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Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

Posted by Grant Lawrence on Jun 15, 2009

Today marks a big milestone in the march towards deciding which Canadian band or artist wins the prestigious Polaris Music Prize for 2009, and the $20,000.00 prize money.

At exactly 11am ET/8am PT today, Executive Director and Founder Steve Jordan released the Top 40 Long List of albums, as voted on by the jury of Canadian music journalists, broadcasters, and bloggers. It is from this list that the Top 10 Shorlist will be revealed live on CBC Radio 3/Sirius 86 on Tuesday, July 7, live from the Drake Hotel in Toronto.

Today on Grant Lawrence Live - at the new time of 2pm ET / 11am PT - we'll talk with Polaris Executive Administrator Liisa Ladouceur to get her reaction to the list... and here it is:

And so here is the 2009 Polaris Music Prize Long List:

Arkells - Jackson Square

Jill Barber - Chances

Beast - Beast

Bell Orchestre - As Seen Through Windows

Bison B.C. - Quiet Earth

Bruce Peninsula - A Mountain Is A Mouth

Coeur De Pirate - Coeur De Pirate

Leonard Cohen - Live In London

D-Sisive - Let The Children Die

Elephant Stone - The Seven Seas

Elliott Brood - Mountain Meadows

Fucked Up - The Chemistry Of Common Life

Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels

Handsome Furs - Face Control

Tim Hecker - An Imaginary Country

Hey Rosetta! - Into Your Lungs

Japandroids - Post-Nothing

Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care

K'NAAN - Troubadour

K-OS - YES!

La patère rose - La patère rose

Land Of Talk - Some Are Lakes

Lhasa - Lhasa

Malajube - Labyrinthes

Metric - Fantasies

One Hundred Dollars - Forest Of Tears

Pink Mountaintops - Outside Love

Joel Plaskett - Three

Snailhouse - Lies On The Prize

Charles Spearin - The Happiness Project

Rae Spoon - superioryouareinferior

The Stills - Oceans Will Rise

Think About Life - Family

Timber Timbre - Timber Timbre

Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane

Martha Wainwright - I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too

Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms

Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

Women - Women

Woodpigeon - Treasury Library Canada C/W Houndstooth Europa

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  1. Colin Medley
    01

    Re: Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by Colin Medley
    WOOOO! Timber Timbre!
  2. Colin Medley
    02

    Re: Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by Colin Medley
    Okay, who the hell voted for Beast? Ben Rayner, I'm looking at you. What an embarrasement.
  3. alex.werenka
    03

    Re: Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by alex.werenka
    The list looks AWESOME... but where's Mother Mother?

    :(
  4. alama4
    04

    Re: Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by alama4
    What about The Waking Eyes "Holding On To Whatever It Is"?? That oversight is rather dissapointing...

    Other than that - Arkells for the win!
  5. Colin Medley
    05

    Re: Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by Colin Medley
    Alright, my top 10 as of right now:

    Handsome Furs - Face Control
    Think About Life - Family
    Bell Orchestre - As Seen Through Windows
    Timber Timbre - Timber Timbre
    Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane
    Snailhouse - Lies On The Prize
    Fucked Up - The Chemistry Of Common Life
    One Hundred Dollars - Forest Of Tears
    Bruce Peninsula - A Mountain Is A Mouth
    Land Of Talk - Some Are Lakes

    Granted, there are quite a few albums on the list that I haven't heard. I'm looking forward to getting acquainted with more of them.

    Too bad Attack in Black didn't make the list.
  6. jsnmcd
    06

    Re: Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by jsnmcd
    Uh, where is Drake?
  7. pwats
    07

    Letting It Sink In...

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by pwats
    Enter Comment Here:
  8. suckingalemon
    08

    Re: Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by suckingalemon
    raw deal for Reg.

    calling this right now.

    colin - i like your list.
  9. Grant Lawrence
    09

    LOTS of surprises

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by Grant Lawrence
    artists made it and didn't make it... very surprised NOT to see Mother Mother, AC Newman, Sebastien Grainger!!!
  10. cbe
    10

    Leonard Cohen????

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by cbe
    WTF...

    Love him, but come on....
  11. pwats
    11

    Still Sinking In...

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by pwats
    Some excellent albums on that list! A few safe bets, some from out of left field. I'm glad to see Snailhouse made it.
  12. LucasDR
    12

    Where's Jenn Grant?

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by LucasDR
    Two of my favourite albums of the year, completely omitted from the list.

