Amy Winehouse Leads Mercury Prize Noms

A dozen of Britain's most buzzed-about acts will do battle for the 16th Mercury Music Prize, an annual award bestowed upon the "best U.K. album of the last year." The 2007 list of contenders features a slew of acts that have yet to make their mark across the Atlantic (Basquiat Strings, anyone?), as well as a few international favorites like Arctic Monkeys (who took the honors in 2006) and throwback-soul queen Amy Winehouse. Considering that homegrown hype is often a good indicator on the award's final outcome, we think the ubiquitous Ms. Winehouse is a shoe-in for this year's crown.

The awards ceremony, at which the winner will be announced, will take place on Sept. 4. See the full list of nominees after the jump.

• Arctic Monkeys, 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'
• Dizzee Rascal, 'Maths and English'
• The View, 'Hats Off to the Buskers'
• Maps, 'We Can Create'
• Bat for Lashes, 'Fur and Gold'
• Klaxons, 'Myths of the Near Future'
• Jamie T, 'Panic Prevention'
• The Young Knives, 'Voices of Animals and Men'
• Fionn Regan, 'The End of History'
• Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford, 'Basquiat Strings'
• Amy Winehouse, 'Back to Black'
• New Young Pony Club, 'Fantastic Playroom'