The long-list for the Shortlist Prize was just announced. Modeled off of the UK's Mercury Music Prize, the Shortlist tries to award the non-megaselling best album of the year, using arty standards (as compared to, um, the Grammies). The previous winners were Sigur Ros and NERD.

What makes the Shortlist interesting, though, is that it's a group of "tastemakers" from the industry that nominate and select the winners. Everyone from The Roots' ?uestlove, to Beck, to Baz Luhrmann and Spike Jonze. This year, we get to see nominations by Dave Matthews (apparently he likes the recent Turin Brakes record, which is mushy uninspired balladry not unlike, uh, the Dave Matthews Band's last album), Nic Harcourt (who seems to have taste that mimics and exemplifies the college-graduated Yuppie Indie Thirtysomething), and Tom Waits (he liked Catalpa, he liked Orchestra Baobab! He also liked (what!?) the Eels' Shootenanny), among others.

Who would I like to see win?

Damien Rice, Jolie Holland, Four Tet, The Streets, Orchestra Baobab (based purely on their amazingamazing live show), or the Postal Service.

Spent the weekend camping; listened to little apart from a couple of tracks from a Bill Cosby comedy record. The man is funny.