The shortlist has been announced for the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Album of the Year for 2021.

The ten selected albums span the genres of indie, hip hop, electronic, rock, folk and pop, and include Mick Flannery and Susan O’Neill’s In the Game, Where I Should End by Saint Sister, Small Talk by Soda Blonde, and Kojaque’s Town’s Dead. Also on the shortlist are electronic artist Elaine Mai’s debut album Home; Orla Gartland’s debut Woman on the Internet; Isles by electronic duo Bicep; the self-titled debut of David Balfe’s musical project For Those I Love; Fever Dreams by Villagers; and Dry Goods, the debut album by Houseplants – the indie-electronic duo of Paul Noonan and Daithí. 

A panel of eleven judges from the Irish music media selected the shortlisted albums. The awards ceremony will take place at Vicar Street on 3 March and will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2FM in a special four-hour extended programme from 7pm to 11pm, with a special highlights television programme on RTÉ 2 the following week. 

The Song of the Year shortlist will be announced on 26 January

Previous winners of the award include Denise Chaila for her record Go Bravely in 2020, Lankum’s The Livelong Day in 2019, O Emperor’s album Jason in 2018, and in 2017, Precession by synth duo Ships. 

See the full list of nominees below. For further information, visit www.choicemusicprize.ie.

Bicep – Isles
Mick Flannery & Susan O’Neill – In the Game
For Those I Love – For Those I Love
Orla Gartland – Woman on the Internet
HousePlants – Dry Goods
Kojaque – Town’s Dead
Elaine Mai – Home
Saint Sister – Where I Should End
Soda Blonde – Small Talk
Villagers – Fever Dreams