Well they’re here – the shortlist for the Nationwide Mercury Music Prize 2008.

Adele - 19

British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?

Burial - Untrue

Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid

Estelle - Shine

Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim

Neon Neon - Stainless Style

Portico Quartet - Knee-Deep In The North Sea

Rachel Unthank & The Winterset - The Bairns

Radiohead In Rainbows

Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand

The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement

Well, there’s a few non-surprises there – Radiohead and The Last Shadow Puppets’ inclusion will surprise nobody, and British Sea Power, Elbow and Adele aren’t exactly shaking the foundations.

Slight surprises in Neon Neon, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and Burial being included, although all three were rapturously received by critics. And of course Robert Plant & Alaison Krauss clocked up hefty sales to boot. The real curve-balls this year come in the form of Shine and Portico Quartet. The lack of Portishead on the list is a big surprise though.

Music Towers tip? Untrue by Burial. Dub-step is just too achingly-cool for its own good right now.