There is a big, wide, musical world out there, and while many media headlines are full of X Factor stories, the rest of the music world quietly goes about its business, with some awesome results.

Many of those that work in the music industry have hailed 2009 a great year for British music, particularly for album releases, which is great for us music fans, but not so good for the key personnel drafted in to pick the shortlist for this years Uncut Music Album Award.

Just as this years judging panel brings together several different areas of the music industry (artists, broadcasters, members of industry associations), the shortlist goes across the board to.

The final eight albums for 2009 are:

•    Kings of Leon with ‘Only By The Night’ (Columbia). This is the Nashville bands fourth album, which has achieved worldwide success, thanks to anthemic songs like ‘Sex on Fire’.

•    Animal Collective with ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion’ (Domino): This is a band based in New York who released this, their ninth studio album early in 2009. They are known as one of New York’s genre-bending bands.

•    Bob Dylan with ‘Together Through Life’ (Columbia): The legendary performer hits release number 46 with this album. His previous release in 2006 went Platinum and hit number 1 in the Billboard Charts.

•    Dirty Projectors with ‘Bitte Orca’ (Domino): An experimental rock band from Brooklyn, led by indie songwriter Dave Longstreth.

•    Grizzly Bear with ‘Veckatimest’ (Warp): Another American band from Brooklyn, who have previously supported Paul Simon and Radiohead on tour. Their album has sold over 100,000 copies in their native US.

•    The Low Anthem with ‘Oh My God Charlie Darwin’ (Bella Union): These guys are a US folk/rock band who have played over 100 shows in support of this, their third album release.

•    Tinariwen – Imidiwan with ‘Companions’ (Independiente): One of this years more unusual entries, this band is made up from Turareg musicians from the Sahara Desert. These guys were formed in 1979, but it was only at the turn of the millennium that they started to gain a following outside of Africa.

•    Wilco with ‘Wilco’ (Nonesuch): Another group flying the American flag, this alternative rock outfit released this, their seventh album in June of 2009. It could turn out to be one of the most successful albums of their career.

So there you have it, the shortlist of eight finalists! The panel will be meeting again in the coming weeks to decide on an overall winner, but in the meantime what do YOU think? Do you rate any of their choices, what would your shortlist be? Share all your thoughts below!

To find out more about Uncut Magazine visit www.uncut.co.uk