The Unofficial Bumpershine Polaris Prize Jury (see the full 38 member list below)

So, the official Polaris Prize Short List will be announced on Monday, July 7 and the other day I decided it would be fun if I asked some musicians, bloggers and industry types to pick their own Short Lists for an upcoming post on this right here blog. Well, after a minimal amount of harassment on my part, 38 people (including yours truly) picked their own Short Lists and today I’m ready to share the fruits of their (and my own) labor. Now an official Short List should probably consist of ten picks from the Polaris Long List, but some people I know march to the beat of a slightly different drummer. As a result, you will find some lists below with less than ten entries, and some with entries chosen from various artists who weren’t actually included on the Long List this year. (Not that I’m complaining, in fact, when it came down to it, I just told people to submit the most entries they could muster). A big thanks to everyone who participated on the jury, and if I accidentally left you out: 1) I apologize profusely, 2) I blame gmail and its cleverly hidden threaded messages, 3) send me an email me so I can add your stuff back in. If you want to make your own list, please feel to use the comments. On Monday we can see how close we came and the juror who was the most accurate will receive a free iTunes dropcard from Starbucks! Results and everything are after the jump, I think you might be surprised at who came out on top, I know I was.

The Full Unofficial Bumpershine Polaris Prize Jury

Bands and Musicians
Boats’ Picks, website: Boats on MySpace
The Parlour Steps’ Picks, website: The Parlour Steps
Casey Shea’s Picks, website: CaseySheaMusic.com
Dan Mangan’s Picks, website: DanManganMusic.com
The Golden Hands’ Picks, website: The Golden Hands on MySpace
Howie Tsui’s Picks, website: The Acorn
Keiko Deveaux’s Picks, website: The Acorn
Marc Morissette’s Picks, website: Octoberman
The Pack A.D.’s Picks, website: The Pack A.D. on MySpace
Paul Aucoin’s Picks, website: The Hylozoists
Revival Dear’s Picks, website: Revival Dear on MySpace
Rolf Kalusener’s Picks, website: The Acorn
Brooke Gallupe’s Picks, website: Immaculate Machine
Carolyn Mark’s Picks, website: CarolynMark.com

Bloggers, Writers and Photographers
My Picks, website: Bumpershine.com
Abbey’s Picks, website: Punkphoto.com
Patrick’s Picks, website: Pop Tarts Suck Toasted
Chris’ Picks, website: Battering Room
Nora’s Picks, website: I Rock, I Roll
Matt’s Picks, website: The Music Slut
Jin’s Picks, website: Jinners
Angela’s Picks, website: MusicIsMyBF.com
Wes’ Picks, website: LiberatedMatter.com
Matt’s Picks, website: Earfarm
Jason’s Picks, website: ProductShopNYC
Bill’s Picks, website: Sound Bites
Garrison’s Picks, website: blog.garrisonreid.com
Matthew’s Picks, website: Exitfish.com
Keith’s Picks, website: Returning The Screw
Sarah’s Picks, website: Sarah Spy
Danielle’s Picks, website: Music Is Art
Jeff’s Picks, website: The Merry Swankster
Drake’s Picks, website: Thus Spake Drake
Pete’s Picks, website: PeteNema.com
Jonny’s Picks, website: JonnyLeather.com
Brian’s Picks, website: Newsweek

Music Industry Types
Scott’s Picks, website: New Music Tipsheet
Tony’s Picks, website: Copperspine
Dan’s Picks, website: Pop Montreal
Drew’s Picks, website: Hot Springs
Jack’s Picks, website: Union Hall

The top ten vote getters (ie. The Unofficial Short List) and all individual picks (with commentary included) are after the jump.

