The 10 contending artists for this year’s Polaris Music Prize include one previous winner, four former bridesmaids, and five first-timers to the shortlist. Though the nominees mostly fall under the general heading of college-radio darlings, their styles range from politically minded Indigenous rap to psychedelic Americana to harrowing club music expressions to atmospheric singer-songwriter musings. The following primer sorts out the shortlisters vying for the annual $50,000 prize, to be awarded at a gala on Sept. 17, at Toronto’s Massey Hall.
Blue Rev, by Alvvays
Of the 10 nominated albums, the third LP from the Toronto-based dream-pop merchants is the most celebrated by international tastemakers, including Rolling Stone, The Guardian and National Public Radio. The music from the Charlottetown-born songwriting duo of Molly Rankin and Alec O’Hanley is…
