Polaris Prize, Signal Prize?

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The short list for the Polaris Prize was announced recently. A big deal in Canadian music circles. In its short history (5 years!) it has quickly become THE big prize for our musicians. Not just because of the money ($20,000 to the winner) but because ALL genres of music are considered and there are no sales quotas to meet. It is a juried award for creative artistic achievement in recorded music. Which is why artists and albums that push boundaries and are doing something different rise to the top in the Polaris Prize world. And that's something Polaris has in common with The Signal for sure.

If you're a musical explorer, if you're curious about new music, then the 10 albums on the Polaris short list are the perfect way to take the temperature of the best of new Canadian music.

Here's where The Signal is going to help you out. We're giving away 5 complete sets of the short listed music to Signal listeners. (In the interests of furthering your musical adventures.) To get in on the contest, all you need to do is leave a comment here. Tell us about the album that changed your life. (For the better or the worse....) and after the Polaris gala on September 20 (which you can hear on Sirius 86 or on CBC Radio3) we'll pick 5 winners and contact you through your member profile.

So fire up the memory banks...it could win you a set of the best Canadian music from 2010!!!!

Here's the list of albums up for the Polaris Prize....and soon to be in your collection?!

The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night (Montréal)
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record (Toronto)
Caribou - Swim (Dundas)

Karkwa - Les Chemins De Verre (Montréal)

Dan Mangan - Nice, Nice, Very Nice (Vancouver)
Owen Pallett - Heartland (Toronto)
Radio Radio - Belmundo Regal (Montréal)
The Sadies - Darker Circles (Toronto)
Shad - TSOL (London)
Tegan And Sara - Sainthood (Vancouver)

Posted by Andy Sheppard CBC Radio 2 on Jul-16-10