2011 - It's been a good year for albums...

Every year, there's a precise moment when the collective music industry and all associated holds their breath, tense in the anticipation for an announcement of twelve magical names.

Those names represent the final shortlist of what the Mercury Music Prize consider the best 12 British albums released in the past year, from which, one will receive the ultimate accolade of winning the prize itself.

Whatever you might think of the prize, its impact on the industry is undeniable and the winner benefits from an impossibly immense boost to their sales. It's like the floodgates of popular music have been swept open, money rushing out of wallets as the public flock to their local HMV to purchase this piece of affirmed culture.

This year, the Mercury shortlist is announced at 11.30 am on the morning 19th July. Put that date in your calendars - Lauren Laverne will be revealing the list from the heart of trendy Covent Garden; and what's more, for the first time ever, you'll be able to watch the whole thing live via a live video stream on Facebook.

I read a fascinating article in the paper a couple of weeks ago saying that at the time (before the final shortlist was decided), the odds for Metronomy to win were something like 33/1 - Now, I'm not a gambling man but that looks incredible; imagine the pay-out on that! I reckon the Metronomy guys have a good chance of nabbing the award too; their album is one of the most consistent and inventive of the year.

Now, the Mercury prize's entry period is any British album released between July 2010 and July 2011, but to keep things simple, here are a few of my own personal favourites from 2011 so far...

Wonderland - Wonderland
Pet Shop Boys - The Most Incredible Thing
Nerina Pallot - Year Of The Wolf
Metronomy - The English Riviera
Katy B - On A Mission
Jessie J - Who You Are
James Blake - James Blake
Friendly Fires - Pala
Elbow - Build A Rocket Boys!
Clare Maguire - Light After Dark
Chapel Club - Palace
Adele - 21