I. DEMOCRACY DOESN’T WORK #POLARIS2011

Since its inception in 2006 the polaris music prize has caused a great deal of debate and for lack of a better word whining from the national music community. Based solely on the “artistic merit” of an album the idea is to distance itself from the larger establishments behind the grammys or junos but this year had exactly the same result as the arcade fire won all three for the cool dad suv playlist that was the suburbs . The problem here is that no matter what the criteria voting on an album means the safest choice will usually win. Votes for colin stetson the weeknd or austra split the voters with adventurous tastes meaning the safe choice of the suburbs rose to the top. My solution? Just let me pick the winner. I don’t even like the arcade fire.

II. THE WEDGE PUSHED BACK

Endlessly jolly hardcore frontman and one-time polaris winner damian abraham was on hand to co-host the cancon clusterfuck and he did an incredible job. His work as a vj on muchmusic’s the wedge is really paying off which is why it’s a shame that the show was pushed back to a 2 a.m. Est timeslot. Granted there probably aren’t many panda bear fans in the network’s preteen demographic but it’s still a shame to watch the promising show get pushed back. Here’s hoping they make up for it with more awkward. Marathons.

III. THE TEA PARTY’S WEB DEBACLE

Before it was an american political group full of obnoxious omnipresent morons “the tea party” referred to a canadian rock group full of obnoxious omnipresent morons. The jeff martin-led group dominated alterna-rock radio and big shiny tunes compilations but their fame dwindled soon after the late ’90s ended. Thankfully their black nail polish bills might not go unpaid as the ultra-conservative political activists have allegedly offered the band upwards of $1 million for theteaparty.com. Either way it’s a url that will remain nowhere near my bookmarks.iv. Ladyhawk is coming

Fellow canadian rockers ladyhawk exist on an entirely different level — the polaris voters slept on both of the band’s guitar-driven classics and they’ve certainly never been on a big shiny tunes compilation but they do continue to attack each fuzzed-out anthem with the chemistry of four buds who enjoy hanging out. That’s why i can’t wait for them to play the newly minted commonwealth bar on tuesday october 11.

V. R. KELLY’S BLACK PANTIES

But enough about canada — what’s going on in the insane sex castle where r. Kelly crafts his next-level r&b? The cult hero of thinly veiled boning metaphors has just announced that his next album (the 12th overall) will be called black panties. What do you think it will be about?

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