Canadian music has begun some real momentum on the world stage. Bands and musicians like Kardinal Offishall, Avril Lavigne, Nickelback and many others have developed from their Canadian roots and blossomed into full-fledged music superstars. Yet the greatest irony in the music industry still remains: defined recognition and success for musicians only occurs when they sell records. The most vapid, one-dimensional artists win Grammies and Junos when, realistically, they should never be nominated in the first place.
Enter the Polaris Music Prize. Recently, the 2009 short list for the prize, created in 2006 to recognize Canadian artists based solely on artistic merit, was announced. As judged by a panel of Canadian music critics, journalists and musicians themselves, Polaris has become one of the most reputable names in indie rock in this country. Nominees include Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Metric, Malajube and many more.
Additionally, winners of this prestigious prize have made quite the names for themselves in recent years. The previous three winners (Final Fantasy's He Poos Clouds, Patrick Watson's Close to Paradise and Caribou's Andorra) have all gone on to great success, both home and abroad, after a stint in Canada's music underground. Additionally, they have gained a great deal of recognition from Polaris and the $20,000 dollar prize awarded with it; this has allowed financially strapped musicians with genuine talent a chance to develop their fan base and improve the overall quality of their craft.
I am a great supporter of Polaris for these reasons and one other: the journalistic aspect. This unbiased portrayal of Canada's greatest music each year attracts bloggers and music writers from across the country to Toronto, where through a democratic process, the most deserving act is chose. There is no preference of genre (this year's lineup has everything from post-hardcore to alternative country), nor is there any financial links between jurors and record labels, clubs, performance venues or the bands themselves; it truly is an unbiased selection of the best in Canadian music.
In any case, the Polaris Gala is to be held September 21st in Toronto. Each nominated band will perform a short set of selections from their nominated work before a grand audience of jurors and music fans alike, bringing everyone together for one stellar night of music. This is a night where dreams are realized and pure talent is revealed to the world. This can truly be the big break an artist needs to succeed in one of the most difficult scenes to make it. Polaris is a wonderful thing for this country and our rich musical tradition.
In any case, as it stands, the 10 nominees for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize are as follows:
1) Elliott Brood, Mountain Meadows:
Break out the banjos. Toronto's most renowned alternative country trio is back with their sophomore effort, Mountain Meadows. Delightful folky lyricism combined with a jaunty combination of acoustic guitar, banjo and ukulele make this record as delightful as it is profound.
2) Fucked Up, The Chemistry of Common Life:
Expect loudness. Toronto's Fucked Up is an experimental post-hardcore band with a serious edge. Yet for a band who screams to get their point across, lyrically, they're incredibly profound; one of, if not, the best lyricists of this year's nominees. Driving an elaborately styled aggressive, grungy experimental rock into the skulls of listeners, in only their second full length album (they mostly record EPs on 7' vinyls), this is a Canadian act not to be missed.
3) Great Lake Swimmers, Lost Channels:
Lost Channels further establishes the portfolio of one of Canada's greatest folk-pop exports. Comparable to Iron and Wine, expect a great combination of wordplay and acoustics, yet phases in and out of intimate settings in which these sounds take place. An intriguing record from start to finish, Great Lake Swimmers pull out all the stops on this one.
4) Hey Rosetta!, Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and through your blood):
Produced by fellow Canadian Hawksley Workman, this St. John's, Newfoundland sextet has already received Album of the Year at the Verge Music awards (along with $25,000), beating out Tegan and Sara and Wintersleep. A venerable rock record with distinctly Newfie vocals and brilliant lyricism, Great Big Sea isn't the only thing musically relevant on The Rock anymore.
5) K'naan, Troubadour:
The Somali-Canadian rapper and poet returns with the follow-up to his equally lauded, Polaris-nominated debut, The Dusty Foot Philosopher. Troubadour features bizarre musical additions (such as Kirk Hammett from Metallica) but retains the same powerful lyricism and brilliant, flowing beats that brought K'naan to Canada's hip-hop forefront. As hip-hop this year goes, this is not to be missed.
6) Malajube, Labarynthes:
Following up a generational album Français-Canadien, Malajube's Labarynthes builds from the musical concepts established in 2004's Trompe-l'oeil: lavish guitar and keyboard anthems that are both pleasing to the ear and lyrically relevant. While the band doesn't capture the same magic as their sophomore sensation, they hit incredibly high highs on this record; international recognition should be soon to follow.
7) Metric, Fantasies:
Emily Haines and company return with their latest effort, Fantasies. All the lyricism and catchy dance-pop guitar one would expect from a Metric album, yet strangely a new level of maturity returns with it. That being said, Metric have another hit on their hands. Fantasies is an excellent addition this Toronto band's already expansive repertoire.
8) Joel Plaskett, Three:
As the name implies, 27 tracks spanned over three albums encompasses Joel Plaskett's Three. Minus the Emergency, his backing band, Plaskett creates a three-headed monster for himself: a rock, country and ambient-infused Nova Scotian sensation; think Canada's version of Ryan Adams. Plaskett as a songwriter is practically incomparable on this list.
9) Chad VanGaalen, Soft Airplanes:
Speaking of incomparable songwriting (and segues), Chad VanGaalen's latest record further establishes a true master with the pen and the guitar. Basement recordings, complete with distorted background noise, create an album that shines images from a broken movie projector into our minds with (ironically) brilliant clarity. Expect acoustics and banjos to enlighten once more.
10) Patrick Watson, Wooden Arms:
Already the recipient of one Polaris prize, Patrick Watson's sophomore jem Wooden Arms explores the depths of emotional connection to music, with vibrant melodies and enchanting lyrics to capture any Canadian indie's heart. Beautiful ballads, Jeff Buckley-esque vocals and a wide variety of instrumentation are to be expected, as with any work by this band; brilliant doesn't even begin to do it justice.
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