Arctic Monkeys bid for second Mercury Prize

LONDON, July 17 (Reuters) The Arctic Monkeys could become the first band ever to land the Mercury Prize twice as they bid for album of the year for the second year running.

The Sheffield band, who shot to fame on the Internet and broke all records with their debut album, was shortlisted again for the award today with ''Favourite Worst Nightmare.'' Bookmakers installed the band as 4-1 joint favourites along with Amy Winehouse for her chart-topping album ''Back to Black'' to land the 20,000 pound prize on September 4.

The Mercury Prize judges tend to court controversy every year by picking quirky and offbeat winners rather than chart-topping blockbusters.

The 2007 shortlist offers a string of new albums from New Young Pony Club's ''Fantastic Playroom'' to ''Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford'' and ''Panic Prevention'' by Jamie T.

The Mercury, first awarded in 1992, usually puts the accent on music quality rather than volume of sales.

In 1994, M People's ''Elegant Slumming'' beat competition from Blur, Pulp and The Prodigy -- much to the bafflement of the music press.

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