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Since its inception in 1992 as an alternative to the more populist Brit Awards, the Mercury Prize has grown into one of the most high-profile honours for UK & Ireland musicians. Previous winners have included Suede, PJ Harvey, Badly Drawn Boy, Franz Ferdinand, Elbow, Arctic Monkeys and more. In 2012, Alt-J's An Awesome Wave was awarded the prize.

This year, The Villagers are representing Ireland with their sophomore album {Awayland}. Their debut was overlooked in favour of The xx back in 2010. However, the competition this year is tough, with talented veterans and newcomers alike vying for the Mercury Album of the Year.

David Bowie has earned a nomination for his highly-acclaimed comeback album The Next Day, while Arctic Monkeys will be looking to pick up their second Mercury prize for AM. The other nominees are James Blake, Laura Marling, Jake Bugg, Savages, Foals, Disclosure, Jon Hopkins and Rudimental. Soul singer-songwriter Laura Mvula has emerged as a favourite with her debut album Sing to the Moon.

The Mercury Prize have also been subjected to criticism. In an interview with The Guardian, My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields spoke out against the 'corporateness' of the prize, believing his band's latest album was effectively banned from the shortlist for bypassing traditional release avenues.

Which of the nominees do you think deserves to walk away with the Mercury Prize, or do you think there are more deserving recipients than the chosen shortlist? Vote in our poll and leave your comments below.