June 20, 2016
Whether you love it or have an issue or two with it, the Polaris Music Prize is—now in its eleventh year—a Canadian music institution. And regardless of any criticism it endures, its intentions are pure: to honour Canadian music, “judged solely on artistic merit, without consideration of genre or record sales.” At the very least, among music industry/journalist/nerd circles, the Polaris provides at least a few solid months to argue about something we all love.
This year—like all years previous—has a deep well of talent and should make it easy for fans and snobs to spend hours bickering over what does and doesn’t belong.
The long list was announced this past week in Whitehorse. One nominee that should definitely get people talking is Justin Bieber—who probably isn’t hard up for cash—nominated for 2015’s Purpose. Drake is a another big name on the list, along with Carly Rae Jepsen, whose runaway pop smash E•MO•TION was a major critical darling but was marketed so poorly it ended up selling nowhere near its potential. Grimes’ brilliantly weird Art Angels has been in discussion as a favourite since its release last November. This writer would personally be a bit disappointed if Daniel Romano’s Mosey doesn’t end up on the short list. But only one album will win the coveted $50,000 and bragging rights.
Polaris does a great job of interacting with music fans via its Twitter account, happy to retweet unpopular opinions about snubs and the like, as well as what’s going on with previous nominees—so check that out if you’d like to get into the discussion. The Polaris short list will be revealed on July 14, followed by the gala on September 19 when the winner will be announced.
And without further ado, your Polaris 2016 long list noms:
Art Bergmann – The Apostate
Justin Bieber – Purpose
Black Mountain – IV
Jean-Michel Blais – II
Basia Bulat – Good Advice
Daniel Caesar – Pilgrim’s Paradise
Tanika Charles – Soul Run
City and Colour – If I Should Go Before You
Cœur de pirate – Roses
Dead Obies – Gesamtkunstwerk
Destroyer – Poison Season
Dilly Dally – Sore
Drake – VIEWS
Essaie pas – Demain est une autre nuit
Fred Fortin – Ultramarr
FOXTROTT – A Taller Us
Grimes – Art Angels
Half Moon Run – Sun Leads Me On
Veda Hille – Love Waves
Jazz Cartier – Hotel Paranoia
Carly Rae Jepsen – E•MO•TION
Junior Boys – Big Black Coat
Kaytranada – 99.9%
Jessy Lanza – Oh No
Majid Jordan – Majid Jordan
Michelle McAdorey – Into Her Future
Nap Eyes – Thought Rock Fish Scale
Safia Nolin – Limoilou
Operators – Blue Wave
Peaches – Rub
PUP – The Dream Is Over
Daniel Romano – Mosey
Andy Shauf – The Party
The Strumbellas – Hope
Suuns – Hold/Still
U.S. Girls – Half Free
Un Blonde – Good Will Come To You
The Weeknd – Beauty Behind the Madness
White Lung – Paradise
Donovan Woods – Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled
In Other News:
- CBC will broadcast The Tragically Hip’s final Man Machine Poem date in Kingston.
- Coeur de pirate pens an open letter coming out as queer on Noisey.
- Justin Bieber took a tumble in Saskatoon.
- Meatloaf collapsed on stage in Edmonton. But he’s okay!
Festival Lineups: ArtsWells, Peterborough Folk Fest, TURF, Ottawa’s CityFolk