The Unofficial Bumpershine.com Polaris Prize Short List
(Based on total “unofficial” jury member votes)

1.  Plants and Animals – Parc Avenue (21)
2.  Black Mountain – In The Future (19)
3.  Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams (17)
4.  Holy Fuck – LP (17)
5.  Tegan And Sara – The Con (17)
6.  The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain* (17)
7.  The New Pornographers – Challengers (17)
8.  Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War (16)
9.  Islands – Arm’s Way (15)
10.  Caribou – Andorra (14)
* It should be noted that none of members of The Acorn who were on the jury voted for their own record. Those three votes would have given them a total of 20 and placed them in a virtual dead heat with Plants and Animals for first place.
– – – –
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour (12)
Constantines – Kensington Heights (12)
Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling (11)
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles (10)
Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky (10)
Sandro Perri – Tiny Mirrors (10)
Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow and Blue (9)
Sadies – New Seasons (8)
Cadence Weapon – Afterparty Babies (8)
Hayden – In Field and Town (8)
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band – 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons (7)
Socalled – Ghetto Blaster (7)
Two Hours Traffic – Little Jabs (4)
Veda Hille – This Riot Life (4)
HILOTRONS – Happymatic (4)
Karkwa – Le volume du vent (3)
City And Colour – Bring Me Your Love (3)
Kathleen Edwards – Asking For Flowers (3)
Buck 65 – Situation (3)
Christine Fellows – Nevertheless (3)
Shad – The Old Prince(2)
Attack In Black – Marriage (2)
Pas Chic Chic – Au Contraire (2)
Cancer Bats – Hail Destroyer (1)
Corb Lund – Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier! (1)
Gatineau – Gatineau (1)
Justin Rutledge – Man Descending (1)
Protest The Hero – Fortress (1)

The “Unofficial” Jury Picks

Musicians and Bands

Boats, Band, Boats on MySpace
Winnipeg, MB

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow and Blue
Hayden – In Field and Town
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour
Plants and Animals – Parc Avenue

What’s Missing:
Laura Barrett – Earth Sciences
Woodhands – Heart Attack
Shotgun Jimmy – The Onlys
Germans – Cape Fear*
Rock Central Plaza – Are We Not Horses*

* These didn’t come out this year, but i don’t care.

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Caleb Stull, Musician, Parlour Steps
Vancouver, BC

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
Constantines – Kensington Heights
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
Veda Hille – This Riot Life
The New Pornographers – Challengers
Sadies – New Seasons
Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
Tegan And Sara – The Con
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour
Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky

What’s Missing:
Mother Mother – Touch Up
Girl Nobody – Balaclava Casino Heist
and our own little album (yuk yuk yuk)

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Casey Shea, Musician, CaseySheaMusic.com
Brooklyn, NY
Listen: Lartigue (mp3)

Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
The New Pornographers – Challengers
Tegan And Sara – The Con
Holy Fuck – LP
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky
Sadies – New Seasons
Black Mountain – In The Future
City And Colour – Bring Me Your Love
Constantines – Kensington Heights
Hayden – In Field And Town

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Dan Mangan, Musician, DanManganMusic.com
Vancouver, BC
Listen: So Much For Everyone (mp3)

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
Constantines – Kensington Heights
Veda Hille – This Riot Life
Holy Fuck – LP
Sandro Perri – Tiny Mirrors
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
Sadies – New Seasons
Shad – The Old Prince
Two Hours Traffic – Little Jabs
Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky

What’s Missing:
Hey Rosetta! – Into Your Lungs
Parlour Steps – Amibiguoso (I’m not sure if it actually had a street date though.. might not be eligible)
Mark Berube – What The River Gave The Boat (same as above.. unsure if it was released through a proper distributor)

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The Golden Hands Before God, Band, The Golden Hands on MySpace
Windsor, ON

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
Almost indescribable in sound, I just know it’s pretty and gorgeous. How about Talking Heads meets the Guillemots. Or how about just The Acorn? Fun summer music for sure.

Black Mountain – In The Future
I wasn’t as big on this as their last one, but it still sounds great as a late night soundtrack to drugs and video games.

Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling
Little girl with a big voice. She’s been under a lot of people’s radars for a while so it’s nice to see her get the nod finally.

Kathleen Edwards – Looking For Flowers
She is one of the most captivating performers I’ve seen in some time and her spunk and grace don’t translate as well on disc, but it’s still a fantastic listen. See her live and her albums become more of a photo album reminding you of what a great time you had watching her live.

