My Polaris Prize Ballot - 2020 Round One

First off, it's been a while.

I've of course been listening to new music since my last regular post in March as I continue in my role as PD / MD at UMFM, but while there's been stuff I'm digging, I just have not had the time or energy to share things here on RR as I've also been home with four children full-time since March 13th. If you want to hear what I'm digging week-to-week for the time being, I'd recommend checking out my showlogs here and here as I continue to program new broadcasts.

The other reason I haven't had the time to post on RR is I'd been busy listening and re-listening to a slew of recommendations by my fellow Polaris Prize jurors before the longlist voting deadline.

Which was yesterday, June 5th.

As I have done every year, I'll once again be sharing my personal longlist and ballot here and when it comes time to whittle the longlist down, I'll be posting that ballot as well.

Before I get to my "first final five" directly below are the albums I had the hardest time not including (and as always with my attempts at being internally consistent, anything released in since January 1 2020 is also on my longlist for the best albums of the year).

Anachnid - Dreamweaver
Andy Shauf - The Neon Skyline
Begonia - Fear
Bon Enfant - Bon Enfant
Catherine Major - Carte mere
Caveboy - Night in the Park, Kiss in the Dark
Ellis - Born Again
Emie R. Roussel Trio - Rhythme De Passage
Flore Laurentienne - Vol. 1
Fortunato Durutti Marinetti - Desire
Junia-T - Studio Monk
Kaytranada - BUBBA
Little Scream - Speed Queen
Peripheral Vision - Irrational Revelation and Mutual Humiliation
Sarah Harmer - Are You Gone
Songs of Tales - Life Is A Gong Show
Super Duty Tough Work - Studies In Grey
TOPS - I Feel Alive
Wares - Survival

Should any of my five not make the cut for the actual longlist, but something from the personal longlist does, that will be considered first.

With that said, here's what I voted for (screenshot from the actual voting page):

I don't believe I've done this before, but here are hyperlinks to the albums or artists.
1. Loving
2. Men I Trust
3. William Prince
4. Raphael Weinroth-Browne
5. Witch Prophet

Good luck to all of these great artists and fingers-crossed I'll be voting to put you on the Shortlist in a few weeks.