    Jenn Grant - Echos and Hey Ocean! - It's easier to be Somebody Else
  13. herohill
    13

    Deep Dark Woods

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by herohill
    Some big surprises, but I wish DDW made it. Super excited that D-Sisive did though.
  14. Colin Medley
    14

    @suckingalemon

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by Colin Medley
    Oof, you're right about Gentleman Reg.
  15. pwats
    15

    RE: Long List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by pwats
    My vote is Chad VanGaalen all the way. Can they do it though? ANOTHER single white male?
  16. Colin Medley
    16

    Re: Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by Colin Medley
    I think if you looked at the members of these bands and looked at where they were born and grew up, you'd find that there are people from all across Canada, scattered in little towns and big cities and everywhere in between. A lot of people move to big cities because that's usually where the biggest creative communities are. I live in Toronto now but I sure as hell grew up an hour away in Oshawa, and I have plenty of friends with similar stories, except they're from Hamilton or London or Sudbury or wherever. You know?
  17. flipzoso
    17

    Bruce Peninsula

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by flipzoso
    whoohoo, going all the way
  18. flipzoso
    18

    Bruce Peninsula

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by flipzoso
    whoohoo, going all the way
  19. pwats
    19

    @Colin Medley

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by pwats
    Pickering for me, baby!
  20. kn0ttyn3rb
    20

    WHERE THE F IS MOTHER MOTHER!?

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by kn0ttyn3rb
  21. kirkofdoom
    21

    should have made it....

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by kirkofdoom
    A.C. Newman - Get Guilty
    The Awkward Stage - Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights
    Brendan Canning - Something for All of Us...
    The Dears - Missiles
    Matt Mays + El Torpedo - Terminal Romance

    I'm sad that none of those got the nod.
  22. hurdy gurdy man
    22

    Great List!

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by hurdy gurdy man
    Missing is Brendan Canning for sure! Happy to NOT see Mother Mother, that band is extremely overrated!
    Go Japandroids and Snailhouse!!!
  23. dood
    23

    Shout out or B.C.?

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by dood
    hmmm I agree Chad V. should win and probably will. I am surprised though that Shout out out out out or Brendan Canning didn't at least make the long list... crazy
  24. Colin Medley
    24

    Re: Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by Colin Medley
    Alright, I'm calling it now. Fucked Up are winning this thing. Well, unless the jury is a bunch of uptight twats.
  25. Saint Peter
    25

    Trade Cohen for Mother Mother

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by Saint Peter
    I agree that Mother Mother seems like the most obvious oversight ... I would have expected to see them in the top 10, let alone the long list! And while Leonard Cohen is a freakin' genius, couldn't he have been left off the list to make room for someone who perhaps needs the recognition (and the 20 grand) more than he does?

    That said, listening to this long list on shuffle would still make for a pretty awesome day.
  26. gollamalloo
    26

    Ou est Bend Sinister?

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by gollamalloo
    Stories of Brothers - Tales of Lovers is an awesome CD. It's not that anyone else on the list didn't deserve to be there. I'm just rooting for the Canuck nouveau-prog revolution.
  27. mattyjames2001
    27

    Fucked Up

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by mattyjames2001
    for the win. Colin is so right. By far the best album I've heard this year from a Canadian artist. Even my girlfriend likes it, and she definitely ain't no hardcore fan.

    But I'm glad Mother Mother didn't make it. Seem very overrated, to me anyways.... no offence

    I'm still choked theres no Attack in Black or The Deep Dark Woods. Glaring omissions to anyone who's actually spent the time to listen to them. Not catchy, but very very solid musically with tight harmonies.
  28. Justin Beach
    28

    The List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by Justin Beach
    It just goes to show how strong Canada's music scene is I think.

    The list people came up with at NxEW includes alot of things that Polaris didn't, and Polaris includes alot of things that NxEW didn't.

    http://www.nxew.ca/2009/06/polaris-long-list-real-one.html

    For the NxEW list, there were alot of things that I wanted to include but was hoping someone else would nominate (I didn't want to just make a long list of my own picks or there would be another 30 or so on our list.)

    But even with almost 100 albums listed between the two there are probably another 40-50 really good albums from last year that I could name.

    It's a good country (musically speaking) and all of this completely reaffirms the value of R3's 100% Canadian decision.
  29. mattyjames2001
    29

    @JB

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by mattyjames2001
    I really really really really like your list. Add Fucked Up in there and you have my official seal of approval.
  30. Massassauga
    30

    Fuck Polaris...Again

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by Massassauga
    Seriously, how many times do we have to make the best friggen' record in the country and reign hard on the charts for people to stop dancing to our music long enough for them to tell the Polaris folks to nominate us? Goddamn...Chad Van G better win this one or there is NO justice in the world....

    Love, Andrew Scott
  31. Justin Beach
    31

    @mattyjames

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by Justin Beach
    Cool, done. I just went through and added all the stuff that Polaris included and we didn't so - it'll be as democratic as possible.

    http://www.nxew.ca/2009/06/who-should-win-2009-polaris-music-prize.html

    Some of it I don't think will survive the first round of voting at NxEW (some of the polaris nods were things people did remember but didn't nominate.)
    But - it is a really kick ass list now.
  32. MackenzieC
    32

    WHAT?!? No Mother Mother?!?

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by MackenzieC
    Let's trade Mother Mother for Joel Plaskett.
  33. Saint Peter
    33

    @Justin Beach

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by Saint Peter
    "It just goes to show how strong Canada's music scene is I think."

