2009 Polaris Music Prize
Encyclopedia
The 2009 edition of the Canadian
Polaris Music Prize
was presented on September 21, 2009 in Toronto
at the Masonic Temple
and broadcast live online for the first time in its short history. The award's eligibility period for 2009 covered albums released between June 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009.
Initial coverage of the award's shortlist noted that six of the ten finalists were repeat nominees. K'naan
, Malajube
and Metric
were all finalists in the 2006 shortlist
, while Joel Plaskett
, Chad VanGaalen
and Patrick Watson were all part of the 2007 award
, which Watson won. It was the first time in the award's four-year history that any artist was named to the shortlist for a second time.
won with their second album, The Chemistry of Common Life
, which despite being controversial, received a great deal of acclaim when it was released in October 2008.
Fucked Up
, The Chemistry of Common Life
, which had been a supporting sponsor and broadcaster of the awards since their inception, became a primary presenting sponsor of the awards in 2009.
, the 2009 ceremony was also be webcast
on MuchMusic
's website, as well as produced for later broadcast on MuchMusic.
radio programmer Alan Cross
, music blogger Bryan Acker (Herohill) and newspaper music critics Sue Carter Flinn (The Coast
), Peter Hemminger (FFWD), Serge Paradis (Ici
), Stuart Derdeyn (Vancouver Province) and Brendan Murphy (Hour
).
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Polaris Music Prize
Polaris Music Prize
The Polaris Music Prize is a music award annually given to the best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit, regardless of genre, sales, or record label...
was presented on September 21, 2009 in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
at the Masonic Temple
Masonic Temple (Toronto)
The Masonic Temple, also known as the CTV Temple or the MTV Temple, is a six-storey building on the north-west corner of Davenport Road and Yonge Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
and broadcast live online for the first time in its short history. The award's eligibility period for 2009 covered albums released between June 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009.
Initial coverage of the award's shortlist noted that six of the ten finalists were repeat nominees. K'naan
K'naan
K'naan , born Keinan Abdi Warsame in 1978, is a Somali Canadian poet, rapper, singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.-Biography:Born in Somalia, K'naan spent his childhood in Mogadishu and lived there during the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991. His aunt, Magool, was one of Somalia's most...
, Malajube
Malajube
Malajube is a francophone indie rock band based in Montreal. The band has three albums out on Dare to Care Records.-History:Formed by a group of friends in Montreal, the band made itself known in 2004 with the release of its first album, Le Compte complet. Critics welcomed the disc with positive...
and Metric
Metric (band)
Metric is a Canadian indie rock and New Wave band founded in 1998 in Toronto. The band has also at various times been based in Montreal, London, New York City and Los Angeles...
were all finalists in the 2006 shortlist
2006 Polaris Music Prize
The inaugural edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize presented on September 18, 2006, at Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre. The winning album was Final Fantasy's He Poos Clouds.-Nominees:...
, while Joel Plaskett
Joel Plaskett
Joel Plaskett is a Canadian rock musician originally from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and now resides across the harbour in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia...
, Chad VanGaalen
Chad VanGaalen
Chad VanGaalen is a Canadian musician and artist from Calgary, Alberta.-Infiniheart:Following a few scattered independent releases, done mostly on homemade CDs with hand-drawn art, VanGaalen released Infiniheart on Canadian independent label Flemish Eye...
and Patrick Watson were all part of the 2007 award
2007 Polaris Music Prize
The 2007 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 24, 2007 in Toronto.The winning album was Patrick Watson's Close to Paradise....
, which Watson won. It was the first time in the award's four-year history that any artist was named to the shortlist for a second time.
Winner
Toronto hardcore punk band Fucked UpFucked Up
Fucked Up is a hardcore punk band from Toronto, Canada. The band won the 2009 Polaris Music Prize for the album The Chemistry of Common Life.-History:The band formed and played their first shows in early 2001...
won with their second album, The Chemistry of Common Life
The Chemistry of Common Life
The Chemistry of Common Life is the second full-length studio album by Canadian hardcore punk band Fucked Up. It was released on October 7, 2008 on Matador Records in CD and double LP formats and on Welfare Records in Reel-to-reel Audio Tapes...
, which despite being controversial, received a great deal of acclaim when it was released in October 2008.
Shortlist
The prize's 10-album shortlist was announced on July 7, 2009.Fucked Up
Fucked Up
Fucked Up is a hardcore punk band from Toronto, Canada. The band won the 2009 Polaris Music Prize for the album The Chemistry of Common Life.-History:The band formed and played their first shows in early 2001...
, The Chemistry of Common Life
The Chemistry of Common Life
The Chemistry of Common Life is the second full-length studio album by Canadian hardcore punk band Fucked Up. It was released on October 7, 2008 on Matador Records in CD and double LP formats and on Welfare Records in Reel-to-reel Audio Tapes...
- Elliott BroodElliott BroodElliott BROOD is a three-piece, alt-country band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of Mark Sasso on lead vocals, guitar, banjo, ukulele, and harmonica, Casey Laforet on guitar, backing vocals, bass pedals, keys and ukulele and Stephen Pitkin on percussion, sampler and backing vocals...
