Polaris Short List
Elliott Brood - Mountain Meadows
Very cool name, very dumb sound.
Clearly an amazing guitar/banjo player, but boring lyricist.
It's like old school folk country. It's sing-a-long honky tonk.
It sucks basically.
That being said, I'm sure he is an absolute pleasure to watch live. There are some great melodies and nice choral work. It just doesn't translate well onto record.
Fucked Up - The Chemistry Of Common Life
Although Fucked Up kind of scare me, I do like their sound, if only the screaming guy would shut up. I think he really brings them down, to be honest. They have a great kind of arty, 70's, heavy melodic, electronic, almost brit pop meets punk meets modern Zeppelin sound, but the fat naked screaming guy ruins it. The songs where he doesn't randomly yell are great, but those are few and far between. With him, it's a no, without him this band could go far. I appreciate that he is a big part of the schtick, but it weakens an otherwise strong band.
Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
This is a great band. What holds them back, I think, is that they are almost too Canadian in their folky boring trans Canada highway sound. Also, while enjoyable their sound is a little dull. It's not particularly exciting or interesting or novel or touching, though you can tell that they are trying to be emotive. Plus, I prefer some of their older work. This album just doesn't do it for me, much as I want to love it.
Hey Rosetta! - Into Your Lungs (and around your heart and on through your blood)
I quite love this band. I think they are a real contender to win. They totally win the award for coolest album title.
They are fun and rockin but maintain a certain tenderness that is totally captivating. I appreciate any band that includes piano in a cool non-lame way. The sax is not so cool though, but thankfully limited. It's a great album that sort of makes me feel good and sad at the same time, which is rather confusing. But I love it, cause I'm broken like that.
K'NAAN - Troubadour
Rap and reggae are not my favourite styles of music. So I fully admit to a bias here. Also, I am fully annoyed that his myspace page has only song samples. Similarly, his website has only 3 songs on offer, so I can only get a taste of his music and not the full experience, which puts me at a disadvantage. That being said, his stuff seems feel good but semi-smart and rather groovy, which if you ask me are the best parts of reggae and rap. I can imagine people cruising in their cars or dancing around their apartments to his music. From my limited exposure I would say that while it's not my thing, he clearly is very talented and is I'm sure great to listen to and highly enjoyable. Plus, I like his hat.
Malajube - Labyrinthes
Whenever I listen to French music it makes me sad that I am no longer bilingual. Putting that aside, I quite like this band and this album. It reminds me of Brit rock sort of mixed with Broken Social Scene. I find this band to be relaxing but also engaging. They create a real atmosphere. There is also no sense of being an independent band. The quality of their recording, mixing, production, and composition are all top notch and very professional. I like this band a lot and would be cool if they win. It is an excellent album and a great Canadian band with real international appeal. However, I'm not totally sold on the idea that this is the album with the most artistic merit of the year, but maybe that's cause I only understand half the words.
Joel Plaskett - Three
You know, the combination of Radio 3 and Polaris is actually making me hate Joel Plaskett. Which is a shame really, because I always sort of adored him, despite not being the world's biggest fan. Still, I own 2 albums and 6 other singles, so I clearly didn't used to hate the guy. But it's like with each passing day and the wave of adoration towards him and simultaneous backlash against equal or superior musicians and groups frustrates the hell out of me. So I've actually totally banned myself from even thinking about purchasing "Three". Not that it matters, cause clearly everyone else on the planet is gonna buy it.
My personal feelings aside, the 6 songs I've heard off "Three" suggest that it's in many ways classic Plaskett: clever and fun, while conversely sort of melancholy and very indicative of the Maritimes. I appreciate that this is probably a very good album, and is I'm sure rather brilliant with its theme, but I still find it has less of an impact sonically and emotionally than several other artists on this lists. Although I know I am in the minority in not TOTALLY loving it.
Chad Van Gaalen - Soft Airplane
This guy has never been one of my favourites. I find his voice annoying and work sort of fake arty. Again frustratingly, there are only two songs from this album available for listening without purchase, so it's hard to get a good feel. On his website there is a picture of him apparently making music in what appears to be his backyard. I found this photo very apt, as that's how his recordings sound. But beyond my recording snobbines, I just don't get what the big deal about this guy is. His work is not particularly enjoyable to listen to, nor is it clever or very deep. It's not terrible, but it's just not that great. It's odd, which is fine, but that's almost the only thing going for it. My concern is that people like it because it's weird and therefore assumed to be of higher artistic value.
Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms
I quite like Patrick Watson. His music is creepy and enthralling. Chock full of atmosphere and emotion. It's quite reminiscent of old Dears stuff. The problem is that the more you listen to it, the less full of insight or brilliance it seems to be. On first turn, it's quite an excellent album and I really appreciated being able to listen to the whole thing on his site. The only downside is not knowing what track your on, so if you only want to get a selection from itunes, you have no idea which. Anyway, the weakness of this album is similar to Great Lake Swimmers, where it just gets boring after a while. And all the airy sounds in the world don't make up for a lack of smart lyrics or cool drums. Which isn't to say that there aren't truly brilliant moments on this album, cause there are, it's just a bit too few and far between for me to say that this album deserves to win the prize.
Metric - Fantasies
I've taken Metric out of the order of the short list because I'm a sucker for the North American concept of the big ending. "Fantasies" is easily my pick for best album of the lot and probably even best album of the year. Which, given that it's July, I may end up regretting. But whatever.
This is an astonishing album. Like fall on your knees astonishing. Every second and every aspect of it is perfection. Every note, every chord, every word. Well, except for 'Stadium Love', which is a little weak. The themes of inadequacy, confusion, despair alternating with hope, fame vs. art, and ultimately the difficulty of choice and possibility of regret. It's a sad album, it's a highly emotive album full of what appear to be secret moments thick with truth. But I think in the end, it's a hopeful album that leaves the listener with the sense of something magical and the need to keep striving.
In my opinion, in every way, this is the album with the most artstic merit this year. Every track is full of beauty and strength. It is all highly original, while also feeling like something you've heard a million times. Perhaps because it is so enjoyable to listen to, whether you're alone in your room or rocking out in some club. There is no place and no time that it doesn't sound great. Even my 18 month old neighbour loves it.
We shall see....
Very cool name, very dumb sound.
Clearly an amazing guitar/banjo player, but boring lyricist.
It's like old school folk country. It's sing-a-long honky tonk.
It sucks basically.
That being said, I'm sure he is an absolute pleasure to watch live. There are some great melodies and nice choral work. It just doesn't translate well onto record.
Fucked Up - The Chemistry Of Common Life
Although Fucked Up kind of scare me, I do like their sound, if only the screaming guy would shut up. I think he really brings them down, to be honest. They have a great kind of arty, 70's, heavy melodic, electronic, almost brit pop meets punk meets modern Zeppelin sound, but the fat naked screaming guy ruins it. The songs where he doesn't randomly yell are great, but those are few and far between. With him, it's a no, without him this band could go far. I appreciate that he is a big part of the schtick, but it weakens an otherwise strong band.
Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
This is a great band. What holds them back, I think, is that they are almost too Canadian in their folky boring trans Canada highway sound. Also, while enjoyable their sound is a little dull. It's not particularly exciting or interesting or novel or touching, though you can tell that they are trying to be emotive. Plus, I prefer some of their older work. This album just doesn't do it for me, much as I want to love it.
Hey Rosetta! - Into Your Lungs (and around your heart and on through your blood)
I quite love this band. I think they are a real contender to win. They totally win the award for coolest album title.
They are fun and rockin but maintain a certain tenderness that is totally captivating. I appreciate any band that includes piano in a cool non-lame way. The sax is not so cool though, but thankfully limited. It's a great album that sort of makes me feel good and sad at the same time, which is rather confusing. But I love it, cause I'm broken like that.
K'NAAN - Troubadour
Rap and reggae are not my favourite styles of music. So I fully admit to a bias here. Also, I am fully annoyed that his myspace page has only song samples. Similarly, his website has only 3 songs on offer, so I can only get a taste of his music and not the full experience, which puts me at a disadvantage. That being said, his stuff seems feel good but semi-smart and rather groovy, which if you ask me are the best parts of reggae and rap. I can imagine people cruising in their cars or dancing around their apartments to his music. From my limited exposure I would say that while it's not my thing, he clearly is very talented and is I'm sure great to listen to and highly enjoyable. Plus, I like his hat.
