Polaris Music Prize

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Better Know a Jury Member #18: Cam Lindsay 21 Ao�t 2009

Cam Lindsay (Toronto)
Researcher, MuchMusic and Associate Editor, Exclaim!
Jury Member Since: 2006

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

Japandroids Post-Nothing
Think About Life Family
Fucked Up The Chemistry of Common Life
Timbre Timber Timbre Timber
D-Sisive Let the Children Die

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

Post-Nothing just filled this void I had. Rock music has become really stale in my eyes, and Japandroids got that adrenaline kicking inside me again. It ticks all of my boxes: muddy lo-fi production, lots of distortion, memorable hooks and songs about girls - which is really all a guy like me, with a mind still stuck in his teens, wants to sing along to. Plus, I haven't gotten sick of it after listening to it religiously since February. That almost never happens in this digital age where I feel bombarded with far too much new music.

Reaction to the Short List: Your most pleasant surprise? Shocked by any omissions?

I attended the Short List press conference and my reaction was mostly disappointment. I was very pleased with the Long List, but I just felt the Short List was far too predictable and missed the albums that really stood out to me, like Bruce Peninsula, Pink Mountaintops, Coeur De Pirate, Think About Life, $100, Timbre Timber and obviously Japandroids. I could go on and add another 10 albums...

I know it's the doing of the jury, but seriously, that was the top 10? There were so many overlooked albums this year, more than ever before. I've never been a fan of repeat nominations, so seeing Metric, Patrick Watson (a past winner, no less), Malajube and even artists I champion like K'naan, Chad VanGaalen and Joel Plaskett was a letdown. Or dare I say, typical of Canadian music journalism. And that's six in total - only four are new to Polaris. C'mon people, live a little!

The rest of the albums I was cool with (I will be there at the gala giving my full support to Fucked Up), and was only really surprised with Hey Rosetta!. I definitely didn't hear what most Canadian music writers heard, I guess.

Describe the state of Canadian music in five words:

Great but could be better. (Email me if you want me to elaborate - camlindsay@gmail.com)

Imagine the tables are turned and you are the nominee: What would you do with the $20,000 prize money?

With my first child due any day now, I would have to put that money into
some kind of trust or educational fund for her. But if my wife wanted to
have some fun with it, I'd fly us over to Japan to visit our good friend
or maybe do the renovations on our kitchen that we keep talking about.
If I'm being honest though, I'd love to just go and blow it on vinyl. A
guy can dream...

Lien relié : The New Music

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@nicooooole in @torontoist on @TheSadies awesome summer .
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