THE shortlist for the 2004 Nationwide Mercury Prize has been unveiled - and for the second year in a row, no Manchester act appears on the list.

Morrissey's storming comeback album You Are The Quarry had been a strong favourite to win the award outright, but did not even make the shortlist.

Neither did former Mercury Prize winner Badly Drawn Boy's latest effort, One Plus One Is One, nor Cast Of Thousands by former nominees Elbow.

Instead, the judges have placed a strong emphasis on new acts, with 5 of the 12 shortlist being debut albums.

The new favourites for the prize include current media darlings Franz Ferdinand and the mellow indie of Keane as well as rising young female solo singers Joss Stone and Amy Winehouse.

Inception

Last year's award, which was won by Dizzee Rascal's Boy In Da Corner, was the first time that no Manchester act had been nominated since the Mercury Prize's inception in 1992.

Simon Frith, the chair of judges, said: 'This is an exceptional year, most dramatically illustrated by the emergence of several new and varied bands together with outstanding work by three powerful female singers.

'The shortlist also recognises the continued good health of the gloriously eclectic world that is British and Irish music."

The 12 albums chosen from more than 180 entries are:

Basement Jaxx - Kish Kash (XL)
Belle & Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress (Rough Trade)
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
Jamelia - Thank You (Parlophone)
Keane - Hopes and Fears (Island Records)
Snow Patrol - Final Straw (Fiction)
Joss Stone - The Soul Sessions (Relentless)
The Streets - A Grand Don't Come for Free (679 Recordings)
Ty - Upwards (Big Dada Recordings)
Amy Winehouse - Frank (Island Records)
Robert Wyatt - Cuckooland (Hannibal / Rykodisc)
The Zutons - Who Killed 'The Zutons (Deltasonic)

The overall winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on Tuesday, September 7

Who do you think should win? Who should have been nominated? Have your say.

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