"Better late than never" is an axiom with usually at least a little truth to it, but this is downright ridiculous. Already three months into 2007, the people behind the Shortlist Prize (remember that puppy?) have announced the nominees for...the 2006 Shortlist Prize. If you answered no to the above question in parentheses, here's a quick refresher: from 2001-2004, the Shortlist Prize, created to reward small, innovative artists, was handed out to Sigur Ros, N*E*R*D, Damien Rice, and TV on the Radio. In 2005, because of a row between the founders of the prize, it was for a time renamed the New Pantheon Prize, and quietly handed over to Sufjan Stevens without one of the jammy, collaborative ceremonies the awards had been becoming known for. Now the old name is back, "New Pantheon" be damned.
This year's noms include albums by Band of Horses, the Decemberists, Hot Chip, Beirut, and Midlake. The total of 61 nominees will soon be pared down to 10 finalists by judges including Sufjeezy, Wayne Coyne, and KT Tunstall. Full details can be found on Shortlist's website. And feel free to post in the comments if you're still interested in debating what the best small releases of last year were. But if you do, I'm going to advocate that our editors ban you from ever posting anything on this site again. Get with the now.