Broken Social Scene, Tegan and Sara and Owen Pallett are among those shortlisted for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize.
The Canadian equivalent of the UK's Mercury Prize and our own Choice Music Prize will see the winner receive $20,000 in prize money for achieving the "best full-length Canadian album, judged solely on artistic merit, without regard to genre or record sales". The prize is voted for by nearly 200 Canadian music professionals, including journalists, broadcasters and bloggers.
This year's list sees more names that your average non-Canadian might recognise than previous years, also featuring Caribou and The Besnard Lakes. Other Canadian favourites Crystal Castles, Holy Fuck and You Say Party! We Say Die! (recently renamed as simply You Say Party) had made it into the top 40 but failed to make it onto the shortlist.
Last year's prize was won by noise-rockers F**ked Up for their album 'The Chemistry of Life'. This year's prize will be awarded on September 20th to one of the following acts:
The Besnard Lakes - 'The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night'
Broken Social Scene - 'Forgiveness Rock Record'
Caribou – 'Swim'
Karkwa - 'Les Chemins De Verre'
Dan Mangan - 'Nice, Nice, Very Nice'
Owen Pallett - 'Heartland'
Radio Radio - 'Belmundo Regal'
The Sadies - 'Darker Circles'
Shad - 'TSOL'
Tegan And Sara - 'Sainthood'
