polaris

So this morning they announced the short list for this year's Polaris Music Prize, one of Canada's most prestigious and financially yummy trophies to capture. Often rounding up the best of the best, this year proves to be more of the same. Vying for a bag filled with $20,000 this year are recent chart faves Black Mountain, my girl crush Basia Bulat, Caribou, Kathleen Edwards (meh), Holy Fuck, the incredibly great Plants and Animals, Shad, Montreal's Stars, pop darlings Two Hours Traffic and everyone's favourite Winnipeggers The Weakerthans.



So who will win? Of course we all want The Weakerthans to win because they consistently release music that changes your life. They won't win however because their hair isn't hip enough and John Samson wears curling pants to performances. Such is life. Black Mountain topped just about everyone's critics lists and deservedly so and are likely my pick to win. Although the same could be said for Plants and Animals. Basia Bulat, although fantastically lovely, probably isn't exciting enough to capture enough of the vote. Mind you look at Patrick Watson, the winner of last year's prize -- many people think he pulled the rug out from everyone with that win, despite being incredibly talented. Up against Arcade Fire, The Dears, and hipstar darlings The Besnard Lakes and he still won?



Anyway, it's a fun bit of Canadiana music excitment for a music nerd like me...

The winner will be announced September 29 at Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre.