#64: Jesse Locke, Weird Canada
SEPTEMBER 01 2011 • By Polaris Music Prize
Jesse Locke
Managing editor, Weird Canada
Hometown/City of residence: Calgary/Toronto
Polaris Jury Member since: Previously a juror in '06-07 and have returned for 2011.

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

Colin Stetson New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
Dirty Beaches Badlands
Women Public Strain
Braids Native Speaker
Frederick Squire March 12

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

With Judges, Colin Stetson joins the ranks of avant-jazz madmen like Evan Parker and Mats Gustafsson in challenging the limits of what one person can do with a saxophone...
read this post

#63: Mark Rheaume, CBC Radio
AUGUST 24 2011 • By Polaris Music Prize
Mark Rheaume
Production Assistant, Music Library, CBC Radio / Columnist, Fresh Air, CBC Radio One
City of Residence: Toronto
Polaris Jury Member Since: 2007

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

Ron Sexsmith Long Player Late Bloomer
Louise Burns Mellow Drama
Olenka and the Autumn Lovers And Now We Sing
Robyn Dell'unto I'm Here Every Night
Michael Kaeshammer Kaeshammer

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

I chose Sexsmith at #1 because, first and foremost, the album is full of beautiful melodies and intelligent pop. But also, one of the great wrongs in music has been fans' neglect or ignorance of Sexsmith despite his brilliance as a songwriter...
read this post

#62: Chris Morin, Planet S Magazine/Ominocity.com
AUGUST 19 2011 • By Polaris Music Prize
Chris Morin
Columnist, Planet S Magazine / Content Editor, Ominocity.com
Hometown/City of residence: Saskatoon, SK (with transient stints in Montreal)
Polaris Jury Member since: 2010

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

Burning Love Songs For Burning Lovers
Eamon McGrath Peace Maker
Shotgun Jimmie Transistor Sister
Slow Down Molasses Walk Into the Sea
Timber Timbre Creep On Creepin’ On

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

Burning Love consistently puts on one of the best live shows in Canada, from makeshift venues like punk squats and basements, to opening for bands like Doomriders on the big stage...
read this post

#61: Thomas Quinlan, Exclaim/Urbnet
AUGUST 12 2011 • By Polaris Music Prize
Thomas Quinlan
Writer, Exclaim!/Urbnet
Hometown/City of Residence: Toronto
Polaris Jury Member since: 2010

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

D-Sisive Jonestown 2: Jimmy Go Bye Bye
Eternia & MoSS At Last
More Or Les Brunch With a Vengeance
Timbuktu Stranger Danger
K-Dot-O-Dot & 9th Uno Drugstore Cowboys

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

It was a good year for hip-hop in Canada. While it was hard to narrow down my picks to five, the number one spot has been pretty much a given for a while now. D-Sisive is a witty rapper with more pop culture references than all three of the Beastie Boys combined. His songs are a nice balance between personal and battle raps, but always with a touch of humour...
read this post

#60: Bob Kronbauer, Vancouver Is Awesome
AUGUST 08 2011 • By Polaris Music Prize
Bob Kronbauer
Managing editor, VancouverIsAwesome.com
Hometown/City of Residence: Vancouver, B.C.
Polaris Jury Member since: 2011

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

The Rural Alberta Advantage Departing
Arcade Fire The Suburbs
Hooded Fang Album
Galaxie Tigre et Diesel
Diamond Rings Special Affections

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

The first time I listened to Departing I knew it would at least be in my top five. The second time around, I knew it would be close to the top. By the 100th spin, I had no choice but to put it in my number-one slot...
read this post