AND THE WINNER OF POLARIS PRIZE IS……..

Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s 2012 release, ’Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!, has been named the winner of the 2013 Polaris Music Prize, which is awarded by a panel of jurors annually to determine the best Canadian album of the year. The album beat out notable releases from Metz, Metric, Purity Ring and more. In only seven years, the Polaris Music Prize and even its shortlist of candidates have both brought attention to some serious Canadian talent. Past winners include Patrick Watson for 2007’s Close to Paradise, Caribou’s 2007 release Andorra and Arcade Fire’s Grammy Award winning 2011 album The Suburbs. Artist who have been placed on the Prize’s shortlist include Cold Specks, Japandroids, Grimes and Drake.

The event was held in Toronto and featured performances by Metz, Metric and Purity Ring. Godspeed You! Black Emperor did not attend the event.

Check out the shortlist below to see the other Canadian artists whose albums were ranked among the best in Canada this past year:

Zaki Ibrahim – Every Opposite
Metric – Synthetica
METZ – METZ
Purity Ring – Shrines
Colin Stetson – New History Warfare Vol. 3: To See More Light
Tegan And Sara – Heartthrob
A Tribe Called Red – Nation II Nation
Whitehorse – The Fate of the World Depends On This Kiss
Young Galaxy – Ultramarine