Canada's 10 Best Albums Vying For 2007 Polaris Music Prize

The 10 finalists for the second annual Polaris Music Prize, awarded to the best Canadian album of the past year, were announced in Toronto on Tuesday.

A panel of more than 170 music journalists and broadcasters from across Canada were asked to choose their five favourite albums released by a homegrown artist between June 1, 2006 and May 31, 2007. Judges were asked to make their selections based solely on artistic merit without regard to genre, sales history or label affiliation. An initial long list was then whittled down to the top 10 based on a points system.

The winner will be chosen during a gala concert in Toronto on Sept. 24.

Final Fantasy's He Poos Clouds took the $20,000 prize last year.

This year's 10 finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

Arcade Fire — Neon Bible
The Besnard Lakes — Are The Dark Horse
The Dears — Gang Of Losers
Julie Doiron — Woke Myself Up
Feist — The Reminder
Junior Boys — So This Is Goodbye
Miracle Fortress — Five Roses
Joel Plaskett Emergency — Ashtray Rock
Chad VanGaalen — Skelliconnection
Patrick Watson — Close To Paradise