Michael Elves is the Program Director at 101.5 UMFM. He believes Evening Hymns' Spectral Dust should win the 2013 Polaris Music Prize. Grief is a very personal experience, but pain and loss are universal. This is the perceived dichotomy that Spectral Dusk addresses in chronicling Evening Hymns frontman Jonas Bonnetta's coming to grips with the death

To all the Polaris jurors reading this column... you have less than two weeks to finalize your ballot. Use your time wisely (insert joke about masturbation + crying + dark room). We know a really wise use of time for Albertan music fans — the first 2013 Polaris Salon is happening in Banff, Alberta on May 24. That's right. Our regular argument parties

The Polaris Music Prize is going international. Rdio.com will present the first-ever Polaris Salon to be held outside of Canada when we convene at New York City's Housing Works Bookstore Cafe on Nov. 29 for some knock-down, drag-out, chin-stroke music nerd debate about the best Canadian albums made in 2012. Join Polaris founder Steve Jordan as he moderates

The 2012 Polaris Short List was announced today (July 17) at The Drake Hotel in Toronto, ON.

Polaris Founder and Executive Director Steve Jordan was pretty excited about the List.

"Our jury is showing an ever growing passion and dedication to reviewing, discussing and advocating their selections. This has resulted in a Short List of records that are musically focused, intense and in some cases highly personal. The process of selecting a winner should prove to be an invigorating challenge for our Grand Jury."

Dave Jaffer
Freelance writer
Hometown: Toronto
Polaris Jury Member since: 2007

Please share the Top 5 Canadian albums you put on your ballot.

The Liptonians Let's All March Back Into The Sea
Young Galaxy Shapeshifting
Grimes Halfaxa
Selina Martin Disaster Fantasies
Arcade Fire The Suburbs

Tell us about your top-ranked choice. Why #1?

I won't lie – my placement of Let's All March Back Into The Sea was strategic. I put the Liptonians' record at the top of my ballot to try to push them onto the Short List because I knew that Arcade Fire didn't need my support to end up there...

Arthur Fafard, Owner
Blackbyrd Myoozik, Edmonton

What’s your record store best known for (or: what’s unique about it)?

Blackbyrd is best known for its wide and eclectic selection of cutting edge sounds, new and old. For the past 18 years, Blackbyrd has always had a great selection of vinyl too, and currently boasts a wide array of records covering every style and genre.