Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!‘, the band’s first album in a decade, has picked up the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.
The Polaris Music Prize is the Canadian equivalent of the Mercury Prize, and has named Godspeed You! Black Emperor as its 2013 recipient ahead of other nominated acts such as Metric, Purity Ring and A Tribe Called Red.
“A lot of our jury expressed that this was the most difficult Polaris ballot they’ve ever submitted,” Steve Jordan, Polaris Founder and Executive Director, said when the award’s long-list was announced earlier this year. “The results of this careful and passionate deliberation will make for some truly engaging listening for music lovers.
As winners, Godspeed You! Black Emperor pick up a cheque for a cool $30,000.
Polaris Prize 2013 shortlist:
Godspeed You! Black Emperor – ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!’
Zaki Ibrahim – ‘Every Opposite’
Metric – ‘Synthetica’
METZ – ‘METZ’
Purity Ring – ‘Shrines’
Colin Stetson – ‘New History Warfare Vol. 3: To See More Light’
Tegan and Sara – ‘Heartthrob’
A Tribe Called Red – ‘Nation II Nation’
Whitehorse – ‘The Fate Of the World Depends On This Kiss’
Young Galaxy – ‘Ultramarine’