Patrick Watson nabs Polaris Prize

Patrick Watson... solo dude or band? This eternal question will have to take a back seat for the time being. You can just call him/them the "Polaris Prize-winning Patrick Watson" now. A distinguished panel of Canuck journalists came together earlier this week to name Montreal's Watson the winner of Canada's greatest musical honor. That, and a check for $20,000 - an unspeakable fortune for an indie group.

The Polaris, is essentially a secondhand duplicate of a better-known British institution: the Mercury Music Prize. Watson's sophomore album Close to Paradise was a long-shot underdog coming into the event, with more ballyhooed acts like the Arcade Fire, Feist, and the Junior Boys weighing in as heavy favorites. But give the Watson boys credit. They puffed out their chests, put on a brave face and pulled off an upset that was a shock to many.

The triumph at Polaris is just the latest in a series of honors for Watson - three GAMIQ awards, a Juno nomination, and a spot on the NME's "Top 10 Best New Bands at SXSW."

Okay, okay, so the band is much-decorated. But what does it actually sound like? For a true multimedia experience, head over to the band's flashy website, and click on the "album environment" for Close to Paradise. You'll soon be treated to a flash window brimming with whimsical videos, mp3s, and images. Clearly, Patrick Watson has figured out that presentation goes a long way toward impressing folks.

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