated act of the last five years (probably on a par with the Streets). The first single was OK I guess, but they've seriously outstayed their welcome as far I'm concerned.

I guess the most deserving would therefore be Muse or Editors, but I'm not major fans of either. It doesn't matter though- no doubt one of the more obscure names will walk away with the prize. I really don't care this year- as long as those Arctic fellas don't get it.