Ashtray Rock
Encyclopedia
Ashtray Rock is an album by Canadian
indie rock
band Joel Plaskett Emergency, released on April 17, 2007.
In interviews, band frontman Joel Plaskett
has noted that Ashtray Rock is not a genre of music, but an actual location—in the forest west of Clayton Park, Nova Scotia
—where teenagers go to get drunk. The album is a concept album
about two friends growing up in Halifax
, Nova Scotia
, who form a band together, fall for the same girl, and have a falling-out in their friendship.
Plaskett intended a nostalgic feel to the album, and used songs from his days with the band Thrush Hermit
: "Snowed In" was performed live by that band, "The Glorious Life" is from 1994, and the title track Plaskett wrote in 1992 when he was age 17.
The album is Plaskett's most personal. He has suggested that his former Thrush Hermit bandmates will recognize themselves in some of the narrative, and that one of the main character's musical tastes are similar to those of his wife, Nova Scotia graphic artist and cartoonist Rebecca Kraatz, who designed the album cover art.
"Snowed In" and "Fashionable People" have both been released as singles in Canada.
On July 10, 2007, the shortlist for the Polaris Music Prize
was revealed. Ashtray Rock was announced as a finalist, alongside such other acts as Arcade Fire, The Besnard Lakes
, and Feist
. Patrick Watson was, however, announced the winner on September 24, 2007.
The track "Introduction" is mostly consisted of a small part of the track "Soundtrack for the Night"
On the CD cover, "Introduction" is listed as "An Introduction", and "Outroduction" is not listed.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
indie rock
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 Joel Plaskett Emergency, released on April 17, 2007.
In interviews, band frontman 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...
has noted that Ashtray Rock is not a genre of music, but an actual location—in the forest west of Clayton Park, Nova Scotia
Clayton Park, Nova Scotia
Clayton Park is a Canadian suburban development in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality inside the city of Halifax.-Original development:...
—where teenagers go to get drunk. The album is a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
about two friends growing up in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, who form a band together, fall for the same girl, and have a falling-out in their friendship.
Plaskett intended a nostalgic feel to the album, and used songs from his days with the band Thrush Hermit
Thrush Hermit
-History:Thrush Hermit was formed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1992 by Joel Plaskett , Rob Benvie , Ian McGettigan , and Michael Catano...
: "Snowed In" was performed live by that band, "The Glorious Life" is from 1994, and the title track Plaskett wrote in 1992 when he was age 17.
The album is Plaskett's most personal. He has suggested that his former Thrush Hermit bandmates will recognize themselves in some of the narrative, and that one of the main character's musical tastes are similar to those of his wife, Nova Scotia graphic artist and cartoonist Rebecca Kraatz, who designed the album cover art.
"Snowed In" and "Fashionable People" have both been released as singles in Canada.
On July 10, 2007, the shortlist for the 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...
was revealed. Ashtray Rock was announced as a finalist, alongside such other acts as Arcade Fire, The Besnard Lakes
The Besnard Lakes
The Besnard Lakes are a Canadian indie rock band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Formed in 2003 by the husband and wife team of Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas, two of their three albums have been nominated for the Polaris Music Prize.-History:...
, and Feist
Leslie Feist
Leslie Feist , known professionally as simply Feist, is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, both as a solo artist and as a member of the indie rock group Broken Social Scene....
. Patrick Watson was, however, announced the winner on September 24, 2007.
The track "Introduction" is mostly consisted of a small part of the track "Soundtrack for the Night"
Track listing
All songs written by Joel Plaskett- "Introduction" – 0:51
- "Drunk Teenagers" – 4:10
- "Ashtray Rock" – 0:50
- "Fashionable People" – 4:10
- "Penny for Your Thoughts" – 3:47
- "Snowed In/Cruisin'" – 6:27
- "Face of the Earth" – 4:09
- "The Glorious Life" – 2:16
- "Nothing More to Say" – 3:23
- "Chinatown/For the Record" – 2:48
- "The Instrumental" – 3:21
- "Soundtrack for the Night" – 4:57
- "Outroduction" – 1:06
On the CD cover, "Introduction" is listed as "An Introduction", and "Outroduction" is not listed.
Personnel
- 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...
– 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...
s, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Dave Marsh – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Chris Pennell – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals
Guests
- Ian McLagan – piano on tracks 3, 5, 9
- Mr. Chill – harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846... - Gordie JohnsonGordie JohnsonGordie Johnson is a Canadian musician, best known as the front man for the reggae-rock band Big Sugar, and later southern rock band Grady.-Biography:...
– synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, piano, lap steelLap steel guitarThe lap steel guitar is a type of steel guitar, an instrument derived from and similar to the guitar. The player changes pitch by pressing a metal or glass bar against the strings instead of by pressing strings against the fingerboard....
, string arrangements - Two Hours TrafficTwo Hours TrafficTwo 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...
and "MeligroveThe Meligrove BandThe Meligrove Band is a Canadian indie rock band, based in Toronto, and consisting of Jason Nunes on vocals, guitar and piano, Darcy Rego on vocals and drums, Brian O'Reilly on guitar and synthesizer, and Michael Small on bass guitar.-History:...
Mike" – gang vocals on tracks 2, 12 - Rebecca Kraatz – monologueMonologueIn theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media...
on track 11 - Andrea Lucarelli – castanets on track 12