    I couldn't agree more. Regardless of specific artists that should or shouldn't have made the list, the list as a whole is a fantastic selection of music that makes me proud to be Canadian. This country has a music scene that's easily as solid and creative as any other country on the planet.
  34. mattyjames2001
    34

    @mackenzie

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by mattyjames2001
    Never. Ever. In a million years.
  35. mattyjames2001
    35

    Re: Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by mattyjames2001
    let's trade it for metric. haha
  36. tb3
    36

    @mackenzie

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by tb3
    Sorry, but I am going to have to take mattyjames2001 side on this one.

    That's not even a fair trade.

    I would say that Leo Cohen, as much as that recording is FANTASTIC and his tour was too, features how much new content? So, I'd trade him for your Mother Mother.
  37. rdickie
    37

    @MackenzieC,mattyjames2001

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by rdickie
    I like your guys' thinking :-)

    How the hell did mother mother not make the list!?!?
  38. mattyjames2001
    38

    @tb3

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by mattyjames2001
    I feel the same way about Leo, really cool he's on there... but it should be there has to be someone more 'deserving'.

    I'm so rattled about AiB this morning, I had them in the running for the win. I think it's painfully obvious nobody listened to it. I even have a version of Baby Eagle doing the songs, and they're still that kick ass. Fact: if another artist can make your great songs still sound great, it's a damn good original.
  39. craigbear
    39

    Re: Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by craigbear
    In addition to the names that other people have already mentioned, I'm surprised that Julie Doiron didn't make the cut.

    But yeah, I agree with Saint Peter's point -- the fact that after a list of 40 albums, we can still bring up so many other names and debate whether or not They Wuz Robbed! really just goes to prove how much great Canadian music is being made.
  40. KFresh
    40

    Re: Polaris Music Prize Announces Top 40 Long List

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by KFresh
    I agree that Mother Mother's O My Heart should be on there.

    Also, Jenn Grant and Emma Lee.

    But hey, I understand it's tough to choose.
  41. mattyjames2001
    41

    @rdickie

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by mattyjames2001
    I'm indifferent. I don't really like them.

    they were jamming at my buddies studio, and he's like "do you like mother mother? because they're here" and we both went "meh"

    I've heard all the songs they play on R3... and I find his voice annoying, and the musicianship awkard. Maybe (probably) I'm wrong?
  42. Moses
    42

    I think Colin is off the mark

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by Moses
    The top 10 will be:
    Fucked Up
    Bruce Peninsula
    Patrick Watson
    The Arkells
    Beast
    Rae Spoon
    Metric
    K'naan
    Hey Rosetta
    Coeur De Pirate

    Of those 10, the 3 that the judges will argue about in September is Coeur De Pirate, Hey Rosetta and Rae Spoon. Ultimately Hey Rosetta will win.
  43. jojodillon
    43

    Where's Human Highway on the list

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by jojodillon
    Must be going by an alias. Can someone help me out??? Why does Polaris hate Nick Thorburn? Caribou put out a nice album last year, but Arm's way was a notch above. Moody Motorcycle was another masterpiece for Nick...and Jim!
  44. suckamc
    44

    @Moses

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by suckamc
    I'm a lot more in line with your thinking about the list. But that's just my taste in music, I can only hope the judges have a similar taste.

    Martin
  45. mattyjames2001
    45

    @moses

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by mattyjames2001
    I like colin's list much better. haha sorry!
  46. rdickie
    46

    question

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by rdickie
    is it possible for a rock group to ever win?
  47. doug the canuck
    47

    @ jojodillon

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by doug the canuck
    I have to agree! I picked Human Highway for the win...but sadly, they didnt even make the long list. So many great choices tho!!!
    cheers
    doug the canuck
  48. canad ian
    48

    Poor A.C. Newman

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by canad ian
    First Challengers fails to make the short list and now this!

    Tonnes of good artists though, the committee clearly did their homework!
  49. mattyjames2001
    49

    The Polaris Prize doesn't care about Folk people!

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by mattyjames2001
    Seems that way doesnt it??

    Regardless, my top five picks out of that list, in order:

    1. Fucked Up
    2. Chad Van
    3. Joel Plaskett
    4. K'Naan
    5. Japandroids

    I had to bump Japandroids up (whom I didn't expect to make the top 40) to replace the huge holes filled by the loss of Attack in Black and the Deep Dark Woods. I originally had them at 4&5 respectively.
  50. jojodillon
    50

    Nobody mentioned A Block of Yellow

    Posted on Jun 15, 2009 by jojodillon
    I thought Do I Do deserved to make the long list, but who do you bump. I'd like to see Wolf Parade take home the prize, but unfortunately the bands popularity might work against them here, just my opinion.
  51. dwvrts
    51

    are they nominating artists? or albums?

    Posted on Jun 25, 2009 by dwvrts
    some of these nominations seem to be more about recognizing the artist, rather than the albums themselves. which i don't think is right. definitely a tough break for some great new artists in canada.

    oh well.. no matter who wins (cause it's anyone's guess who will) the one thing most people will agree with this year is that mother mother not even making the top 40 is weird.

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