The nominees have been announced for this year's Polaris Music Prize, something of a Canadian equivalent to the our Mercury Music Prize, which was launched last year.
Ten Canadian albums are on the shortlist, which has been voted for by almost 200 Canadian music journalists and experts, who were asked to select albums from native artists which are "of the highest artistic integrity, without regard to musical genre, professional affiliation, or sales history". An overall winner will now be announced on 24 Sep, and will receive a CAN$20,000 prize.
The nominees are as follows:
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse
The Dears - Gang of Losers
Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up
Feist - The Reminder
Junior Boys - So This Is Goodbye
Miracle Fortress - Five Roses
Joel Plaskett Emergency - Ashtray Rock
Chan Van Gaalen - Skelliconnection
Patrick Watson - Close to Paradise