The Arctic Monkeys, who shot to fame on the Internet and broke all records with their debut, won the coveted Mercury Prize on Tuesday for the Best British album of the year.
"It's good tunes -- that's what we try to do," said frontman Alex Turner after the group accepted the 20,000 pound ($35,000) award.
The Mercury Prize judges tend to court controversy every year by picking quirky and offbeat winners rather than chart-topping blockbusters.
This year was a glaring exception with the prize going to the Arctic Monkeys who in January smashed the British record for the fastest-selling debut album.
"Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I Am Not" sold over 363,700 copies in its first week.
Even Turner admitted to being surprised that they had won. "Normally it doesn't go to a band that has sold as many albums as we have. But we are very pleased with it," he said.
Find more at Reuters. The nominated albums for the 2006 award were as follows:
Arctic Monkeys - "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not."
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - "Ballad of the Broken Seas."
Editors - "The Back Room."
Guillemots - "Through the Windowpane."
Richard Hawley - "Coles Corner."
Hot Chip - "The Warning."
Muse - "Black Holes & Revelations."
Zoe Rahman - "Melting Pot."
Lou Rhodes - "Beloved One."
Scritti Politti- "White Bread Black Beer."
Sway - "This is My Demo."
Thom Yorke - "The Eraser."
