I’ve been quietly agonizing all week over what five records to place on my ballot for round 1 of Polaris Music Prize voting, which is due Monday. So far, my picks for Canadian albums released between June 1, ‘08, and June 1, ‘09, are almost certain to include Martha Wainwright’s I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too, Fucked Up’s The Chemistry of Common Life and Land of Talk’s Some Are Lakes, but there’s a ridiculous volume of heavy competition for the last two spots: Blackout Beach (aka Carey Mercer from Frog Eyes), The Bicycles, K’Naan, Great Lake Swimmers, Charles Spearin’s Happiness Project, The Blankket, Hank, Slim Twig, Kardinal Offishal, Leonard Cohen (Live in London), Timber Timbre, Elliott Brood, Anthony Braxton & the AIMToronto Orchestra, Venetian Snares/Last Step, John Doe & the Sadies, Blah Blah 666, Joel Plaskett … Not to mention some I haven’t even heard yet.
SO - what do you think? Sway me! Bribes accepted in the comment box.
The Bicycles!
Hank, Hank, vote for them they’re swank!
No Contest was too early in 2008 for Feuermusik to be eligible, right? Also, I forgot to mention Daniel Nebiat when you were asking about unheard albums - I never actually got around to playing his last one but I think David Dacks liked it quite a bit.
Have the Polaris illuminati ever considered adding a best single/track/whatever prize? I like the simplicity of the current template but that would be one way to better represent certain genres without taking a chainsaw to the jury list. Then you could vote for K’Naan’s “T.I.A.” and, say, Hank…
blackout beach, no question.
john darnielle just wrote a great piece in praise of the record at LPTJ: http://www.lastplanetojakarta.com/2009/06/woe_indeed.html
Not a great year for Canadian music, but I think my ballot would look something like this:
1) Mt Eerie and Julie Doiron - Lost Wisdom
2) Clues - Clues
3) Tune-Yards - Bird-Brains
4) Blackout Beach - Skin of Evil
5) Sister Suvi - Champion
Runners-up: Elfin Saddle, Snailhouse, Julie Doiron.
The Mt Eerie/JD seems to qualify (it’s really 66.6% Canadian artists), but maybe it’d get shot down. It’s the best ostensibly Canuck record of the past 18 months. The Clues album is WONDERFUL and you should listen to it, Carl. Glad we’re all together on Blackout Beach. And not sure how you’d feel about Tune-Yards or Sister Suvi - but Merrill, Patrick & co will win something big sooner or later, yes indeed.
oh and Swan Lake!
How about “Holding On to Whatever It Is” by The Waking Eyes?
I can’t believe I am spending so much time in yr comments section Carl, but I was reminded this evening that the ADAM & THE AMETHYSTS album qualifies and it would def be on my ballot. Marvelous psychedelic Canadiana that sneaks up on me with every single listen.
The Pink Mountaintops’ “Outside Love” is probably my favourite Canadian record of the last year.
oh, and:
Chad Vangaalen - soft airplane
Women - s/t
Forgot these were eligible.
Thank you for including Anthony Braxton & the AIMToronto Orchestra, _CREATIVE ORCHESTRA (GUELPH) 2007_ (Spool), as part of your shortlist. It means a lot to the musicians who worked so hard on that music.
Great Lake Swimmers
Timber Timbre
are the best of the year for me!
But I was most surprised by Elliott Brood.
I also agree with Fucked up and Land of talk.
Another vote of awesomeness for The Waking Eyes! Seriously, what a brilliant record - prog pop, bombast, lyrical beauty, soundscapes, and catchy as all hell.
woodland telegraph-fantastic songwriting!
Apostle of Hustle - Eats Darkness
Here’s a real underdog. Global Chilling. They released a great album last year called Climbing the Tower of Babel. Check out their video podcast on itunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=310072733
Sélectionnez celui qui est en Français!
Sister Suvi, Bruce Peninsula, Mt Eerie and Julie Doiron, Chad Vangaalen
rae spoon for sure! ’superioryouareinferior’. there is no other.
Woddland Telegraph Sings Revival Hymns
Dog Day - Concentration
Julie Doiron - I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day
Giant Hand - Coming Home http://gianthand.ca/
Absolutely amazing, raw, independent canadian talent at its best!