WHAT? No Frames, Damien Rice, Blizzards or Miriam Ingram?

The Choice Music Prize already has the scene buzzing with its shortlist for the best Irish album of 2006.

On 28 February in Vicar Street, Dublin, one of these acts will walk away with Euro10,000 and plenty of prestigious kudos. Here's our favourite to win, sometimes at odds with what the bookies think.

1. The Immediate 'In Towers And Clouds' Fantastic Plastic 3/1 (Paddy Power) Number one in our eyes, this is a classic, messy, intricate record overflowing with ideas, originality and artistic integrity.

Plus they've a fantastic live reputation.

2. Si Schroeder 'Coping Mechanisms' Trust Me I'm A Thief 14/1 Perhaps the darkest horse of the competition. If the judges want to continue to favour the avant garde, then this is the record that will win.

3. Fionn Regan 'The End Of History' Bella Union 8/1 Regan trump's Rice as the singersongwriter du jour. Full of pleasant, localised ditties, he's one of our favourites to scoop the prize.

4. Director 'We Thrive On Big Cities' Atlantic 6/1 Malahide boys with an angular Editors obsession. Their inescapable track 'Reconnect' was one of the singles of 2006.

Definitely a popular vote.

5. Duke Special 'Songs From The Deep Forest' V2 7/ 1 The Immediate The critics' loveaffair with Belfast's Peter Wilson continues with this nomination. His glossy collection of quirky anthems and likeability factor make him a real contender.

6. Republic Of Loose 'Aaagh!'

Loaded Discs 20/1 This motley crew of expert musicians are probably the most deserving this year. Aaagh! is impeccably produced, and one of the most original and progressive Irish albums ever made. They rage against the scene, but will such isolation be rewarded?

7. Messiah J & The Expert 'Now This I Have To Hear' Inaudible 16/1 A patchy enough record from Ireland's best hip-hop act.

Definitely an urban record for indie lovers, however.

8. The Divine Comedy 'Victory For The Comic Muse' Parlophone 10/1 The grandaddy of the competition, Neil Hannon must be pleasantly surprised with this inclusion of yet another nerdy, self-knowing offering.

9. David Kitt 'Not Fade Away' Dublin Discs 16/1 Kitt ditched his sensitive quivering for a rockier, angrier sound to mixed reviews. A surprise entry, given the rather derivative nature of the album.

10. Snow Patrol 'Eyes Open' Polydor 6/4 The king of MOR hardly need the cash prize. Despite the infamous Holy Moly mail out, Gary Lightbody sold more records than anyone else in Britain last year. For that reason alone, and contrary to what the bookies think, there's barely a chance they will win this.