Polaris Music Prize

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Better Know A Jury Member #11: Roch Parisien July 28 2009

Roch Parisien (Ottawa)
Producer/Programmer, Galaxie Network
Jury Member Since: 2007

Please share the Top 5 Canadian records you put on your final ballot.

Hey Rosetta! Into Your Lungs
Woodpigeon Houndstooth Europa & Treasury Library
Rae Spoon Superioryouareinferior
Great Lake Swimmers Lost Channels
One Hundred Dollars Forest of Tears

Tell us about your top ranked choice. Why #1?

I believe I was brought on board the Polaris Jury three years ago to boost the Folk/Roots background quotient, but my tastes are wide-ranging and I try not to be a "homer" and focus instead on the very best music of any genre. For me this year, pick of the litter was Newfoundland's Hey Rosetta! A super collection of memory-searing songs with intelligent, extended excursions that know when to quit and never wear out their welcome -- keeping a firm grasp on their melodic vibrancy, broad instrumental palette, and soaring dynamic range.

Reaction to the Short List: Your most pleasant surprise? Shocked by any omissions?

The Short List is probably as solid and representative of the current state of current CanMusic as any distillation of the top picks of 190 knowledgeable music geeks can be. Some strike me as "compromise" selections (step right up, Patrick Watson) rather than really stellar options, but am especially pleased two discs are still in contention that received lots of play on the Galaxie Folk/Roots Channel -- Great Lake Swimmers and Elliott Brood. Every juror has their pet faves that didn't make the list...I'm confounded that Rae Spoon's excellent Superioryouareinferior isn't there. I was certain it had sufficient critical gravitas and momentum. Also, a shout-out to my three "wood" bands of choice: Woodpigeon, Deep Dark Woods and Woodland Telegraph.

Describe the state of Canadian music in five words:

Canada Rocks! (that's only two...)

Imagine the tables are turned and you are the nominee: What would you do with the $20,000 prize money?

As a musician (which I'm not), I would want to invest in building/enhancing a home production setup, keeping as full control as possible over the means of production. As a producer/programmer/writer (which I am), I would want to invest building/enhancing a home production setup, keeping as full control as possible over the means of production.

Related Link: Galaxie

RT @teganandsara: Home Recordings the bonus album from our vinyl box set is streaming at http://bit.ly/9mrMUN.
Jul 30 2010, 4:26pm from TweetDeck

@nicooooole in @torontoist on @TheSadies awesome summer .
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Cool. RT @CiTRradio: CRTC policy decision gives Community Radio Fund of Canada $775,000 in funding to support community and campus stations.
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