As soon as this year's nominees for the Mercury Prize -- the annual award given to the best British album -- bloggers and some journalists began the oddsmaking. The Kaiser Chiefs are seen by many to be a favorite. M.I.A. could be in the running but as one writer pointed out her album's frequent mentions to terrorism could hurt her chances in now terrorism-jittery England.

Coolfer's pick? The Kaiser Chiefs, who went to 5/2 from 11/4 in less than a week. (See previous odds after the jump.) Not only is it a band that has risen to the lead of the post-Franz pack, but it's a debut album. If the Mercury voters like one thing it's a debut album. Out of 13 Mercury Prizes, ten have gone to debut albums. There's some movement on The Hard-Fi as well -- 12/1 from 16/1 -- but they're still well behind The Kaiser Chiefs.

Continue reading "More Fun With The Print Screen Button: Mercury Prize Odds" »