The Polaris Music Prize is awarded each year to the best Canadian album, as determined by a select group of music journalists from across the country. This year’s short list features ten albums spanning a wide range of musical styles and geographical locations. The nominees were announced today in Toronto and the winner will be announced on September 26th. Here is this year’s Polaris Prize short list:
Tegan And Sara – Sainthood
Shad – TSOL
The Sadies – Darker Circles
Radio Radio – Belmundo Regal
Owen Pallet – Heartland
Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice
Karkwa – Les Chemins De Verre
Caribou – Swim
Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night
The Polaris Prize honors the best Canadian album of the year, as decided by a team of journalists from across the country. While the Shortlist of 10 nominees will be announced on July 6th, this year’s Longlist was unveiled this past week. Some of the notable nominees include 2008 Polaris Prize winner Caribou, the Corduroy-profiled Basia Bulat and Shad, and Broken Social Scene for their latest album, “Forgiveness Rock Record.” The winner will be announced later this summer and receive a $20,000 cash prize. Check out the full Polaris Prize Longlist after the jump.
Canadian hardcore rockers and recent Polaris Prize winners Fucked Up, have teamed up with some of their friends for a new recording of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The recording — which was funded entirely by the band’s $20,000 Polaris Prize winnings — features Yo La Tengo, GZA, Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend), Tegan And Sara, Andrew W.K., Kevin Drew and David Cross, among others. As with the original 80s classic, proceeds from the sale of the single will go toward charity. Fucked Up lead singer Damian Abraham chose three organizations in particular: Justice For Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women (Montreal), DTES Power Of Women Group (Vancouver) and Sisters In Spirit (Ottawa), who will all split the money that is raised. The song is available on iTunes now, but you can check out a preview below:
