Another week assessing one of the 2010 Polaris Music Prize nominees brings us to the hugely popular Tegan and Sara and their latest album, Sainthood. I'll spend the show evaluating the record's chances and handing out copies of Sainthood to five lucky bloggers this morning.

Tegan and Sara may just be the best-known, top-selling band nominated for this year's Polaris Prize, yet somehow, of this year's artists, I'm the least familiar with their music. I've seen them play Guelph twice, once in 2000 when Royal City opened for them, the next time when they brought ex-Weezer bassist Matt Sharp along to open for them a few years ago. People the world over love them but I guess I never had the chance to spend any time with their records until now.
I get the appeal of Sainthood; it's a punk-infused, emotive pop-rock throw-down rendered by confident young women, who conjure really infectious hooks. Yes, Sainthood contains really nifty arrangements, but it does seem to suffer from repetition. It sounds great and there's something compelling about each verse, chorus, and/or bridge. Having said that, my feeling is that it's a tad redundant on occasion.
Of course, that's just me; I could be wrong (I was once wrong about something in 2007). How will the jury see Sainthood? Let's guess:

RIGHTFUL RANK: BOTTOM FIVE
LIKELY RANK: 8
(I know there's only a "#1," but humour me)

STRENGTHS: Popular and internationally acclaimed album; infectious, charging music with interesting sonic choices; one of the most 'mainstream' and well-established nominees this year; would raise the Polaris brand and profile among younger music fans

WEAKNESSES: Rarely hear my critic colleagues gushing about Sainthood; again, even for a good pop album, I hear some flaws; not particularly innovative for an "artistic merit" award; Polaris generally gravitates to really underground, less established, D.I.Y. artists who can most benefit from the prize/dough

OVERALL STATUS: SADLY, UNLIKELY TO WIN IN 2010