From a list of hundreds, 196 music journalists from across the country carefully decided the 10 best Canadian albums of which the winner of the 2023 Polaris Music Prize will be determined on September 19, live from Toronto’s legendary Massey Hall. In honour of this year’s vibrant list of nominees, Canadian Beats is examining the 10 nominees and celebrating the artists behind them.
Daniel Caesar is no stranger to Polaris Music Prize attention. Starting with his debut EP in 2015 and continuing to all of his long play releases since, the Grammy-winning R&B superstar has always been on the radar of the Polaris’ Jury; and with his latest release, NEVER ENOUGH, being no exception.
And for good reason, too. Caesar’s soft vocals combined with his traditional R&B vibe carry the listener through 15 tracks celebrating love, loss, and everything in between. “Toronto 2014 (With Mustafa)” feels like the perfect slow drive through city lights, while tracks, such as opener “Ocho Rios” and “Always” are jams perfect for a slow dance. Also standing out is the track “Pain Is Inevitable,” with lyrics like “Now I’m a product, that must turn a profit/Something to prove, I’m a god, I’m a prophet”, is a pure exploration of downsides of even the good things life; and gives an additional layer of complexity to the whole album.
Are Polaris Jurors in agreement that Daniel Caesar’s NEVER ENOUGH is the best Canadian album of the year? Find out by following CBC Music on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook, and at cbcmusic.ca/polaris and follow Canadian Beats for more Polaris Music Prize coverage.