Polaris shortlist includes Tegan & Sara, Owen Pallett

Two queer acts have been shortlisted for the Polaris Prize, the annual award for best Canadian album.

Owen Pallett’s Heartland and Tegan & Sara’s Sainthood are among the 10 contenders. The other eight:

• Shad – TSOL
• The Sadies – Darker Circles
• Radio Radio – Belmundo Regal
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• Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice
• Karkwa – Les Chemins de Verre
• Caribou – Swim
• Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
• The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night

Under his previous moniker, Final Fantasy, Pallett won the inaugural Polaris Prize in 2006 for He Poos Clouds.

The 2010 Polaris Prize winner will be announced at a gala in Toronto on September 20. Chosen by a jury of music journalists, bloggers and broadcasters, the award includes a $20,000 cash prize.

Here’s the video for “Hell” from Tegan & Sara’s Sainthood: