2009

The 2009 Barclaycard Mercury Prize Albums of the Year represent exciting times in music from the UK and Ireland. As well as big name bands who've made an impact all over the world there are young, up and coming artists who make music that's exciting, inventive and implicitly indigenous. The Albums of the Year also reflect the strong feminine presence in UK and Irish music, with many young, empowered women making an appearance with their debut records. There is also the marked return of the classic Rock band, with some of the biggest names on the circuit accounted for courtesy of bold, brave albums.