Malajube - Labyrinthes
Whenever I listen to French music it makes me sad that I am no longer bilingual. Putting that aside, I quite like this band and this album. It reminds me of Brit rock sort of mixed with Broken Social Scene. I find this band to be relaxing but also engaging. They create a real atmosphere. There is also no sense of being an independent band. The quality of their recording, mixing, production, and composition are all top notch and very professional. I like this band a lot and would be cool if they win. It is an excellent album and a great Canadian band with real international appeal. However, I'm not totally sold on the idea that this is the album with the most artistic merit of the year, but maybe that's cause I only understand half the words.
Joel Plaskett - Three
You know, the combination of Radio 3 and Polaris is actually making me hate Joel Plaskett. Which is a shame really, because I always sort of adored him, despite not being the world's biggest fan. Still, I own 2 albums and 6 other singles, so I clearly didn't used to hate the guy. But it's like with each passing day and the wave of adoration towards him and simultaneous backlash against equal or superior musicians and groups frustrates the hell out of me. So I've actually totally banned myself from even thinking about purchasing "Three". Not that it matters, cause clearly everyone else on the planet is gonna buy it.
My personal feelings aside, the 6 songs I've heard off "Three" suggest that it's in many ways classic Plaskett: clever and fun, while conversely sort of melancholy and very indicative of the Maritimes. I appreciate that this is probably a very good album, and is I'm sure rather brilliant with its theme, but I still find it has less of an impact sonically and emotionally than several other artists on this lists. Although I know I am in the minority in not TOTALLY loving it.
Chad Van Gaalen - Soft Airplane
This guy has never been one of my favourites. I find his voice annoying and work sort of fake arty. Again frustratingly, there are only two songs from this album available for listening without purchase, so it's hard to get a good feel. On his website there is a picture of him apparently making music in what appears to be his backyard. I found this photo very apt, as that's how his recordings sound. But beyond my recording snobbines, I just don't get what the big deal about this guy is. His work is not particularly enjoyable to listen to, nor is it clever or very deep. It's not terrible, but it's just not that great. It's odd, which is fine, but that's almost the only thing going for it. My concern is that people like it because it's weird and therefore assumed to be of higher artistic value.
Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms
I quite like Patrick Watson. His music is creepy and enthralling. Chock full of atmosphere and emotion. It's quite reminiscent of old Dears stuff. The problem is that the more you listen to it, the less full of insight or brilliance it seems to be. On first turn, it's quite an excellent album and I really appreciated being able to listen to the whole thing on his site. The only downside is not knowing what track your on, so if you only want to get a selection from itunes, you have no idea which. Anyway, the weakness of this album is similar to Great Lake Swimmers, where it just gets boring after a while. And all the airy sounds in the world don't make up for a lack of smart lyrics or cool drums. Which isn't to say that there aren't truly brilliant moments on this album, cause there are, it's just a bit too few and far between for me to say that this album deserves to win the prize.
Metric - Fantasies
I've taken Metric out of the order of the short list because I'm a sucker for the North American concept of the big ending. "Fantasies" is easily my pick for best album of the lot and probably even best album of the year. Which, given that it's July, I may end up regretting. But whatever.
This is an astonishing album. Like fall on your knees astonishing. Every second and every aspect of it is perfection. Every note, every chord, every word. Well, except for 'Stadium Love', which is a little weak. The themes of inadequacy, confusion, despair alternating with hope, fame vs. art, and ultimately the difficulty of choice and possibility of regret. It's a sad album, it's a highly emotive album full of what appear to be secret moments thick with truth. But I think in the end, it's a hopeful album that leaves the listener with the sense of something magical and the need to keep striving.
In my opinion, in every way, this is the album with the most artstic merit this year. Every track is full of beauty and strength. It is all highly original, while also feeling like something you've heard a million times. Perhaps because it is so enjoyable to listen to, whether you're alone in your room or rocking out in some club. There is no place and no time that it doesn't sound great. Even my 18 month old neighbour loves it.
We shall see....
posted by venbot | 12:07 p.m.
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