ROOKIE RECOGNITION: Debut albums dominate the list...

ROOKIE RECOGNITION: Debut albums dominate the list of contenders for Great Britain’s Mercury Music Prize--second only to the Grammy-equivalent Brit Awards in prestige in England. Oasis’ “Definitely Maybe,” Supergrass’ “I Should Coco,” Elastica’s “Elastica,” Leftfield’s “Leftism” and two Bristol “trip-hop” scene entries--Tricky’s “Maxinquaye” and Portishead’s “Dummy”--are the nominated first-timers. Joining them are PJ Harvey’s “To Bring You My Love,” Van Morrison’s “Days Like This,” jazz trumpeter Guy Barker’s “Into the Blue” and modern classical composer James MacMillan’s “Seven Last Words From the Cross.”

Suede’s debut won the inaugural prize in 1992, while the next two years’ awards went to Primal Scream’s “Screamadelica” and M People’s “Elegant Slumming,” respectively. The winner, selected by a panel of critics and music industry leaders, will be announced Sept. 12.