Little Jabs

Infobox Album
Name = Little Jabs
Type = studio
Artist = Two Hours Traffic


Released = July 24 2007
Recorded = The Sonic Temple, Halifax
Richmond Street Rehearsal Rm 108, Toronto
Genre = Indie rock, power pop
Length =
Label = Bumstead
Producer = Joel Plaskett
Reviews =
* Americana UK (7/10) [http://www.americana-uk.com/auk/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=2976 14 July 2007]
* "Edmonton Journal" (5/5) 14 July 2007
* "Exclaim!" (favourable) [http://www.exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=113&csid2=850&fid1=26686 Aug 2007]
* "Fast Forward Weekly" (favourable) [http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/music/cd-reviews/two-hours-traffic-little-jabs/ 26 July 2007]
* "NOW" Rating|4|5 [http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/current/music_discs4.php 19 July 2007]
Last album = "Two Hours Traffic"
(2005)
This album = "Little Jabs"
(2007)
Next album =

"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." [cite news | last =O'Keefe| first =Mary Christa| title =Two Hours Traffic's Little Jabs make big noise| publisher ="Vue Weekly"| date =2007-09-12| url =http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=6980| accessdate =2008-07-08]

Reception

The critical reception has been positive. Music critic Iain Ilich of the "Edmonton Journal" wrote that it was the best album he has heard so far this year. [cite news | last =Ilich| first =Iain| title =Little Jabs| page =C3| publisher ="Edmonton Journal"| date =2007-07-14| ] Other critics have compared the band favorably to Joel Plaskett's own releases, [cite news | last =Borzykowski| first =Brian| title =Two Hours Traffic: Little Jabs| publisher ="NOW"| date =2007-07-19| url =http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/current/music_discs4.php| accessdate =2007-07-25] and place the band in the tradition of great Canadian pop, citing the "catchy hooks". [cite news | last =McGuirk| first =William| title =Top down, hit repeat..... drive| publisher ="News Durham Region"| date =2007-07-21| url =http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/entertainment/article/83254| accessdate =2007-07-25] One critic correctly predicted in July 2007 that the album would be nominated for a Polaris Music Prize in 2008, [cite news | last =McGuirk| first =William| title =An interview with Two Hours Traffic| publisher ="News Durham Region"| date =2007-07-20| url =http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/news/entertainment/music/article/83214| accessdate =2007-07-25] and "Eye Weekly" named it one of the top 20 albums of 2007. [cite news| title =Best Albums| publisher ="Eye Weekly"| date =2008-01-16| url =http://www.eyeweekly.com/music/features/article/15307| accessdate =2008-01-25 ]

The album reached the top ten of "Chart" magazine's Canadian College Radio Top 50 Chart. [cite web| title =Top 50 albums from Canadian Campus/Community Radio Airplay| publisher ="Chart"| date =2007-08-10| url =http://www.chartattack.com/charts/college/old50/aug2007/10.txt| doi =| accessdate =2007-08-14] "Backseat Sweetheart" reached number one on the "R3-30"'s indie-rock record chart in September 2007.

"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. [cite news| last =Cole| first =Sally| title =Five awards a real charm for Bear River musician| publisher ="Charlottetown Guardian"| date =2007-11-12| url =http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=79429&sc=98| accessdate =2007-12-24 ] 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. [cite news| title =ECMA 2008 nominees| publisher ="The Buzz"| date =January 2008| url =http://www.isn.net/buzzon/music_9.htm| accessdate =2008-01-25 ]

The album was a nominee for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize. [ [http://www.polarismusicprize.ca/ Polaris Music Prize] ]

Promotion

The videos for "Stuck for the Summer" and "Jezebel" are receiving airplay on MuchMusic. Songs from the album have appeared in American television shows "Gossip Girl", "Smallville", "Ghost Whisperer", and "The O.C." [Van Evra, Jennifer. " [http://radio3.cbc.ca/blogs/2008/01/Two-Hours-Traffic-Talks-Success-Upcoming-Tour-And-Carlos-From-Mexico Two Hours Traffic Talks Success, Upcoming Tour And Carlos From Mexico] ", CBC Radio 3, 2008-01-24. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.]

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, guitar
** Alec O'Hanley – guitars, keys, vocals
** Derek Ellis – drums
** Andrew MacDonald – bass, vocals
* Guests:
** Rose Cousins – vocals, chatter
** Jenn Grant – vocals, chatter
** Ian McGettigan – tambourine
** Dale Murray – pedal steel
** Joel Plaskett – guitars, vocals, tambourine

Notes

References

* [http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2007/05/2521.cfm "Two Hours Traffic take Little Jabs on tour"] , ChartAttack, May 25 2007.

External links

* [http://www.twohourstraffic.com/tunes/ Streaming album at TwoHoursTraffic.com]