Patrick Watson has been awarded the 2007 Polaris Prize for his album ‘Close To Paradise’.

Watson’s album beat Arcade Fire’s ‘Neon Bible’ and Feist’s ‘The Reminder’ in the competition, which is the Canadian equivalent of the UK’s Mercury Music Prize.

The winner who is awarded $20,000 is voted for by around 200 Canadian music journalists and experts.

The nominees were:

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse
The Dears - Gang of Losers
Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up
Feist - The Reminder
Junior Boys - So This Is Goodbye
Miracle Fortress - Five Roses
Joel Plaskett Emergency - Ashtray Rock
Chan VanGaalen - Skelliconnection
Patrick Watson - Close to Paradise