Bowie, Doves nominated for Mercury prize

(CNN) -- Singer David Bowie's "Heathen" made it to the shortlist for this year's prestigious Mercury Music Prize, which recognizes the best albums by British artists across all music genres.

Also joining the list was the Manchester trio, Doves, for its latest offering, "The Last Broadcast" and The Streets (aka British white rapper Mike Skinner) for "Original Pirate Material."

British R&B singer Beverley Knight, who made the list for her album, "Who I Am" spoke to The Music Room shortly after she was nominated.

"The Mercury Music Prize makes people aware of the depth and the breadth of the music that comes out of Britain," she said. "It really is an eclectic range of music."

Simon Frith, chairman of judges, told TMR Bowie's album "Heathen" was nominated because Bowie "seems to have that fire in his belly again. He seems really energized and that comes across on this record."

Pianist/singer Jools Holland, who announced the nominees at London's Commonwealth Club on July 30, said the main criteria for being shortlisted was that the album be "an exciting piece."

"It doesn't really matter whether it's the latest thing with a groovy video in the charts or somebody doing it quietly in the concert hall," she said. "It's the effect it has on the human spirit."

The Mercury Music Prize winner will be chosen at an event in London in mid-September. P.J. Harvey's "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" took the prize last year.

The nominees this year:

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