In the same vein as Canada’s Polaris Award, the Mercury Prize is an annual competition that selects the year’s best album by an artist from the United Kingdom or Ireland.

A list of 12 long, this year’s nominees include both much hyped newcomers (The xx, Mumford & Sons, Villagers) as well as some familiar faces (Paul Weller, Laura Marling, Foals). Also up for contention is Dizee Rascal, Biffy Clyro, Corinne Bailey Rae, I Am Kloot, Wild Beasts, and Villagers.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony at London’s Grosvenor Park Hotel on September 7th. In addition to the inevitable boost in album sales, said winner will also take home £20,000.

A complete list of the Mercury Prize 2010 contenders and the respective name of their albums is as followed:

Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions
Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea
Dizzee Rascal – Tongue N’ Cheek
Kit Downes Trio – Golden
Foals – Total Life Forever
I Am Kloot – Sky At Night
Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
Paul Weller – Wake Up the Nation
Villagers – Becoming A Jackal
Wild Beasts – Two Dancers
The xx – xx