Pitchfork

The nominees for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize-- awarded annually to the best Canadian album of the year "judged solely on artistic merit" by nearly two hundred Canadian journalists-- were announced today, and, despite completely snubbing Barenaked Ladies Are Men, the ten nominees don't veer too far from your expectations.

Arcade Fire, Feist, Junior Boys, and the Besnard Lakes all made the cut, as did Miracle Fortress, the Dears, Julie Doiron, and Chad VanGaalen. Here, just look:

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse
The Dears - Gang of Losers
Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up
Feist - The Reminder
Junior Boys - So This Is Goodbye
Miracle Fortress - Five Roses
Joel Plaskett Emergency - Ashtray Rock
Chan VanGaalen - Skelliconnection
Patrick Watson - Close to Paradise

Good stuff, for the most part. The winner-- who'll follow in the dainty, doo-doo splattered footsteps of last year's winner, Final Fantasy's He Poos Clouds-- will receive $20,000 for the honor. The big announcement will be made September 24.