Anjine de Poitrine and the Polaris Prize
When the Polaris Prize started it seemed focused on quality. These days, it seems more focused on popularity. Some thoughts.
I've not heard much Anjine de Poitrine, but I've heard enough to know it's not my thing. In no way am I saying it's bad: I'm just saying it's not my thing. I skew Singer/Songwriter and Americana generally. These days working from home means I listen to a lot more classical probably as I put BBC Radio 3 during the day. Add a solid dose of Japanese ambient music (particularly Ryuichi Sakamoto) and I like a lot of stuff--this just doesn't do it for me.
Having said that, I could have predicted that these guys were going to win this year. Partly that's a result of a voting change that vastly increases the number of voters. I miss the days of the 10 final jurists sequestering. I had a friend who was in that room one very contentious (in Vancouver) year and it was fantastic stuff. Debate and discussion.
Here's the thing with these guys and why I pretty strongly feel it's not entirely deserved: the "aliens from outer space" schtick is not part of the music. The music is the the music. Put on Ziggy Stardust with no visuals and you're still listening to a fantastic album. These guys? Without the schtick, why even listen?
So, all power to them. Awards are a bit overrated anyway, and Canada gives out far too many in order to reassure ourselves that we are not American. I just think this one's become so watered down that it's lost all meaning and that's a shame because at one point the Polaris Prize had one focus: the best, and it delivered.
