Figure Walking and John K. Samson Land on the Polaris Music Prize Long List

The Polaris Music Prize ended months of debate and speculation with the announcement of this year's long list of top Canadian albums. There are some friendly Manitoba names on that list... John K. Samson and Figure Walking have both nod from the prestigious prize.

Fresh from dates in Europe and a coveted spot at UK music fest The Great Escape, Samson has landed international attention for Winter Wheat, his second solo recording on Epitaph/Anti-. Figure Walking's debut, The Big Other, launched via Winnipeg label Disintegration Records/Marathon of Dope in April. 

Both acts are not strangers to the Polaris buzz. Samson fronted The Weakerthans, whose Reunion Tour album was short listed for the prize in 2008. One half of Figure Walking (along with Greg Gardiner), Greg MacPherson, picked up a long list spot in 2014 for his album, Fireball, and for Mr. Invitation in 2010.

The slate of albums was put forward by the 201 member jury -- which includes national music journalists, broadcasters, and bloggers. The coveted prize awards to $50,000 to the best full-length Canadian album, while short listed artists each receive $3,000 courtesy of Slaight Music.

The jury makes its selection entirely on artistic merit. Past winners include Kaytranada, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Tanya Tagaq, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Arcade Fire, Feist, Patrick Watson, and Karkwa, 

The Polaris Jury will next determine the 10 album short list, which will be announced live on July 13 on CBC Music’s Facebook page. The winner, chosen by the 11-person Grand Jury, won't be revealed until the gala on September 18 at the Polaris gala at The Carlu in Toronto, which will be livestreamed at CBCMusic.ca.

The 2017 Polaris Music Prize Long List

A Tribe Called Red - We Are The Halluci Nation
Alaclair Ensemble - Les Frères Cueilleurs
Anciients - Voice of the Void
Arkells - Morning Report
Philippe B - La grande nuit vidéo
BADBADNOTGOOD – IV
Louise Burns - Young Mopes
Chocolat - Rencontrer Looloo
Clairmont The Second - Quest For Milk and Honey
Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker
Antoine Corriveau - Cette chose qui cognait au creux de sa poitrine sans vouloir s'arrêter
Le Couleur - P.O.P.
Marie Davidson - Adieux Au Dancefloor
Mac Demarco - This Old Dog        
Gord Downie - Secret Path
Drake - More Life
Feist - Pleasure
Figure Walking - The Big Other
Fiver - Audible Songs From Rockwood
Geoffroy - Coastline
Hannah Georgas - For Evelyn
Japandroids - Near To The Wild Heart Of Life
Carly Rae Jepsen - E.MO.TION Side B
B.A. Johnston - Gremlins III
Lisa LeBlanc - Why You Wanna Leave, Runaway Queen?
The New Pornographers - Whiteout Conditions
Klô Pelgag - L'Étoile thoracique
Peter Peter - Noir Éden
Lido Pimienta - La Papessa
Jessie Reyez – Kiddo
Daniel Romano - Modern Pressure
The Sadies - Northern Passages
John K. Samson - Winter Wheat
Tanya Tagaq - Retribution
The Tragically Hip - Man Machine Poem
TUNS - TUNS
Leif Vollebekk - Twin Solitude                  
Weaves - Weaves
The Weeknd - Starboy
Charlotte Day Wilson – CDW