Little Jabs
Encyclopedia
Little Jabs is the second full-length studio album by Canadian indie rock
band Two Hours Traffic
, released on Bumstead Records
on July 24, 2007. The album was produced by Joel Plaskett
, and recorded in Halifax and Toronto
.
Guitarist Alec O'Hanley explained the Little Jabs reference: "The title is meant to be about that point in a relationship where you’re more and more curt with one another... And in song, it’s meant to be little blasts—jabs—in these three-minute pop songs."
wrote that it was the best album he has heard so far this year. Other critics have compared the band favorably to Joel Plaskett
's own releases, and place the band in the tradition of great Canadian pop, citing the "catchy hooks". One critic correctly predicted in July 2007 that the album would be nominated for a Polaris Music Prize
in 2008, and Eye Weekly
named it one of the top 20 albums of 2007.
The album reached the top ten of Chart magazine
's Canadian College Radio Top 50 Chart.
Little Jabs was named Alternative Rock Recording of the Year at the 2007 Music P.E.I. Awards, as Two Hours Traffic also received the award for Group of the Year. The album is nominated for Recording of the Year, Pop Recording of the Year, and Video of the Year ("Jezebel", directed by Ron Mann
) at the 2008 East Coast Music Awards.
The album was a nominee for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize
.
. Songs from the album have appeared in American television shows Gossip Girl
, Smallville
, Ghost Whisperer
, Castle
, and The O.C.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band Two Hours Traffic
Two Hours Traffic
Two Hours Traffic is a Canadian indie rock band, based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They are named after a line in the prologue to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Although often described as the band that Halifax guitarist Joel Plaskett took "under his wing", they have increasingly...
, released on Bumstead Records
Bumstead Records
Bumstead Records was originally a small record label in Edmonton, Alberta, founded by Larry Wanagas in 1979 and run primarily out of Homestead Recorders. Wanagas launched k.d. lang's career and continued for 15 years with many tours, multi-platinum sales, accolades and awards. The management arm...
on July 24, 2007. The album was produced by Joel Plaskett
Joel Plaskett
Joel Plaskett is a Canadian rock musician originally from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and now resides across the harbour in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia...
, and recorded in Halifax and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Guitarist Alec O'Hanley explained the Little Jabs reference: "The title is meant to be about that point in a relationship where you’re more and more curt with one another... And in song, it’s meant to be little blasts—jabs—in these three-minute pop songs."
Reception
The critical reception has been positive. Music critic Iain Ilich of the Edmonton JournalEdmonton Journal
The Edmonton Journal is a daily newspaper in Edmonton, Alberta. It is part of the Postmedia Network.-History:The Journal was founded in 1903 by three local businessmen — John Macpherson, Arthur Moore and J.W. Cunningham — as a rival to Alberta's first newspaper, the 23-year-old...
wrote that it was the best album he has heard so far this year. Other critics have compared the band favorably to Joel Plaskett
Joel Plaskett
Joel Plaskett is a Canadian rock musician originally from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and now resides across the harbour in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia...
's own releases, and place the band in the tradition of great Canadian pop, citing the "catchy hooks". One critic correctly predicted in July 2007 that the album would be nominated for a Polaris Music Prize
Polaris Music Prize
The Polaris Music Prize is a music award annually given to the best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit, regardless of genre, sales, or record label...
in 2008, and Eye Weekly
Eye Weekly
Eye Weekly was a free weekly newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was owned by Torstar, the parent company of the Toronto Star, and was published by their Star Media Group until its final issue on May 5, 2011. The following week, Torstar launched a successor publication, The Grid.-...
named it one of the top 20 albums of 2007.
The album reached the top ten of Chart magazine
Chart (magazine)
ChartAttack is a Canadian online music publication. Formerly a monthly print magazine called Chart, which was published from 1991 to 2009, the web version continues operation....
's Canadian College Radio Top 50 Chart.
Little Jabs was named Alternative Rock Recording of the Year at the 2007 Music P.E.I. Awards, as Two Hours Traffic also received the award for Group of the Year. The album is nominated for Recording of the Year, Pop Recording of the Year, and Video of the Year ("Jezebel", directed by Ron Mann
Ron Mann
Ronald "Ron" Mann is a Canadian documentary film director focusing primarily on aspects of Canadian and American popular culture. He does most of his work through his company Sphinx Productions, while also running a film distribution company on the side called 'FilmsWeLike'. Mann has also put...
) at the 2008 East Coast Music Awards.
The album was a nominee for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize
2008 Polaris Music Prize
The 2008 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 30, 2008. The prize was won by Caribou for his album Andorra....
.
Promotion
The videos for "Stuck for the Summer" and "Jezebel" are receiving airplay on MuchMusicMuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
. Songs from the album have appeared in American television shows Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl (TV series)
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
, Smallville
Smallville (TV series)
Smallville is an American television series developed by writers/producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar based on the DC Comics character Superman, originally created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The television series was initially broadcast by The WB Television Network , premiering on October...
, Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts...
, Castle
Castle (TV series)
Castle is an American comedy-drama television series, which premiered on ABC on March 9, 2009. The series is produced by Beacon Pictures and ABC Studios. On January 10, 2011, Castle was renewed for a fourth season...
, and The O.C.
The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
Track listing
All songs were written by Two Hours Traffic.- "Nighthawks"
- "No Advances"
- "Stuck for the Summer"
- "Heroes of the Sidewalk"
- "Jezebel"
- "Backseat Sweetheart"
- "Whenever We Finish"
- "Stolen Earrings"
- "Sure Can Start"
- "Heatseeker"
- "Arms Akimbo"
Credits
- Two Hours Traffic:
- Liam Corcoran – lead vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Alec O'Hanley – guitars, keys, vocals
- Derek Ellis – drumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s - Andrew MacDonald – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals
- Liam Corcoran – lead vocals, guitar
- Guests:
- Rose CousinsRose CousinsRose Cousins is a Canadian folk-pop singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Prince Edward Island, she is currently based in Halifax, Nova Scotia....
– vocals, chatter - Jenn GrantJenn GrantJenn Grant is a Canadian pop singer-songwriter based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.-Background:Born on Prince Edward Island to Ken and Heather Grant, she moved to Halifax with her mother and brother at age ten when their marriage broke up...
– vocals, chatter - Ian McGettiganIan McGettiganIan McGettigan is a Canadian rock musician and producer.As bassist, singer and songwriter for Thrush Hermit, McGettigan gained indie rock notoriety. Thrush Hermit also included Joel Plaskett, Rob Benvie and Cliff Gibb. Touring extensively through Canada and the United States, Thrush Hermit released...
– tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all.... - Dale Murray – pedal steelPedal steel guitarThe pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
- Joel PlaskettJoel PlaskettJoel Plaskett is a Canadian rock musician originally from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and now resides across the harbour in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia...
– guitars, vocals, tambourine
- Rose Cousins