The Polaris Project – June 17-30

idk if i’m going to get through all 40 of these. i’m running out of steam and i’m not sure if i care that much about this idea anymore. we’ll see.

Homecoming Queen by Devours

electropop that sorta sounds like post-Carrie–&–Lowell Sufjan Stevens with the “overt homosexuality” dial turned up by half a notch. unfortunately, that isn’t a Sufjan era i’m especially fond of. so be it.

highlights: “Slimer,” “Jacuzzi My Stonewall.”

rating: “fine.”

The Flower That Knew by DijahSB

the album’s central conceit (an extended flower metaphor used to comment on the rapper’s growth, flourishing, and occasional setbacks) wears pretty thin pretty fast. but for the most part, the lyrics neither add to – nor detract from – the catchy lo-fi beats. they’re just there; not worth complaining about.

highlight: “Chantel’s Garden.”

rating: “fine.”

Our Roots Run Deep by Dominique Fils-Aimé

i’m growing a bit tired of Fils-Aimé getting nominated for this award every time she puts out a new album. her music is OK, but i’d prefer to see a little more variation in which “just OK” musicians pick up Polaris nominations, y’know?

highlight: “Give Me a Reason.” the trumpet part was nice.

rating: “fine.”

Harm’s Way by Ducks Ltd.

the first verse of “The Main Thing,” in which the singer claims to be “living like a middle reliever / innings eater on a losing team” is such an evocative metaphor for feeling listless and trapped, going through your daily routine not out of passion but out of habit (and perhaps contractual obligation), waiting for the inevitable end to arrive and deliver you from your suffering. that’s so me.

highlights: “Cathedral City,” “The Main Thing.”

rating: “good.”

Inuktitut by Elisapie

the premise of this album is “what if i covered some canonical English-language pop/rock hits and sang them in Inuktitut?”

good call! i like a lot of those songs! further, it was an interesting choice to reimagine several of them, seemingly, as funeral dirges.

highlights: “Sinnatuumait (Dreams),” “Californiamut (Going to California),” “Uummati Attanarsimat (Heart of Glass),” “Taimaa Qimatsiniungimat (Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye).”

rating: “good.”

Wisecrack by Haley Blais

this is some material that i have no choice but to call “Phoebe Bridgers-core,” which suits me fine, because i like the actual Phoebe Bridgers well enough.

highlights: “Survivor’s Guilt,” “Matchmaker” (which has a fun, uhh, synthetic horn [?] bit throughout).

rating: “fine.”

Goodnight Summerland by Helena Deland

when i first listened to this when it came out last year, i found it a disappointing and slightly boring follow-up to her debut album, substituting the latter’s mid-tempo synth rock for a more tranquil acoustic folk sound. now that its inclusion on the longlist has compelled me to give it another chance, i could reset my expectations and appreciate it more for what it is (rather than lamenting what it isn’t).

it’s hard to get things right on the first try – perhaps an indication that you shouldn’t trust any of my reviews, tbh.

highlights: “Moon Pith,” “Saying Something,” “Bright Green Vibrant Gray,” “Swimmer.”

rating: “good.”

Motewolonuwok by Jeremy Dutcher

the follow-up to 2018’s Polaris-winning Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, this album sees Dutcher add a jazzier flair to his piano-led modern classical compositions. his operatic vocals – this time, sung in English as well as Wolastoqey – are as impressive as ever. many of the songs here are melodically similar to one another and, as such, it’s hard to identify any standouts. but as you can see below: i still did, so it’s fine.

highlights: “Pomawsuwinuwok Wonakiyawolotuwok,” “Ancestors Too Young.”

rating: “good.”

Hex by Jon McKiel

lo-fi psych rock with a soupçon of electronics and vocal manipulation, creating something akin to a less interesting Chad VanGaalen album. i know it’s rude of me to insult an otherwise respectable effort with an unfavourable comparison to a musician i enjoy more (see also: Haley Blais), but i don’t feel like thinking of anything else to say instead. sorry.

highlights: “Hex,” “String.”

rating: “fine.”

Dans la seconde by Karkwa

the production here is a bit muddled but otherwise there are some pretty fun rock songs underneath it!

highlights: “Gravité,” “Nouvelle vague,” “Dans la seconde.”

rating: “good.”