Paul Weller wins best album award

Chart veteran Paul Weller has been acclaimed for releasing the best album of the year.

The 52-year-old musician has landed the Uncut Music Award for his latest release Wake Up The Nation, which was widely hailed as a return to form.

His album was chosen by a panel of musicians, broadcasters and music executives for the annual accolade, organised by Uncut magazine.

The former Jam and Style Council frontman said he was "pleasantly surprised" to receive the award and insisted the credit lay with producer and co-writer Simon Dine. "The album came from him, really. He had these very rough backing track ideas, which he sent me. Once I heard them, I got excited too. I could see a whole new sound emerging out of them," Weller said.

The shortlist included Suburbs by Arcade Fire, Butterfly House by The Coral, American Slang by The Gaslight Anthem and Plastic Beach by Gorillaz.

Uncut editor Allan Jones said: "The eventual winner, after an epic discussion, was an album that united both long-term fans among the judges and others who had previously been more sceptical." He added the album was "the sound of a great artist in the form of his life, absolutely aflame with ideas".

Weller, interviewed in Uncut, which is on sale today, is the first British winner. Tuareg combo Tinariwen won the award last year, and US band Fleet Foxes won the inaugural prize.