Polaris Prize - Who Could Have Made The Cut?

One of the best things about the Polaris Music Prize is the debate that follows the short list being announced. Before I get into talking about the bands who made the short list, I feel like I should take a moment to talk about some of the bands that arguably could be right up there with the short listers. Here are a couple of the bands that I felt could have fell either way:

Blackie and The Rodeo Kings - Kings and Queens


This album is one of those records that doesn't get as much coverage because it finds itself sitting in the folk/rock/alt-country genre. However, this record was great front to back. You can check out one of my favorites Black Sheep, which features Serena Ryder.



Cannon Bros. - Firecracker/Cloudglow

After seeing the Cannon Bros. during the Sled Island Music Festival this year Firecracker/Cloudglow, became one of my go to albums. This rock duo created an album that is both catchy and raw. I considered them one of the underdogs in the long list and I sure was hoping to see them on the short list this year. Please, stream the album below and buy it!



Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune

Dan's last album Nice, Nice, Very Nice, made it to the short list in 2010 and many people considered this new album to show a lot of growth in his writing. I have to admit, I was surprised to not see his album up there yesterday. However, that being said... the list is pretty damn good this year. You need something really special to get on there. Check out 4 tracks from Oh Fortune, below:



Joel Plaskett Emergency - Scrappy Happiness

If you follow this blog at all, you will know that I posted weekly updates on Scrappy Happiness as Joel recorded the album in 10 weeks. Once the final product was released I was really impressed. I thought Joel made a great rock record... which is really what you can expect from him day in and day out. But, a great rock record might not get you past a list with the caliber of talent that the Polaris long list holds. Nonetheless, check out You're Mine, below:



John K. Samson - Provincial

This was another album that I was hoping would make it to the short list. John K. Samson is an established artist, which I feel sometimes works against the artist. People want to see fresh stuff on the Polaris short list. Saying that, artists like Feist are on the list... Who am I to say who should be on anyways? You can stream the whole album over on Soundcloud or sample a couple songs below.



Patrick Watson - Adventures In Your Own Backyard

This album wasn't necessarily a surprise, but it is the first time a Patrick Watson album has not made the short list. I still love this album and think it can be stacked against his other albums any day. That being said, I think is one of those cases where everyone knows what Patrick Watson is about and this album played into it. Definitely long list material, maybe not short list material. I have provided a couple songs below.



Bry Webb - Provider

I considered Bry Webb's solo effort another one of those underdog albums. This album should have gotten wayyyyyy more press. It was amazing in my opinion and I believe it landed on our top albums of 2011. If Provider made the short list it would have been a surprise to many I am sure. You know the drill.



Honourable Mentions:

Rich Aucoin - We're All Dying To Live
The Weeknd - Echoes of Silence
Yukon Blonde - Tiger Talk

Those were the main albums that I felt could contend with the short list this year. I am excited to see what the Polaris Gala on September 24th brings!

- Bryce

Joel Plaskett - Lightning Bolt

The creation of Scrappy Happiness has now matured like a fine wine as the 10th and final track of the album has been released. The new song is called Lightning Bolt and it features driving electric guitars and is the 'rock' song of the album. Clocking in at over 6 minutes it is sure to please your ears.

You can find the new song over on the CBC Music Website.

The past 10 weeks has given listeners a peek into the world of Joel Plaskett and the process through which this album was made. He has created a record that is well rounded and listenable. There hasn't been a track on the album that I find myself skipping.

Congrats Joel, Scrappy Happiness has lived up to the hype.

Check out the other 9 tracks HERE.

Making of Lightning Bolt:



- Bryce

Joel Plaskett - Time Flies

So now we find ourselves in week 9 of Joel Plaskett's journey that is Scrappy Happiness. Only one more week to go!

This week's track is called Time Flies and you can stream it over on the CBC Music Website .

- Bryce

Tuesday Releases: Plants and Animals, The Wooden Sky, Joel Plaskett & The White Buffalo

Tuesday always brings an influx of music... but today is a good one as the title suggests. Let's get to it:  

Plants and Animals - The End of That



If you have been following us in the past month you will have already heard two new Plants and Animals songs. The new album has dropped today and you can stream the whole thing over at CBC Music (which is a pretty darn cool site if you ask me).

Check out the Lightshow video below:



The Wooden Sky - Every Child a Daughter, Every Moon a Sun




Again, you should be familiar with The Wooden Sky if you follow our blog. Their new album was released today and you can head over to our previous post on The Wooden Sky to stream the album.

Joel Plaskett - Tough Love 



Back again this week is Joel Plaskett with the 8th track from his upcoming album Scrappy Happiness. The song is called Tough Love and you can stream the track over on CBC Radio 2  . Check out the previous tracks HERE.

The White Buffalo - Once Upon a Time in the West



After a recent EP release The White Buffalo is back with a new full length entitled Once Upon a Time in the West. You can stream the whole album HERE and the video for the single Wish it Was True is posted below.



- Bryce

Joel Plaskett - Somewhere Else & I'm Yours

Back again this week is Joel Plaskett with track 6 from his upcoming album, Scrappy Happiness. This new song is called Somewhere Else and you can stream it over on the CBC Radio 2 Website.

Or listen on the YouTube video below:



You can also listen to the week 7 track, I'm Yours, right HERE.

Making of:



For those that don't know, Joel is recording a song a week for this new album. This is week 6 and 7 of the project, check out the other weeks HERE.  

Enjoy.

- Bryce

Joel Plaskett - North Star

Joel Plaskett is back again this week with a new track from his upcoming album Scrappy Happiness. The track is entitled North Star and you can stream it over on the CBC Radio 2 website.

For those that don't know, Joel is recording a song a week for this new album. This is week 5 five of the project, check out the other weeks HERE.

Making of video:



- Bryce

Joel Plaskett - Slow Dance

Joel Plaskett is back again this week with the 4th track from his upcoming album Scrappy Happiness. The song is called Slow Dance and you can stream it over on CBC Radio 3.

Making of video:



Enjoy.

- Bryce

Joel Plaskett - Old Friends

If any one has been following my posts the last couple weeks you should already know that this is the third song released by Joel Plaskett from his upcoming album, Scrappy Happiness. You can check out the other posts HERE.

The third track released is called Old Friends and you can stream it over on CBC Radio 2. Also, Joel made another video to show what happens behind the scenes.



- Bryce

Joel Plaskett - Harbour Boys

Last week I posted Joel Plaskett's first song from his new album Scrappy Happiness. He has produced a new song this week entitled Harbour Boys and it is available for streaming over on the CBC Radio 2 Website. You can check out last week's post to listen to You're Mine.

Here is another 'making of' video for this week.



Look for more tracks over the next weeks.

As always, thanks for reading.


- Bryce

Joel Plaskett - Scrappy Happiness

Joel Plaskett is getting set to release his new record entitled Scrappy Happiness. The first single, You're Mine, is available for streaming and you can check it out over on the CBC Radio 2 Website.

Over the next 10 weeks Joel will be producing a song a week for the new album, with all of the tracks being featured on CBC Radio 2 and 3. Back when rock and roll was still just a baby, bands would release songs as fast as they could to the public after recording them - Joel is trying that approach for himself. Keep your ears open if you listen to either of those stations for his upcoming stuff.

The album is expected to drop on March 27th with a tour following soon after:

4/13 Victoria, BC - Alix Goolden
4/14 Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theatre
4/16 Banff, AB - Banff Centre
4/18 Calgary, AB - MacEwan Hall *
4/19 Edmonton, AB - Winspear Centre *
4/20 Saskatoon, SK - U of Sasks, Louis Pub *
4/21 Winnipeg, MB - Garrick Centre *
4/25 Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre *
4/26 Ottawa, ON - Bronson Centre *
4/27 St Catharines, ON - Brock Centre for the Arts *
5/18 Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theatre *
5/19 Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theatre *

* with Frank Turner


The video below is a making of clip:



- Bryce