Polaris Prize 2009 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

cellophanedeity · 07-20-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Toronto, ON (July 7, 2009) Steve Jordan, Founder and Executive Director of the Polaris Music Prize, today revealed the Short List of 10 Canadian albums eligible for the fourth annual $20,000 award.

The 10 nominees are, in alphabetical order:

Elliott BROOD – Mountain Meadows
(Toronto, ON)
Fucked Up – The Chemistry Of Common Life
(Toronto, ON)
Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels
(Toronto, ON)
Hey Rosetta! – Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood)
(St. John’s, NF)
K’NAAN – Troubadour
(Toronto, ON)
Malajube – Labyrinthes
(Montréal, QC)
Metric – Fantasies
(Toronto, ON)
Joel Plaskett – Three
(Halifax, NS)
Chad VanGaalen – Soft Airplane
(Calgary, AB)
Patrick Watson – Wooden Arms
(Montréal, QC)

“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.

In a sudden burst of nationalism, hipsterism, and just-got-my-GST-chequeism, I purchased the whole short list. (Though, I already owned the albums by Metric, K'naan and Great Lake Swimmers.)

Pre focused-listening thoughts:

I love the Metric and K'naan albums, but I don't want them to win. The award is a great way for smaller bands to get themselves out there, and neither Metric nor K'naan need the exposure up here. Metric is our biggest indie band, and K'naan plays music with Steven Marley and Kirk Hammett. They have already won the love and support of the Canadian music scene.

On the other hand, if the album is actually deserving of the highest title, then perhaps it should win anyway. The Metric will definitely be hard to beat as a personal favourite, but I have hope. Is this unfair of me?

I will be adding reviews, and I hope you do the same. I promise every album will be worth at least a casual listen. At least go out and listen to the singles on YouTube.

What do you think of the albums?
What do you think of the award itself?
Had you heard of the award before this post?

cellophanedeity · 07-21-2009, 06:34 PM

Metric: Gimmie Sympathy

YouTube - Gimme Sympathy [Official Music Video]

Pitchfork Says:
Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Metric: Fantasies

Rolling Stone Says:
Fantasies : Metric : Review : Rolling Stone

Sounds Like...
Emily Haines has a sexy, breathy, unmistakenable voice that I (and many others) can't resist. She somehow makes only adequate lyrics sound fantastic. The music is disco-heavy and deceptively simple. The percussion sounds a bit like the world's best drum-machine, and the bass lines are amazingly dancey.

Feels Like...
a late late night out with old friends, intoxicated and delerious with sexual tension. A memorable night, but there's a hint of the morose.

Choice Lyrics:

"If somebody's got soul/You gotta make them move" Collect Call

"I can feel you most when I'm alone/I can feel your ghost when I'm alone" Satellite Mind

"Did they tell you, you should grow up When you wanted to dream?/ Did they warn you, better shape up If you want to succeed?/ I don't know about you, who are they talking to?/ They're not talking to me" Twilight Galaxy

Personal Favourite Tracks:
Gold Guns Girls
Collect Call

All in All...
As much as I want someone else to win, Fantasies is my #1 favourite album of 2009 so far. I haven't met anyone that dislikes the album, and there isn't a track on the album that couldn't be a hit. I listened to it for a month straight when it first came out, and it still feels fresh and new.

SecretMethod70 · 07-22-2009, 09:59 AM

I honestly haven't heard most of the music on the list, but I have a hard time imagining any of the other options to be as good as Metric's Fantasies. Easily one of the best albums of 2009, out of Canada or anywhere.

Of course, ilovemetric

Charlatan · 07-22-2009, 04:54 PM

I am a fan of most of the artist on the list and have been listening to most of the albums. It really feels like it's Joel Plaskett's year. But given the mandate of Polaris, I'd put my money on either Great Lake Swimmers or Chad Van Gaalen.

Metric is too commercial to win this but their album is excellent.

