Polaris People For The Week Of July 13 ““ One Quick Last Look At The 2012 Long List
When we announced the 40 albums that made the 2012 Polaris Music Prize Long List back on June 14 we had no idea of the deep emotional attachment we'd develop for them.
It actually hurts us in our hearts a little bit to know that in four days time on July 17 the 2012 Short List will be announced in Toronto and 30 of these records will never be talked about or loved by anyone else ever again. Ever.
OK, maybe not ever. In fact, we suspect a lot of people will still love them.
Just not as much as the 10 records that make the Short List.
So let's all take a deep breath and fixate on some small something-or-other that made each of these albums special:
A Tribe Called Red – A Tribe Called Red… Clarence Two Toes guests on the song “PowWowzers†and the result has been “a touring Indian comedy party.â€
Marie-Pierre Arthur – Aux alentours… Arthur has worked with Polaris people Karkwa, Galaxie and Ariane Moffatt in the past, so it was kinda destiny to make the list.
Rich Aucoin – We’re All Dying To Live… everybody in Canada apparently played on this album.
Avec pas d’casque – Astronomie… no big deal but Stephane Lafleur also wins awards at TIFF.
Azari & III – Azari & III… they've got the power.
Bahamas – Barchords… there really aren't enough songs about snow plows.
The Barr Brothers – The Barr Brothers… these guys used to be in The Slip.
Blackie And The Rodeo Kings – Kings And Queens… this will be the only place you'll ever hear Exene Cervenka, Mary Margaret O'Hara and Holly Cole on the same album.
Cadence Weapon – Hope In Dirt City… this record's a family affair. Cadence's uncle Brett Miles plays tenor sax on the album.
Kathryn Calder – Bright And Vivid… members of The New Pornographers and Ladyhawk contributed to the album.
Cannon Bros – Firecracker / Cloudglow… band member Cole Woods is also in Greg MacPherson's band.
Coeur de Pirate – Blonde… Howard Bilerman, whose resume includes Arcade Fire and Basia Bulat, produced this album.
Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas… He's 77 years old.
Cold Specks – I Predict A Graceful Expulsion… wants to be more Tom Waits/Bill Callahan, less Adele/Amy Winehouse.
Rose Cousins – We Have Made A Spark… Luke Doucet produced this album.
Mark Davis – Eliminate The Toxins… the title track was inspired by a conversation at the Railway Club in Vancouver.
Drake – Take Care… piano rap assassin Gonzales worked on this album.
Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur… shhhh, it's kind of a secret completely unrelated to the making of this album, but these two are chums.
Feist – Metals… piano rap assassin Gonzales worked on this album, too.
Fucked Up – David Comes To Life… this video will probably warp some children for life.
Great Lake Swimmers – New Wild Everywhere… this is the first album the band recorded somewhere “normal†as opposed to, like, castles.
Grimes – Visions… dead Russian poet Anna Akhmatova is credited in the liner notes as providing “poetry.â€
Handsome Furs – Sound Kapital… if this makes the Short List there are gonna be some awkward phone calls.
Japandroids – Celebration Rock… the song “For The Love Of Ivy†is a Gun Club cover.
Dan Mangan – Oh Fortune… this title track should not be confused with Apotheosis' 1993 techno banger “O Fortuna.â€
Mares Of Thrace – The Pilgrimage… some folks think this is as evil as Slayer's Reign In Blood.
Ariane Moffatt – MA… Ariane Moffatt is not a sex addict.
Lindi Ortega – Little Red Boots… her song “Jimmy Dean†isn't about sausage.
Parlovr – Kook Soul… see, that breakup wasn't all bad. You made the Long List.
Sandro Perri – Impossible Spaces… Pitchfork likes it. That means something, right?
Joel Plaskett Emergency – Scrappy Happiness… if this video doesn't win the fan video contest the world is wrong.
PS I Love You – Death Dreams… there's no hidden meaning in the title of that record.
John K. Samson – Provincial… The Riverton Rifle should be in the hall of fame.
Shooting Guns – Born To Deal In Magic: 1952-1976… their song “Liberator†may or may not be about naughty furniture.
The Slakadeliqs – The Other Side of Tomorrow… Justin Nozuka was on this album.
Patrick Watson – Adventures In Your Own Backyard… Patrick Watson's backyard looks about 1/20th scale.
Bry Webb – Provider… apparently Mr. Webb is quite lucky.
The Weeknd – Echoes of Silence… the third search result for facts about “The Weeknd – Echoes of Silence†we encountered was an Amoxicillin ad.
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – YT//ST… sometimes painting your face is badass.
Yukon Blonde – Tiger Talk… their song “My Girl†is NOT a Chilliwack cover.
