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Turner Mercury Hat-trick

Turner: Monkey magic

The shortlist for the Nationwide Mercury Prize has been announced.

And it's good news – yet again – for AlexTurner.

The Arctic Monkeys workaholic has picked up his third nomination in as many years for new side project The Last Shadow Puppets.

However, it was bad news for Duffy and Coldplay, neither of whom made it to the final 12.

Apparently huge sales and being popular isn't a good thing for this prize...

There were nods however for rumoured feuding rivals Estelle and Adele, which should make the September 9 awards ceremony interesting.

Our tip would probably be Elbow, whose excellent The Seldom Seen Kid is in the running although there's stiff competition from Radiohead, for In Rainbows, muso-favourites British Sea Power and Alison Krauss and Robert Plant's much celebrated collaboration.

Of course, there are always a few apparently random nods which have gone this year to jazzers Portico Quartet and Rachel Unthank & The Winterset, plus Laura Marling and Neon Neon.

No, us neither.

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