Hilotrons – Happymatic
These guys are a recipe for a good night out. Less convoluted than Tokyo Police Club and less pretentious than Franz Ferdinand, these guys are a wrecking crew live. They just played our home town of Windsor a few months back and left the place in need of medics who were skilled in the art of re-attaching jaws to faces.

Holy Fuck – LP
Like Ms. Edwards, Holy Fuck don’t exactly translate as well on record, perhaps more so, than they do live. Live they are a frenetic ball of sweaty energy that sucks you in to the show big time. Though this album is pretty good to drink a giant bottle of Cola and jumping on the bed for hours to. Amongst other things.

Karkwa – Le volume du vent
Lush songwriting in the same vein as M. Ward and the like. Although it can get a little too close to Coldplay territory for me, there’s no denying these guys write some fantastic songs and recorded one beautiful record.

Plants and Animals – Parc Avenue
I know, everyone’s picking them, but the album is just so damn catchy! Almost like if Peter, Bjorn and John didn’t sound so much like the soundtrack to a Kroft brothers TV show. Their slower songs are eye misters and the up-beat stuff is heart warming.

Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
These guys can break my heart and heal it back up in one song, only to rip the stitches off in the next track. The video for “Bitches In Tokyo” is too cute.

Tegan and Sara – The Con
These two are just too cute not to put on every list out there. I wasn’t a huge fan of their earlier Ani DiFranco-ish folkie stuff, but since “So Jealous” I’ve been smitten by their pop hooks and elvish charms.

What’s Missing:
The Whitsundays – S/T
It may be poo-poo to vote for a label mate but these guys have a sound that not many people are pushing right now and it makes for a good groove on. Like a beach party on your shag rug, sharing cocktail weinees with Ray Davies and Cillia Black. Hot.

Fox Jaws – Goodbye Doris
Maybe they missed the deadline, not sure on that. If so, watch for them next year. Carleigh Atkins is a talent that shines wherever she goes and the rest of the band are equally as proficient. Great vibe, great sound, great songs.

The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns
These guys have been building up hype since we first played with them back in January (even before that) and with good reason. Strong live shows that back up the strong songwriting on their album. Great pop melodies that bring back memories of early 90’s DIY Halifax indie pop.

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Howie Tsui, Musician, The Acorn
Ottawa, ON

HILOTRONS – Happymatic
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
Sandro Perri – Tiny Mirrors
Black Mountain – In The Future

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Keiko Deveaux, Musician, The Acorn
Ottawa, ON

Sandro Perri – Tiny Mirrors
Silver Mt. Zion – 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
HILOTRONS – Happymatic
Constantines – Kensington Heights
Socalled – Ghetto Blaster

oh! and

Veda Hille – This Riot Life

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Marc Morissette, Musician, Octoberman
Vancouver, BC

I’m not a big fan of music contests because there’s no wrong or right answer, but my most listened to canadian records were (in no particular order):

Hayden – In Field And Town
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
Sandro Perri – Tiny Mirrors

and

[What’s Missing:]
Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew Spirit If…
Nathan Lawr & The Minotaurs – A Sea of Tiny Lights
The Mohawk Lodge – Wildfires

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The Pack A.D., Band, The Pack A.D. on MySpace
Vancouver, BC

Black Mountain – In The Future
Buck 65 – Situation
Cadence Weapon – Afterparty Babies
Caribou – Andorra
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
Holy Fuck – LP
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky

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Paul Aucoin, Musician, The Hylozoists
Toronto, ON

Black Mountain – In The Future
Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling
Constantines – Kensington Heights
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
Christine Fellows – Nevertheless
Hayden – In Field And Town
Sandro Perri – Tiny Mirrors
Sadies – New Seasons
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour

I know my list is only nine but I am sticking to an odd number.

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Revival Dear, Band, RevivalDear.com
Toronto, ON

In no order.

Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
Constantines – Kensington Heights
Kathleen Edwards – Asking For Flowers
The New Pornographers – Challengers
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour
Two Hours Traffic – Little Jabs

What’s missing:
Peter Elkas – Wall Of Fire
Andy Swan – Ottawa
Shannon Lyon – El Sol

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Rolf Klausener, Musician, The Acorn
Ottawa, ON

I’m about the following:
Black Mountain – In The Future
Constantines – Kensington Heights
HILOTRONS – Happymatic
Sandro Perri – Tiny Mirrors
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band – 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons
Socalled – Ghetto Blaster

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Brooke Gallupe, Musician, Immaculate Machine
Victoria, BC

Black Mountain – In The Future
Caribou – Andorra
HILOTRONS – Happymatic
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
Sadies – New Seasons
Two Hours Traffic – Little Jabs
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour

What’s Missing:
Immaculate Machine – Fables
Spiral Beach – Ball
Sleepless Nights – Turn Into Vapour
* Note: Brooke’s picks came in a bit late, so they didn’t make it into the final tally.

**********

Carolyn Mark, Musician, CarolynMark.com
Victoria, BC

(in no particular order)
Sadies – New Seasons
Christine Fellows – Nevertheless

What’s Missing:
Jane Vain and the Dark Matter – Love Is Where The Smoke Is
NQ Arbuckle – X O K [Not eligible this year, but will be next year]
Joel Plaskett – Ashtray Rock [Not eligible this year]
Sarah Harmer – Songs for Clem [Not eligible this year]
Geoff Berner – The Wedding Dance of the Widow Bride [Not eligible this year]
Hank and Lily – The Road to New Orleans
C’mon – Bottled Lightning of an All Time High
* Note: Carolyn’s picks came in a bit late, so they didn’t make it into the final tally.

Bloggers, Writers and Photographers

Me, Blogger, Bumpershine.com
Brooklyn, NY

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling
Sandro Perri – Tiny Mirrors
Socalled – Ghetto Blaster
The New Pornographers – Challengers
Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
Christine Fellows – Nevertheless
Hayden – In Field and Town
Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow and Blue
Tegand and Sara – The Con

What’s Missing:
Octoberman – Run From Safety
Jason Collett – Here’s To Being Here
Bella – No One Will Know
Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew Spirit If…
Ladyhawk – Shots

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Abbey B., Blogger/Music Photographer, Punk Photo
New York, NY

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
Cadence Weapon – Afterparty Babies
Holy Fuck – LP
Islands – Arm’s Way
Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow and Blue
Tegan And Sara – The Con
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue

I’d say Crystal Castles, but they are totally 2006 for me. Oh, Canada!

**********

Patrick D., Blogger, Pop Tarts Suck Toasted
Staten Island, NY

Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling
Black Mountain – In the Future
Caribou – Andorra
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
Destroyer – Trouble in Dreams
Holy Fuck – LP
Islands – Arm’s Way
Plants and Animals – Parc Avenue
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons

What’s Missing:
Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell

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Chris R., Blogger, The Battering Room
Long Island, NY

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow and Blue
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour

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Nora W., Blogger/Scenester, I Rock, I Roll
Brooklyn, NY

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow and Blue
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour
Tegan and Sara – The Con

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Matt G., Blogger, The Music Slut
Brooklyn, NY

Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling
Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow and Blue
Cadence Weapon – Afterparty Babies
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
Holy Fuck – LP
Islands – Arm’s Way
The New Pornographers – Challengers
Sadies – New Seasons
Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
Tegan & Sara – The Con

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Jin M., Blogger/Artist Manager, Jinners.com
Brooklyn, NY

Over the years, some of my favorite people and bands have been from Canada. Yes, I secretly wanna be Canadian, but alas, here I am, still rockin’ in my 11th year in New York…. Off the 2008 Polaris Music Prize Long List, here are my Short List picks:

Caribou – Andorra
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band – 13 Blues For 13 Moons
Veda Hille – This Riot Life
Sandro Perri – Tiny Mirrors
Shad – The Old Prince
Holy Fuck – LP
Two Hours Traffic – Little Jabs
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
Constantines – Kensington Heights
Socalled – Ghetto Blaster

What’s Missing:
Special shout out to The Besnard Lakes and Handsome Furs, who didn’t qualify for this year’s list, BUT I STILL LOVE THEM! My favorite canucks! The Besnard Lakes shimmer and make me shiver.

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Angela P., Blogger, Music Is My BF
Los Angeles, CA

City And Colour – Bring Me Your Love — This is it, my [first] choice.

