TORONTO (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Steve Jordan, Founder and Executive Director of the Polaris Music Prize has announced the short list of this years' nominees. The Polaris is awarded annually to the to the best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit, regardless of genre, sales, or record label.
For the first time in Polaris admittedly short history there are repeat nominees on the Short List. K'NAAN, Malajube and Metric also made the cut in 2006, and Plaskett, VanGaalen and Patrick Watson made it in 2007. In another first, there are no debut albums on the Short List.
The nominees are selected by a jury of 182 Canadian journalists, broadcasters and bloggers who choose from albums released between June 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009 and the ultimate winner is chosen by a smaller "grand jury" of 11 members who will select the winner based on live performances at the award ceremony.
The awards presentation also has a new home this year at the Masonic Temple in Toronto. The gala event will be held on September 21st and be broadcast live on Sirius and Muchmusic as well as webcast on Muchmusic.com.
"If there's a common thread to these records, it's that each artist built on previous successes by pushing themselves into even riskier artistic dimensions. Listeners will find the jury picked quite an ambitious crop this year. This is exactly the kind of artistry that Polaris aims to support," said Jordan.
The 10 nominees
Elliott BROOD – Mountain Meadows
Fucked Up – The Chemistry Of Common Life
Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels
Hey Rosetta! – Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood)
K'NAAN – Troubadour
Malajube – Labyrinthes
Metric – Fantasies
Joel Plaskett – Three
Chad VanGaalen – Soft Airplane
Patrick Watson – Wooden Arms
– CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
