Snow Patrol's Final Straw and Simple Kid's SK1 have both been nominated for the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize, America's equivalent to the Mercury which was won last year by Damien Rice's O.

Worth $10,000 in cash and millions in publicity, the Shortlist judging panel includes such heavyweights as Massive Attack's 3D, Jack Black, Jim Jarmusch, Josh Homme, John Mayer, Norah Jones, Perry Farrell, The Dixie Chicks and Robert Smith.

Other nominees include Air, Belle & Sebastian, David Bowie, Dizzee Rascal and Franz Ferdinand who, as with the Mercury Music Prize, have been installed as early favourites.