Blasphemy. · 08-06-2009, 07:02 PM

I'm absolutely sold on Soft Airplanes. I understand him not winning it with Skelliconnection, I felt like it was missing something, but with this album. Absolutely beautiful, front to back. It has been in heavy rotation in my album playlists since it came out.

I would have loved to see a harder band like Bison B.C (who absolutely kill) make it to the short list, but it seemed this year there were more harder bands nominated than past years, which kind of gives me hope in what direction the Polaris might be going. If Fucked Up wins this year, that would be the first time a harder band wins this thing. Or even a hard band making the short list. I enjoy this.

I'm really hoping Metric doesn't win. I know that each nominee has a brilliant album in their own way. But judging by who is there, Metric could use the money way less than anybody else. Aside from K'Naan they are really the only band with mainstream high rotation.

thespian86 · 08-06-2009, 07:27 PM

I'll be surprised if Patrick Watson doesn't win for Wooden Arms; he's at his best, especially with the title track. I think it's unlikely that Plaskett, Metric, or K'Naan win (I think they have all done better work; except in Metric's case - Emily at some of her best). I'd say Great Lake Swimmers stand a solid chance as well.

Pat Watson for the win I'd say.

(Side note: I like Hey Rosetta!. They've played town several times and I've had a few drinks with them. However I think their success is a measure of where they are playing out of, and not their work. They have a way to go before they reach Metric, Pat Watson, Great Lake, Fucked up, and [most importantly] Joel Plaskett [the most prolific of the ten I'd say])

Blasphemy. · 08-07-2009, 01:58 PM

You think for only the fourth year that this award has been going, that they'd give Patrick Watson another win? I can see a bit of politics being thrown in the decision.

07-22-2009, 09:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	I honestly haven't heard most of the music on the list, but I have a hard time imagining any of the other options to be as good as Metric's Fantasies. Easily one of the best albums of 2009, out of Canada or anywhere. Of course, ilovemetric __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

07-22-2009, 04:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I am a fan of most of the artist on the list and have been listening to most of the albums. It really feels like it's Joel Plaskett's year. But given the mandate of Polaris, I'd put my money on either Great Lake Swimmers or Chad Van Gaalen. Metric is too commercial to win this but their album is excellent. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

08-06-2009, 07:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
thespian86 change is hard. Location: the green room.	I'll be surprised if Patrick Watson doesn't win for Wooden Arms; he's at his best, especially with the title track. I think it's unlikely that Plaskett, Metric, or K'Naan win (I think they have all done better work; except in Metric's case - Emily at some of her best). I'd say Great Lake Swimmers stand a solid chance as well. Pat Watson for the win I'd say. (Side note: I like Hey Rosetta!. They've played town several times and I've had a few drinks with them. However I think their success is a measure of where they are playing out of, and not their work. They have a way to go before they reach Metric, Pat Watson, Great Lake, Fucked up, and [most importantly] Joel Plaskett [the most prolific of the ten I'd say]) __________________ EX: Whats new? ME: I officially love coffee more then you now. EX: uh... ME: So, not much. Last edited by thespian86; 08-06-2009 at 07:29 PM..

08-06-2009, 07:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Blasphemy. Tilted	I'm absolutely sold on Soft Airplanes. I understand him not winning it with Skelliconnection, I felt like it was missing something, but with this album. Absolutely beautiful, front to back. It has been in heavy rotation in my album playlists since it came out. I would have loved to see a harder band like Bison B.C (who absolutely kill) make it to the short list, but it seemed this year there were more harder bands nominated than past years, which kind of gives me hope in what direction the Polaris might be going. If Fucked Up wins this year, that would be the first time a harder band wins this thing. Or even a hard band making the short list. I enjoy this. I'm really hoping Metric doesn't win. I know that each nominee has a brilliant album in their own way. But judging by who is there, Metric could use the money way less than anybody else. Aside from K'Naan they are really the only band with mainstream high rotation.

08-07-2009, 01:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
Blasphemy. Tilted	You think for only the fourth year that this award has been going, that they'd give Patrick Watson another win? I can see a bit of politics being thrown in the decision.