TORONTO - The $20,000 Polaris Music Prize has been narrowed to a long list of 40 Canadian albums that includes entries from Leonard Cohen, Joel Plaskett and former Polaris winner Patrick Watson.

The Polaris -- which is judged solely on artistic merit, without regard to genre or record sales -- goes to a Canadian full-length record released from June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009.

Montreal indie rockers Wolf Parade are up for their sophomore effort, "At Mount Zoomer." That band's co-frontman Dan Boeckner has also been longlisted for his side project, Handsome Furs, and their second album, "Face Control."

Many other Montrealers were named to the long list, including the Stills, Beast, Land of Talk, Malajube, Bell Orchestre, Martha Wainwright, Coeur De Pirate, Elephant Stone, La Patere Rose and Think About Life.

Cohen, meanwhile, might seem out of place in a list that otherwise consists of up-and-coming acts, but the 74-year-old's "Live in London" does fit all the criteria for the award.

The Polaris has been criticized in the past for ignoring hip hop, and this year's pool will do little to change that. A trio of Toronto artists -- k-os, K'Naan and D-Sisive -- stood as the only nominees from the genre.

Toronto was also well-represented in rock, with Metric, Great Lake Swimmers and Elliott Brood named to the list as well.

Toronto hardcore group Fucked Up is also nominated and could be considered a front-runner after the critical adulation received by their album, "The Chemistry of Common Life."

Vancouver's Pink Mountaintops, Japandroids and Bison B.C. are also up for the award, alongside Calgary singer/songwriter Chad VanGaalen and newcomer indie rockers Women.

From the East Coast, Halifax's veteran singer/songwriter Joel Plaskett is nominated for his triple-disc effort, "Three," while St. John's, N.L., rockers Hey Rosetta! are also longlisted.

Hamilton electronic duo Junior Boys was also named for their third album, "Begone Dull Care."

Final Fantasy's Owen Pallett won the inaugural Polaris in 2006 for his baroque pop effort, "He Poos Cloud."

Montreal's Watson, who's up this year for "Wooden Arms," took the award in 2007, while Caribou -- a.k.a. Hamilton's Dan Snaith -- won in 2008 for "Andorra."

A short list of 10 nominees will be released July 7. This is the second year the long list -- selected by 181 members of the Polaris jury -- has been made public.

The winner will be announced Sept. 21 at a gala event in Toronto.