Polaris Music Prize Shortlist - 2012

One of the weaker lineups. Japandroids > Edwards > Cold specks > FU

Japandroids, though I find YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN appealing as well.

YAMANTAKA//SONIC TITAN for me. Shooting Guns should have made the short list.

This list needs some Whitehorse.

I am enjoying Cold Specks a lot

Visions, Take Care, or Hope in Dirt City. Followed by Celebration Rock, David Comes to Life, and Handsome Furs.

I actually think this is the best shortlist yet. And not just because all five of the albums on my shortlist ballot actually made it!

This list needs some Whitehorse.

One assumes you dont mean the awesome funeral doom band

I may be wrong but I don't think Kathleen Edwards has ever been shortlisted for this before. Seems all she has to do is hook up with Justin Vernon and make a so-so record with him to get the recognition that eluded her for her three previous, uniformly excellent albums.

Ignore me, her last one was also shortlisted. My point stands if she wins, though.

no weeknd is a bummer

Japandroids, I guess.

lol @ me already having forgotten there was a new Feist record.

The Kathleen Edwards album is good despite the presence of Justin Vernon.

I like YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN, but haven't heard the others. (Not interested in Feist or Fucked Up, based on what I've heard in the past. The Japanadroids I've heard has disappointed me, but I don't know if I've heard anything from this particular album and might be willing to give it a whirl. What I've heard of Grimes has just seemed okay to me.)

I think I always expect the Japandroids to sound something like what Yamantaka // Sonic Titan sound like. Now I remember.

"Not interested in Feist" is too bad. I never warmed to "The Reminder" but looove "Metals".

Grimes will win (unfortunately).

At this point, I think so too.

...although there have been some real surprise winners over the years, so who knows.

"Not interested in Feist" is too bad. I never warmed to "The Reminder" but looove "Metals".

Actually, after saying that, and before your post, I tried some of the new Feist album and I didn't find it off-putting like the songs I heard from The Reminder. I'm still not too interested, but might give the full album a try when I think I am in the right mood.

FWIW, I occasionally rep for the Feist/Gonzales/Mocky(/Jamie Lidell) production mafia--they've made some creative pop moves on record at times IMO, although I'm not into any of her albums all the way through.

Don't get Feist at all. Sub-Lilith Fair coffeehouse folk meets lite jazz. Will admit that Metals has some intersting sonic touches, but neither her voice, her words or her melodies are the slightest bit interesting.

Also, just relistened to the Handsome Furs for the first time since it was new. Holy shit, this album is epic. Should've made my top albums list of last year (though I did stick "Serve The People" on my singles list), even though I don't know what of my top ten I would lose.

A friend complained that the record sounded very "disjointed," a criticism that I kind of get but wholly reject nonetheless. I imagine he was referring to the ricketyness of the music, but to me the constructions of these grand, anthemic songs with all these buzzy lo-fi synths makes them feel all the more triumphant.

I voted for Handsome Furs, would be great if they one. I didn't have the same reaction to 'Sound Kapital' as 'Face Control' at first. One of my favourite things about the latter was the juxtaposition of Dan's guitars with the electronics. I felt 'Sound Kapital' almost ditched guitars alltogether at points. Still, it grew on me. Shame they split up without gaining as much popularity as Sunset Rubdown because they're just as good for me.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Handsome Furs just barely over Fucked Up, which I'm surprisingly myself by since I was all over that Fucked Up record last year. But I'd be happy with a win for either of 'em. Don't get the Grimes hype, she's just okay by me. Hate the boring ass Drake record. Pretty big fan of the Japandroids, but thought their last one was better. Haven't heard the others, but I think I need to hear the Y/T record after all the ilm hype.

Yes, you do.

Just got it, actually. On deck after Swans.

yeah I totes want to check out the Y/T album. this year has been so rad.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

I am going to the awards ceremony tonight!

I like all these records. Except Fucked Up! Weirdly. Of all these bands I listen to Fucked Up the most but "David" is their weakest record afaic.

Anyway, who's gonna win?

I don't know, but I need to buy a copy of YT//ST while I'm enjoying the comfort of a minor bonus in my last pay check.

Probably Grimes, who I know has a lot of fans on here, but blech.

Grimes, but I'm hoping Drake or Cadence Weapon do. HIP-HOP THIS YEAR BABY

Also: AHHHH CANT WAIT FOR THIS TO BE AWARDEDDD

i hope yt//st win because the guy who put it out is a pal & hardworking dude who truly deserves the acknowledgement, but i think grimes is the best album so i would be happy if that won, too. would rme if drake or feist or fucked up won, and lol gleefully if cadence weapon won

hard to say who will win, who are the judges?

