So, the Mercury Music Prize judges surprised everyone last night by being unpredictably predictable and opting to award their 'best album of the year' title and £20,000 prize to Arctic Monkeys, whose debut album 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' had been favourite to win the Prize ever since the 12 album shortlist was announced back in July.
Collecting the award, Monkeys frontman Alex Turner joked "someone call 999 - [fellow finalist] Richard Hawley has been robbed", before telling the audience at the awards event: "Thanks everyone, thanks so much everyone that helped us. We are a bit surprised because normally it doesn't go to a band that has sold as many records as we have. We're very, very pleased because it's just good tunes, that's what we try to do. There are no tricks. Too many people try to do too many tricks."
The Mercury judging panel said the Arctic Monkeys' long player, which, of course, became the UK's fastest selling debut album back in February after an incredible (and slightly made up) hype organically grew around the band in the British media, consisted of "great songs, astonishingly performed", adding that it was "essential".