A Look at the Polaris Long List: 23. Malajube – La Caverne

Are Malajube the Montreal answer to Phoenix? Ironically, Phoenix is the group from France but Malajube are the group that sings in French (though being from Quebec, that’s obviously not that strange). Wonder if they’ll ever switch to English lyrics in a bid to cross-over? I didn’t understand a word of what they were saying (which, after years of high school and college French and a short stint in Nice even taking some language classes, is truly sad!) but this was a pretty good album!

Download Malajube Synesthsie [MP3]

A Look at the Polaris Long List: 22. The Luyas – Too Beautiful To Work

When I first started playing this, I thought it sounded way too ‘girly’ and not for me but I let it ride and it grew on me. I actually ended up talking about it during my appearance on the soon-come ‘What I Call Music’ podcast but I apologize in advance because I think I mangled their name and called them the Lubayas or something crazy like that! Hey, that’s what happens when you have to listen to 20+ albums you’ve never heard before and render an essentially snap judgment about them for a creative awards contest. Not sure why we barely had a week to list to all the Long List nominees, a week which also included NXNE which many jurors were running around attending, when the Polaris event is not until September, but such is life.

The Luyas – Too Beautiful to Work by Idée Fixe Records

A Look at the Polaris Long List: 21. Little Scream – The Golden Record

Honestly, couldn’t remember this one from when I played it during my Short List voting considerations and I didn’t even write any notes about it either. That’s generally not a good sign but returning to it now to write this post, it’s actually not bad. Agree?

Download Little Scream Heron and the Fox [MP3]

Download Little Scream Cannons [MP3]

A Look at the Polaris Long List: 20. Land of Talk – Cloak and Cipher

There was a special Polaris Salon listening session presented by CHARTattack’s Aaron Brophy about this album back in April. Can’t say it blew me away as I listened to it down there back then. Repeat listens once it made the Long List didn’t sway me from that initial opinion either but maybe some of y’all might feel differently than I did?

Download Land of Talk Hamburg Noon [MP3]

Download Land Of Talk Swift Coin [MP3]

Download Land Of Talk Quarry Hymns [MP3]

A Look at the Polaris Long List: 19. Imaginary Cities – Temporary Resident

Honestly, I don’t have much to say about this album. Homegirl’s got a pretty decent voice as I recall. Not a million miles from Adele (I seem to use her as a reference point in this Polaris run-down much more than I was expecting to).

Download Imaginary Cities Say You [MP3]

Download Imaginary Cities Ride This Out [MP3]

Download Imaginary Cities Hummingbird [MP3]