, Mountain MeadowsMountain Meadows (album)Mountain Meadows is the title of the second full length album released by the Canadian alternative country band Elliott Brood, released June 24, 2008 on Six Shooter Records... - Great Lake SwimmersGreat Lake SwimmersGreat Lake Swimmers is a Canadian band built around the melodic folk rock songs of singer-songwriter Tony Dekker. Originally from Wainfleet, Ontario, the band is currently based in Toronto....
, Lost ChannelsLost ChannelsLost Channels is the fourth studio album by Canadian folk rock band Great Lake Swimmers, released on March 31, 2009. It was recorded in the Thousand Islands area near the New York–Ontario border and features several guest appearances by other artists, including Serena Ryder, Bob Egan , Erin Aurich ... - Hey Rosetta!Hey Rosetta!Hey Rosetta! is a six-piece Canadian indie rock band from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Known for its energized live shows, the band creates a massive, layered sound by incorporating piano, violin and cello into the traditional four-piece garage rock sound.-History:Their influences include...
, Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood)Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood)Into Your Lungs, also referred to as Into Your Lungs is the second studio album by Hey Rosetta!, released on June 3, 2008. It was produced by Hawksley Workman.... - K'naanK'naanK'naan , born Keinan Abdi Warsame in 1978, is a Somali Canadian poet, rapper, singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.-Biography:Born in Somalia, K'naan spent his childhood in Mogadishu and lived there during the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991. His aunt, Magool, was one of Somalia's most...
, TroubadourTroubadour (K'naan album)-Bonus tracks:-Chart positions:In the U.S., the album sold over 15,000 copies in its first week of release and debuted at #32 on the Billboard 200. The album has sold approximately 44,000 copies in the US as of July 2009... - MalajubeMalajubeMalajube is a francophone indie rock band based in Montreal. The band has three albums out on Dare to Care Records.-History:Formed by a group of friends in Montreal, the band made itself known in 2004 with the release of its first album, Le Compte complet. Critics welcomed the disc with positive...
, Labyrinthes - MetricMetric (band)Metric is a Canadian indie rock and New Wave band founded in 1998 in Toronto. The band has also at various times been based in Montreal, London, New York City and Los Angeles...
, FantasiesFantasies (album)- Singles :* "Help, I'm Alive" * "Front Row" * "Gimme Sympathy" * "Sick Muse" * "Gold Guns Girls"... - Joel PlaskettJoel PlaskettJoel Plaskett is a Canadian rock musician originally from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and now resides across the harbour in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia...
, ThreeThree (Joel Plaskett album)-Disc two:-Disc three:-Three More:-Three to One:... - Chad VanGaalenChad VanGaalenChad VanGaalen is a Canadian musician and artist from Calgary, Alberta.-Infiniheart:Following a few scattered independent releases, done mostly on homemade CDs with hand-drawn art, VanGaalen released Infiniheart on Canadian independent label Flemish Eye...
, Soft AirplaneSoft AirplaneSoft Airplane is the third album by Chad VanGaalen, released in 2008 on Flemish Eye and Sub Pop. It was VanGaalen's first album to consist entirely of songs newly recorded for the album; his prior releases compiled tracks from a library of home recordings he had made over a number of years.The... - Patrick Watson, Wooden ArmsWooden ArmsWooden Arms is the third album by Patrick Watson, released April 28, 2009 on Secret City Records. The album's first single, "Tracy's Waters", was released on March 5 and the group performed a new song, "Beijing", on CBC Radio's Q radio show on April 6...
Longlist
The prize's preliminary 40-album longlist was announced on June 15, 2009.Sponsors
Sirius Satellite RadioSirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
, which had been a supporting sponsor and broadcaster of the awards since their inception, became a primary presenting sponsor of the awards in 2009.
Media
In addition to being broadcast live on CBC Radio 3CBC Radio 3
CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of two parts devoted to Canadian arts and music: a radio service which is available on Sirius Satellite Radio and streaming audio, and several daily and weekly podcasts from the CBC Radio 3 website...
, the 2009 ceremony was also be webcast
Webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand...
on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
's website, as well as produced for later broadcast on MuchMusic.
Jury
The Polaris Music Prize blog began announcing the 2009 jurors one by one in late June 2009. Announced jurors included Corus EntertainmentCorus Entertainment
Corus Entertainment Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian media and entertainment conglomerate.Corus is a leading Canadian specialty television and radio producer, with additional assets in pay television, advertising services, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's...
radio programmer Alan Cross
Alan Cross
' is a Canadian radio broadcaster and a writer on music. Alan’s obsession with music began at age six when his grandmother gave him a transistor radio—an old Lloyds—which spawned an all-consuming fascination with things that came over airwaves...
, music blogger Bryan Acker (Herohill) and newspaper music critics Sue Carter Flinn (The Coast
The Coast
The Coast is a free weekly newspaper in Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada. The paper distributes 24,000 copies per week throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality. The paper is owned by Coast Publishing Limited....
), Peter Hemminger (FFWD), Serge Paradis (Ici
Ici (magazine)
ici was an alternative weekly French language magazine distributed in print in Montreal, Quebec, and online through the Canoe.ca network from 1997 to 2009.It had an audience of 89,000 readers a week...
), Stuart Derdeyn (Vancouver Province) and Brendan Murphy (Hour
Hour (magazine)
Hour is an English-language urban news magazine published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, by Communications Voir. Its president-publisher is Pierre Paquet, the editor-in-chief is Kevin Laforest. It caters to Montreal's anglophone community and is published every Thursday. The news features "expose...
).