The Polaris Music Prize—an annual award for Canada’s best album of the year—has announced its preliminary long list of nominees today. Arcade Fire, the Weeknd, Destroyer, and Tanya Tagaq all made the cut, along with Orville Peck, PUP, Julie Doiron, and 2020 winner Backxwash. A group of writers, programmers, and broadcasters determines the nominees, with winners announced in September. See the full list of nominees below.
According to a statement, a 197-member jury considered 223 albums for this year’s prize, with a short list arriving next month. The winner receives a $50,000 prize with the honor. Last year, Cadence Weapon took home the award for Parallel World.
Polaris Music Prize Long List 2022:
Ada Lea – One Hand on the Steering Wheel the Other Sewing a Garden
Adria Kain – When Flowers Bloom
Ahi – Prospect
Arcade Fire – WE
Backxwash – I Lie Here Buried With My Rings and My Dresses
BadBadNotGood – Talk Memory
Basia Bulat – The Garden
Cedric Noel – Hang Time
Charlotte Day Wilson – Alpha
Chiiild – Hope for Sale
Destroyer – Labyrinthitis
The Garrys – Get Thee to a Nunnery
The Halluci Nation – One More Saturday Night
Haviah Mighty – Stock Exchange
Hubert Lenoir – Pictura de Ipse : Musique Directe
Jean-Michel Blais – Aubades
Joyful Joyful – Joyful Joyful
Julie Doiron – I Thought of You
Kelly McMichael – Waves
Les Louanges – Crash
Lisa Leblanc – Chiac Disco
Loony – soft thing
Luna Li – Duality
Lydia Képinski – Depuis
Men I Trust – Untourable Album
Myst Milano – Shapeshyfter
Ombiigizi – Sewn Back Together
Orville Peck – Bronco
Ouri – Frame of a Fauna
Pierre Kwenders – José Louis and the Paradox of Love
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
Tanika Charles – Papillon de Nuit: The Night Butterfly
Tanya Tagaq – Tongues
The Weeknd – Dawn FM
