Vancouver's Black Mountain Make Polaris Prize Shortlist

Local psychedelic rock outfit Black Mountain have made the ten-act shortlist for this year's Polaris Music Prize, it was announced Monday. The critically-lauded 5 piece were nominated for their 2007 album, In The Future, a record which saw the group transcend their more structured rock roots for a progressive, spacey sound.

The winner of the Prize will receive $20,000 cash and invaluable exposure to new audiences. Albums are chosen by a jury of 178 music industry professionals, including critics, journalists and radio and television music jockeys. All albums released by Canadian acts between June 1, 2007 and May 31, 2008 qualify. Jurors initially narrow the pool down to a shortlist of 40, and after a second vote, announce the shortlist, with the final winner voted on and announced by a special jury of 11 at a gala in Toronto held Sept. 29.

Rounding out the top ten are London, Ont.'s Shad, for his hip-hop record Old Prince Montreal indie rock acts Plants and Animals (Parc Avenue) and Stars (In Our Bedroom After the War) experimental noise outfits Caribou (Andorra) and Holy F--- (self-titled), Charlottetown's Two Hours Traffic (Little Jabs), Winnipeg folk-punk act The Weakerthans, Ottawa alt-country singer Kathleen Edwards (Asking for Flowers) and London, Ont.- based singer songwriter Basia Bulat (Oh, My Darling).

The 2008 Polaris Prize winner will be just the third so far. Past have included Montreal's Patrick Watson in 2007 and Toronto's Final Fantasy is 2006. Jurors are instructed to vote for albums solely on artistic merit, regardless of album sales or awards.