Dublin band The Thrills have been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.The prize, which is awarded to the best British or Irish album of the previous 12 months, is one of the music industry's more prestigious awards, in that it typically rewards artistic merit ahead of album sales.
The shortlist of 12 acts was announced yesterday. Joining The Thrills on the list are Radiohead and Coldplay. The overall winner will be announced on September 9th at a ceremony in London.
The Thrills, a five-piece band from Blackrock, Co Dublin, were nominated for their debut album, So Much For The City, which was released last month.
A critical and commercial success, the album went to number one in the Irish album charts and number two in the UK charts, the highest entry for a debut album by an Irish rock band.
The Mercury judging panel said of The Thrills album: "It's a pristine debut of melodic gems - California dreaming from the streets of Dublin."
The nomination itself guarantees increased sales and further exposure for the Dublin band.