Drake won't win because he's too rich and famous, and they already gave it to Arcade Fire last year.

Cadence Weapon occupies the same space in this prize that fellow second-time (I think) nominees Feist and Kathleen Edwards do--think of them as the bridesmaids of this category (as in, always one).

Fucked Up won't win because they've already won.

Handsome Furs won't win because it'd be too weird giving the prize to a band that's already split up (though I think it'd be amusing and even kinda poignant).

For Yamantaka and Cold Specks, it's an honour just being nominated.

Japandroids are Grimes only real competition, as I see it.

Here's the grand jury.

Gregory Adams (Georgia Straight)
Michael Barclay (Maclean's, Radio Free Canuckistan)
Chris Bilton (The Grid)
Ryan Bresee (CKCU 93.1fm)
Lisa Christiansen (CBC Radio 1)
Shawn Conner (The Snipe News)
Melissa Hetu (TFO)
Kevin Laforest (Freelance, ex-Hour)
Ryan B. Patrick (Freelance)
Tabassum Siddiqui (Freelance)
Nicole Villeneuve (AUX TV).

Don't really know what can be said. The only two I am familiar with is Gregory Adams, who is a local music reviewer who will likely vote for either Grimes or Japandroids since he's an indie schmindie guy and everyone in Vancouver likes to take personal ownership of both these artists; and Lisa Christiansen who does the traffic on CBC R1 and once a week does a tedious little thing about the music biz. She has typical CBC tastes - in other words, MOR shite. I think she'll probably go for Grimes.

surprised by the level of ire for grimes itt tbh! MOR shite! ouch!

I'd think the "MOR shite" would go to Feist before Grimes, tbh.

Thank fucking Christ Alan Cross isn't part of the grand jury.

Thank fucking Alan Cross Jesus Christ isn't part of the grand jury.

I seriously wonder how many people have been "lol 1-2-3-4" abt that Feist record and not given it a chance, it's ~really good~.

Anyway my money's on her.

I'd think the "MOR shite" would go to Feist before Grimes, tbh.

Or even Kathleen Edwards.

i hope i'm on a future grand jury... would be so cool, plus us westerners need to be represented!

There are a few ilxors I'd love to see on the jury, like Owen and Adrien.

Haha, thanks. Being an original juror from when it first started, someday, I hope.

Lisa Christiansen who does the traffic on CBC R1 and once a week does a tedious little thing about the music biz. She has typical CBC tastes - in other words, MOR shite. I think she'll probably go for Grimes.

Nah, she's a cool person. One of the biggest supporters of Canadian metal, too.

As for tonight, Fucked Up is most deserving, and I'd be thrilled if YT//ST won, but my money's on Japandroids. I wouldn't count out Kathleen Edwards, people love her.

And a "no thank you" to jury duty for me. If Panopticon Eyelids aren't on the shortlist I am not interested

OP, please get a picture for the "pictures of Drake looking ridic" thread.

We'll see, I might cut class early to see Nicky da B

I applied to be on the jury last year and got a "thanks, but no thanks." I like to believe it is because they feel Ontario is overrepresented (which I've actually heard is the case).

It is. But it's also a lot more geographically spread out and diverse in musical taste than it was six years ago.

how many years has it been since panopticon eyelids released anything, or played a show? 2? i feel like they played something not that long ago

Panopticon Eyelids put out an awesome album Dec 2011 and it is on Bandcamp, listen now. Grimes is playing now with a male pole dancer and her beats aren't syncing and she's fucking up and saying "fuck" and it is totally great

Are you there or just watching on TV?

I'm here. Yamantaka just finished.

Feist is playing and she's basically a total fucking genius, I mean, MOR whatever, this is mega

I hope everybody wins but I hope Feist wins

Haha she did

Ugh.

Well, that was super fun. Alexei gave a tearful acceptance speech, it was heart-wrenching. Kathleen Edwards gave good speech too. I got drunk and spent the latter part of the evening talking with Rollie about his feelings.

Good to know that Kathleen has recovered well from her recent near death experience in my neck of the woods.

Wha? I missed that. Details?

http://www.montrealgazette.com/7293747.bin

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/09/10/kathleen-edwards-stung-by-bee-nearly-dies/

(xpost)