I also wouldn’t mind if they chose:
Attack In Black – Marriage – “If All I Thought Were True” RULES…

I wouldn’t be surprised if one of these people won:
Islands – Arm’s Way – Didn’t really do much for me live, to be honest, but the record is good.
The New Pornographers – Challengers – Their older stuff does it for me, but I dunno this might be the Susan Lucci year for them.
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue – Nice record, but not enough attention I’m afraid.
Tegan And Sara – The Con – Aside from the Walking with a Ghost song, I didn’t love the earlier stuff, but I liked this record
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour – We have a band on our alumni roster called Troubled Hubble, if this band won it would be like if they won, to us.
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams – I have to admit I like the earlier stuff better, but it might be their time…
Constantines – Kensington Heights – My co-worker plays this constantly and it grew on me
Holy Fuck – LP – eh.

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Wes V., Blogger/Musician/Label Guy, Liberated Matter
Brooklyn, NY

Caribou – Andorra
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
Islands – Arm’s Way
The New Pornographers – Challengers
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War

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Matt T., Blogger, Earfarm.com
Brooklyn, NY

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
Black Mountain – In The Future
Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow and Blue
Cancer Bats – Hail Destroyer
Holy Fuck – LP
Islands – Arm’s Way
Karkwa – Le volume du vent
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
Protest The Hero – Fortress
Tegan And Sara – The Con

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Jason G., Blogger, ProductShopNYC
Brooklyn, NY

Black Mountain – In The Future
Caribou – Andorra
Hayden – In Field And Town
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
Tegan And Sara – The Con
Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
Tegan And Sara – The Con
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band – 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour
Constantines – Kensington Heights

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Bill Pearis, Blogger, Sound Bites
Brooklyn, NY

…there aren’t really ten records I like on here. Granted, there are a bunch I’ve never heard but my first pass went as:

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling
Caribou – Andorra
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
Holy Fuck – LP
Islands – Arm’s Way
New Pornographers – Challengers
Sadies – New Seasons
Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky

And of those, the only ones I really, really like are Caribou, Destroyer and NP. Maybe Basia Bulat. I guess I could vote for Stars and Weakerthans as bands I generally like, but I’m not really a fan of either of their new records.

What’s Missing:
Bella – No One Will Know
The Whitsundays – S/T
Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew Spirit If…
Ladyhawk – Shots

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Garrison Reid, Blogger, blog.garrisonreid.com
Plano, TX

Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling
Cadence Weapon – Afterparty Babies
Caribou – Andorra
Hayden – In Field And Town
Holy Fuck – LP
The New Pornographers – Challengers
Sadies – New Seasons
Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band – 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons

**********

Matthew P., Blogger/CSS Specialist, Exitfish.com

Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
Tegan and Sara – The Con
The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain

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Keith P., Blogger, Returning The Screw
Montreal, QC

Black Mountain – In The Future
Cadence Weapon – Afterparty Babies
City And Colour – Bring Me Your Love
Gatineau – Gatineau
Holy Fuck – LP
Karkwa – Le volume du vent
Pas Chic Chic – Au Contraire
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour
Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky

Including Black Mountain and The Weakerthans seem kinda obvious but they are such good records that it would be dishonest to exclude them.

And my list is admittedly a little skewed toward Quebec releases – I’ve been trying to explore the local music since moving to Montreal. I really do like that Pas Chic Chic record.

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Sarah L.K., Blogger, Sarah Spy
Brooklyn, NY

1. Black Mountain – In The Future (album makes me wanna smoke drugs & consider life)
2. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles (listened to this during my plane take-off and landing for SXSW)
3. The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain (Union Hall’s Canadian darlings)
4. Holy Fuck – LP (thought these guys completely destroyed at Music Hall’s post-M.I.A. show)
5. Caribou – Andorra (I’ve become very attached to “Desiree” as of late)
6. Tegan And Sara – The Con (sisters fill muliple nights at Terminal 5 for a reason)
7. Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow and Blue (favorites of one of my very favorites, Frightened Rabbit)
8. The New Pornographers – Challengers (total pros in my book)
9. Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War (in the right mood I’m all about Stars)
10. Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams (vocals I find lovely, likeable)

