TWO HOURS TRAFFIC - Territory

The "little band from P.E.I." line has done a lot of good for Two Hours Traffic over the past few years. After all, while their 2007 album Little Jabs was a fine blend of fun-infused power-pop, much has been made of the fact that these youngsters come from a province not particularly well known for its cultural exports. So when Little Jabs ended up on many critics' year-end lists and snagged a Polaris Prize nomination, the rest of the country started to take notice. On their new disc Territory, THT spend less time singing about backseat sweethearts and more time exploring heavier subjects (standout track "Drop Alcohol" tackles a friend's struggle with alcohol abuse), although none of the songs here could be categorized as downers. Territory producer Joel Plaskett's latest opus Three is a fine reference point for the overall sound of the album, though singer Liam Corcoran's gravelly voice is a welcome change from Plaskett's trademark falsetto. Overall, this album marks a confident step forward for the band, whose sunniest days are still ahead.