Bookies get set for battle of the bands

RADIOHEAD and Coldplay were yesterday joint favourites to take this year's revered Panasonic Mercury Music Prize as the shortlist was unveiled.

Dublin band The Thrills have also been shortlisted for their debut album So Much for the City.

The group recently enjoyed a hugely successful homecoming gig at the Witnness Festival.

Radiohead's Hail to the Thief became their third LP to make the 12-strong list over the years, while Coldplay's second album A Rush of Blood to the Head follows their debut Parachutes as a Mercury nominee.

Both bands are ranked 4-1 to take the title by bookmaker William Hill when the winner is announced on September 9.

Eight of the short-listed releases are debut albums, although Martina Topley-Bird nominated for her first album Quixotic has been up for the £20,000 prize in previous years.

She provided vocals to Tricky's Maxinquaye album, which competed for the 1995 award.

South London duo Floetry have found only limited success at home, but their higher profile in the US saw them nominated at the Grammys earlier this year and they have worked with acts such as Justin Timberlake. They are nominated for their debut Floetic.

Hotly tipped garage act Dizzee Rascal finds himself on the shortlist little over a fortnight after he was hospitalised following a stabbing incident in Cyprus, where he was performing.

The 18-year-old is nominated for his first album Boy in Da Corner.

Other stars to be shortlisted for their debut releases are Soweto Kinch, The Darkness, Athlete and Terri Walker.