Wisecrack is an independent folk-pop album by Canadian singer-songwriter Haley Blais, released on 15 September 2023 by Arts & Crafts. Blais began writing songs for the album in early 2020 and completed recording in the summer of 2022. Blais released several singles and music videos in the lead-up to the album.
| Wisecrack | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 15 September 2023 | |||
| Studio | Protection Island (Maple Ridge) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:41 | |||
| Label | Arts & Crafts | |||
| Producer |
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| Haley Blais chronology | ||||
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Wisecrack was inspired by 1990s and early 2000s indie music and touches on themes of nostalgia, childhood, family and morality. The album has received generally positive reviews, with critics stating that the album shows Blais' growth as a musician, and praising it for its lyrics and production, as well as Blais' vocals.
Background and recording
editBlais released her debut album, Below the Salt, in August 2020. Blais has said that she produced the album without thinking about its "cohesive[ness]". By contrast, when Blais began working on Wisecrack in early 2020, she "wanted to take [her] time" with the album and "wanted it to be released with care and thoughtfulness".[1] Blais brought on David Vertesi of Hey Ocean! and Jonathan Anderson as the album's producers.[2]
Blais recorded Wisecrack at Protection Island Studio in Maple Ridge, British Columbia,[3] completing the album in 2022. Blais released several singles and music videos leading up to the album's release, including "Coolest Fucking Bitch in Town"[2] and "Survivor's Guilt"[4] in 2022, and "Matchmaker",[5] "Baby Teeth",[6][7] and "The Cabin"[2] in 2023. In May 2023, Blais signed with Canadian record label Arts & Crafts and announced a limited summer tour.[5][7] Wisecrack was released on CD, LP, and as a digital release on 15 September 2023 by Arts & Crafts.[8]
Composition and themes
editWisecrack is an independent album that has been described as folk-pop.[9] The album is titled after a lyric from the track "Baby Teeth".[1] It was inspired by the indie music of the 1990s and early 2000s; Blais and the producers said that they wanted the album to sound both "old and new at the same time". Blais has said that the album is "like a diary entry about growing older and saying goodbye to what you thought family was".[1] Critics have noted that the album addresses themes of nostalgia, childhood, family, and morality.[1][2][9] Writing for The Georgia Straight, Mike Usinger has said that the moral of the album is "Sometimes you end up working things out, even if you’re not aware of it."[2] Ljubinko Zivkovic in The Spill Magazine said that the album is about Blais' attempt to find new families while her parents were in the process of ending their relationship.[10]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[9] |
| The Spill Magazine |   [10] |
Wisecrack has received positive reviews. Critics have said that the album exhibits Blais' growth as an artist and they have praised its lyrics, vocals, and production.[1][2] For The Line of Best Fit, Lana Williams rated the album eight out of ten. She praised the album's melodies and said that the lyrics were "dynamic and self-depreciating".[9] Usinger in The Georgia Straight praised several of Wisecrack's tracks, highlighting her use of multitracked and manipulated vocals. He wrote that "her songs [are] spiked with left-field moments of jagged majesty".[2] Writing for Exclaim!, Heather Taylor-Singh has said that the album "has achieved both lyrical and sonic cohesion".[1] Zivkovic in The Spill Magazine rated the album four out of five stars and said that Blais' delicate and light voice and lyrics, along with "intricate arrangements", made the album relatable to and delightful for listeners.[10] The album was longlisted for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize.[11]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Haley Blais.[3]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Soft Spot for Monarchs" | 2:39 |
| 2. | "Survivor's Guilt" | 3:30 |
| 3. | "Coolest Fucking Bitch in Town" | 4:56 |
| 4. | "Reset Button" | 3:12 |
| 5. | "Matchmaker" | 3:47 |
| 6. | "Concrete" | 3:09 |
| 7. | "The Cabin" | 3:57 |
| 8. | "Baby Teeth" | 3:34 |
| 9. | "Body" | 5:18 |
| 10. | "Winner" | 4:05 |
| 11. | "Beginner's Guide to Birdwatching" | 4:29 |
| Total length: | 42:41 | |
Personnel
editCredits are from the artist's official Bandcamp page for the album.[3]
- Haley Blais – vocals, acoustic guitar, Wurlitzer, bass organ, percussion, bells, string programming (on "Beginner’s Guide To Birdwatching")
- David Vertesi – producer, engineering, horn arrangements, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, dobro, piano, keyboards, organ, synth, vocals, percussion, hammered dulcimer, drums (on "Soft Spots for Monarchs")
- Jonathan Anderson – producer, engineering, mixing, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, slide guitar, pedal steel guitar, banjo, dobro, piano, keyboard
- Philip Shaw Bova – mastering
- Johnny Andrews – drums (on all tracks except "Soft Spots for Monarchs")
- Malcolm Aiken – trumpet, French horn, trombone (on "Survivor's Guilt" and "Coolest Fucking Bitch in Town")
- Elisa Thorn – harp (on "Concrete")
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Taylor-Singh, Heather (13 September 2023). "Haley Blais lands her punchlines". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Usinger, Mike (6 September 2023). "On the world-beating Wisecrack, Haley Blais makes a great case everything is going to be just fine". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Wisecrack". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ Usinger, Mike (10 August 2022). "On our radar: Not to offend the coolest fucking bitch in town, but 'Survivor's Guilt' is about more than Haley Blais". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ a b Richardson-Dupuis, Emilie (25 May 2023). "Haley Blais signs with Arts & Crafts, shares new song 'Matchmaker'". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ Zaveri, Jui (12 July 2023). "Track Review: 'Baby Teeth' // Haley Blais". The Indiependent. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ a b Hudson, Alex (30 June 2023). "Vancouver's Haley Blais announces sophomore LP Wisecrack, shares new single 'Baby Teeth'". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Haley Blais – Wisecrack". Arts & Crafts. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d Williams, Lana (13 September 2023). "Haley Blais: Wisecrack". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ a b c Zivkovic, Ljubinko (15 September 2023). "Spill album review: Haley Blais–Wisecrack". The Spill Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "2024 Polaris Music Prize long list: The Beaches, Tobi, Elisapie, Beverly Glenn-Copeland and more". CBC Music. 11 June 2024. Archived from the original on 28 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.