F---ed Up (SUPPLIED)

And then there were 10.

The Polaris Music Prize unveiled its short list of nominees for 2012 on Tuesday, and it includes everyone from rap superstar Drake and indie queen Feist to garage-rockers Japandroids and previous winners F---ed Up. Other artists vying include rapper Cadence Weapon, singer-songwriters Cold Specks and Kathleen Edwards, electronic artist Grimes, avant-garde collective Yamantaka // Sonic Titan and indie-rock duo Handsome Furs, who broke up in May.

The Polaris Prize claims to reward the best Canadian album of the year based solely on artistic merit, without regard to commercial considerations. But as always, the bulk of the nominees consist of hipster-friendly artists from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, reflecting the 100-plus member jury’s regional imbalance and stylistic preferences.

This year’s winner will be determined by a grand jury on Sept. 24 at a gala in Toronto. They’ll get a cheque for $30,000. Other artists on the short list get $2,000.

Here's the full list of nominees:

Cadence Weapon | Hope In Dirt City

Cold Specks | I Predict A Graceful Expulsion

Drake | Take Care

Kathleen Edwards | Voyageur

Feist | Metals

F---ed Up | David Comes to Life

Grimes | Visions

Handsome Furs | Sound Kapital

Japandroids | Celebration Rock

Yamantaka // Sonic Titan | YT//ST