Mercury Prize 2013 Shortlists 12 Albums; Includes David Bowie's 'The Next Day' And Arctic Monkeys' 'AM'

The 2013 Barclaycard Mercury Prize shortlist has officially been released.  The award-giving body had chosen 12 albums from 220 submissions, one of which could win the prestigious prize come October. 

This year's favorites include David Bowie's "The Next Day," the 66-year old artist's 24th album and his first studio album since 2003's "Reality."  It contains 14 tracks, with lyrics and music all done by Bowie, except for "How Does the Grass Grow" which he did with Jerry London. 

Another nominee in this year's Mercury Awards is "AM", Arctic Monkey's fifth studio album.  It contains 12 tracks, all songs written and composed by band member Allan Turner except for "Mad Sounds" which he wrote with Alan Smyth and "I Wanna Be Yours" which he did with John Cooper Clarke.  Arctic Monkeys had won the award in 2006 for their album "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not". 

Other albums shortlisted for this year are: Settle by Disclosure; Holy Fire by Foals; Jake Bugg by Jake Bugg; Overgrown by James Blake; Immunity by Jon Hopkins; Once I Was an Eagle by Laura Marling; Sing to the Moon by Laura Mvula; Home by Rudimental; Silence Yourself by Savages; and Awayland by Villagers.

The albums from British and Irish artists were submitted by their record labels, and were judged by a panel of musicians, music executives, journalists and other figures in the music industry in the UK and Ireland.  Mercury Prize gave its first award in 1992, with PJ Harvey having been the only artist to win the award more than once, in 2001 and 2011, as well as the first female solo artist to receive the award.  Radiohead had so far been the most nominated although the band hadn't gotten the prize. 

There will be a series of exclusive one-off gigs, that will feature the 12 nominees until the awards show on the 30th of October at London's Roundhouse.  Other than a big boost in his/her/ their musical career that goes with the prestigious award, the winner will be presented with a cash prize of 20,000 pounds (about $31,000).