Alt-J Win Mercury Prize for ‘An Awesome Wave’

Congrats are in order for British rockers Alt-J, as they have picked up the prestigious Mercury Prize for their debut album, 'An Awesome Wave.'

The Mercury Prize is awarded to the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland during the year, so it's a huge accolade for a band to receive, especially on their first release. There's no bigger award to bestow on a piece of music in the region, and the band stole the prize right out from under the noses of Michael Kiwanuka, Jessie Ware and the Maccabees, among others.

Last year, PJ Harvey won for 'Let England Shake,' and other past winners include the xx, Portishead and Arctic Monkeys, so to say that Alt-J are in some pretty esteemed company would be like saying Hurricane Sandy was merely a mist.

'An Awesome Wave' landed on Sept. 18 in the United States after racking up some serious critical acclaim in the band's native land. The record is a quirky mix of electronic and psychedelic rock, making for a unique hybrid that's distinctly Alt-J. That's likely one of the reasons that the album won the much coveted Mercury Prize.

Alt-J will be hitting the West Coast for a quick tour next month, with shows scheduled for San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland and Seattle, so American fans can see what all the fuss is about. Click here for more info.