Feist's "The Reminder" is "the album of the year for 2007 or any year I can think of: It's modern and classic all at once," Lightbody said in a statement released Monday. "There are so many kinds of beauty in this record."
Leslie Feist, who uses only her last name professionally, hails from Canada. She grew up in Calgary and spent her teenage years as lead singer for a hardcore punk band.
Her Grammy nominations include best new artist and best pop vocal album. The Grammys will be presented Sunday in Los Angeles.
Finalists for the 2007 Shortlist Music Prize also included Arcade Fire, Burial, Justice, LCD Soundsystem, M.I.A., Spoon, Stars, Wilco and Working for a Nuclear Free City.
Feist, 31, is the second woman to snag the prize, following Cat Power's win last year. Past winners also include Damien Rice, N.E.R.D., TV on the Radio and Sufjan Stevens.