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Danielle L., Blogger, Music Is Art
Fairfield, CT

Black Mountain – In The Future
Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
Holy Fuck – LP
Islands – Arm’s Way
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
Tegan And Sara – The Con
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band – 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour

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Jeff K., Blogger, Merry Swankster
Brooklyn, NY

Black Mountain – In The Future
Caribou – Andorra
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
The New Pornographers – Challengers
Cadence Weapon – Afterparty Babies
Islands – Arm’s Way
Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow and Blue
Plants and Animals – Parc Avenue

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Drake leLane, Blogger, Thus Spake Drake
Seattle, WA

1. Plants and Animals – Parc Avenue
2. Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams (I was actually kind of disappointed in this album, and yet it’s still nearly my favorite of the bunch)
3. Black Mountain – In The Future
4. Two Hours Traffic – Little Jabs
5. Kathleen Edwards – Asking for Flowers
6. Corb Lund – Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier!
7. Sadies – New Seasons
8. New Pornographers – Challengers
9. Islands – Arm’s Way
10. The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain (you happy?)

What’s missing:
Sunset Rubdown – Random Spirit Lover !!!!! (released on October 9, 2007)
BSS Presents Kevin Drew – Spirit If

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Pete Nema, Blogger/Photographer, PeteNema.com
Toronto, Ontario

Caribou – Andorra
The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour
Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky
Constantines – Kensington Heights
Islands – Arm’s Way
Plants and Animals – Parc Avenue
Black Mountain – In The Future
Attack In Black – Marriage

What’s missing:
The Details – Draw a Distance. Draw a Border.
Vacuity – At The Command Of The Blanket Sky

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Jonny Leather, Blogger/Music Writer/Photographer, JonnyLeather.com/NYPress.com
Brooklyn, NY

Here’s my top ten list.

1. Black Mountain – In The Future
2. Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
3. Islands – Arm’s Way
4. The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
5. Cadence Weapon – Afterparty Babies
6. Caribou – Andorra
7. The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour
8. The New Pornographers – Challengers
9. Holy Fuck – LP
10. Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War

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Brian Braiker, Journalist, Newsweek
Brooklyn, NY

I haven’t heard much from the list. Ghetto Blaster was great. I think he [Socalled] is kind of a genius.

Socalled – Ghetto Blaster
Buck 65 – Situation
The New Pornographers – Challengers

Music Industry Types

Scott Perry, Music Industry Type, NewMusicTipsheet.com
Los Angeles, CA

Black Mountain – In The Future
Caribou – Andorra
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
Hayden – In Field And Town
Holy Fuck – LP
Islands – Arm’s Way
The New Pornographers – Challengers
Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
Tegan And Sara – The Con

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Tony Luscombe, Mathematician/Record Executive, Copperspine Records
Vancouver, BC

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
Buck 65 – Situation
Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling
Caribou – Andorra
Christine Fellows – Nevertheless
Sandro Perri – Tiny Mirrors
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
Justin Rutledge – Man Descending
Tegan And Sara – The Con
Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky

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Dan Seligman, Pop Montreal Creative Director, Pop Montreal
Montreal, QC

In no particular order.

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling
Pas Chic Chic – Au Contraire
Sandro Perri – Tiny Mirrors
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
Socalled – Ghetto Blaster
Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War

What’s Missing:
The D’Urbervilles: We Are The Hunters
Duchess Says: Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs
Katie Moore: The Only Thing Worse

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Drew Malamud, Producer/Engineer, Hot Springs
Montreal, QC
Watch: Hot Springs – “Fog The Horn”

Here is my 9.
Islands – Arm’s Way
Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
Black Mountain – In The Future
Constantines – Kensington Heights
The New Pornographers – Challengers
Socalled – Ghetto Blaster
Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky

What’s Missing:
The D’Urbervilles’ – We Are The Hunters
Hot Springs – Volcano

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Jack McFadden, Talent Buyer, Union Hall
Brooklyn, NY

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
Caribou – Andorra
Cadence Weapon – Afterparty Babies
Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
The New Pornographers – Challengers
Tegan And Sara – The Con
Islands – Arm’s Way
Black Mountain – In The Future