The XX wins UK Mercury Prize

Electronic trio The xx has won Britain's Barclaycard Mercury Prize for their debut album, called xx. The south London band won the 20,000 pound ($30,000) prize over 11 other shortlisted acts at a ceremony in London. The group beat its more well-known competitors, which included bookies' favorite Paul Weller, singer Corinne Bailey Rae and past winner Dizzee Rascal. Frontman Oliver Sim said he was stunned by the news: I don't know what we were expecting but we weren't expecting this.The award has honored the best album of the year by a British or Irish band since 1992. Previous winners include the Arctic Monkeys and Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand.