Polaris Music Prize season is in full swing and this year’s Long List of nominees has just dropped. Unlike the Grammys or other big music awards, the Polaris Music Prize awards $50,000 to the act who creates the Canadian Album of the Year, judged solely on artistic merit, not based on genre or record sales. What makes a great album? This season a total of 223 albums were considered for the Long List by the 197 member jury. This year’s Long List features past winners Arcade Fire, Backxwash, Haviah Mighty and Tanya Tagaq along with long time favs like Shad, Tanika Charles & Snotty Nose Rez Kids, in addition to newer favs like Luna Li, Ouri, myst milano. and more! Here’s the list of top 40 that made this year’s cut.
The 2022 Polaris Music Prize Long List is…
AHI – Prospect
Arcade Fire – WE
Backxwash – I LIE HERE BURIED WITH MY RINGS AND MY DRESSES
BADBADNOTGOOD – Talk Memory
Jean-Michel Blais – aubades
Basia Bulat – The Garden
Tanika Charles – Papillon de Nuit: The Night Butterfly
Chiiild – Hope For Sale
Destroyer – LABYRINTHITIS
Julie Doiron – I Thought Of You
The Garrys – Get Thee To A Nunnery
The Halluci Nation – One More Saturday Night
Joyful Joyful – Joyful Joyful
Adria Kain – When Flowers Bloom
Lydia Képinski – Depuis
Pierre Kwenders – José Louis And The Paradox Of Love
Ada Lea – one hand on the steering wheel the other sewing a garden
Lisa Leblanc – Chiac Disco
Hubert Lenoir – PICTURA DE IPSE : Musique directe
Luna Li – Duality
Les Louanges – Crash
LOONY – soft thing
Kelly McMichael – Waves
Men I Trust – Untourable Album
Haviah Mighty – Stock Exchange
myst milano. – Shapeshyfter
Cedric Noel – Hang Time
Ombiigizi – Sewn Back Together
Orville Peck – Bronco
Ouri – Frame of a Fauna
P’tit Belliveau – Un homme et son piano
PUP – THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND
SATE – The Fool
Shad – TAO
Sister Ray – Communion
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – Life After
Stars – From Capelton Hill
Tanya Tagaq – Tongues
The Weeknd – Dawn FM
Charlotte Day Wilson – Alpha
The 10 album Short List will be unveiled live on July 14 as part of a two-hour special during Drive on CBC Music. The 2022 Polaris Music Prize-winning album will be revealed during the Polaris Gala, taking place Monday, September 19 at The Carlu in Toronto (grab your tickets to attend here). Which album are you rooting for? Which album is missing from the list? Who would make your top 10? Let us know!