Polaris music prize 2012: Drake and Grimes among nominees

Drake, Grimes and a Noh-theatre-inspired psych band are among the nominees for this year's Polaris prize, Canada's biggest music award. Ten albums have been shortlisted for the $30,000 (£19,000) prize, which will be handed out on 24 September. Canada's equivalent of the UK Mercury prize, Polaris is guided by a jury of around 200 music professionals, including journalists, broadcasters and radio programmers. Now that the initial 40-album longlist has been whittled down to 10 records, an 11-member jury "will be sequestered papal conclave-style", organisers said , to choose the winner. This year's contenders include singer-songwriter Feist, previously nominated in 2007, the multimillion-selling rapper Drake, and Grimes, whose diaphanous dance music has already attracted international attention . Fucked Up, a Toronto hardcore band who won the 2009 Polaris, were nominated again for their concept album David Comes to Life , and Cold Specks , who is based in London, received a nod for I Predict a Graceful Expulsion. The long-shot candidates are Yamantaka // Sonic Titan , whose so-called "Noh-wave" is heavy and hallucinogenic, blending influences such as Boredoms, Black Sabbath and Japanese manga. Less lucky was Leonard Cohen, whose album Old Ideas was widely but erroneously predicted as a finalist. Popular songwriters Dan Mangan and Patrick Watson were also surprise omissions. And despite strong support for albums by Avec Pas d'Casque, Coeur de Pirate and Marie-Pierre Arthur, no French-language artists are in contention for the 2012 award. (The Polaris is open to both of Canada's official languages.) Previous Polaris winners include Caribou, Final Fantasy, Karkwa and Patrick Watson. The 2011 award went to Arcade Fire, for The Suburbs. Full Polaris prize shortlist: Cadence Weapon – Hope in Dirt City Cold Specks – I Predict a Graceful Expulsion Drake – Take Care Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur Feist – Metals Fucked Up – David Comes to Life Grimes – Visions Handsome Furs – Sound Kapital Japandroids – Celebration Rock Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – YT//ST