Wisecrack (album)

Blais 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 the summer of 2022.[1] Blais dropped several singles and music videos leading up to the album's release, including "Coolest Fucking Bitch in Town"[4] and "Survivor's Guilt"[5] in 2022, and "Matchmaker",[6] "Baby Teeth",[7][8] and "The Cabin"[2] in 2023. In May 2023, Blais signed with Canadian record label Arts & Crafts and announced a limited summer tour.[6][8] Wisecrack was released on 15 September 2023 by Arts & Crafts.[8]

Wisecrack is an independent album that has been described as folk-pop. The album was inspired by the indie music of the 1990s and early 2000s; Blais and the producers "wanted to make these songs sound like they're old and new at the same time". The album is titled after a lyric from the track "Baby Teeth". Blais has said that the album is "like a diary entry about growing older and saying goodbye to what you thought family was". 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]

Wisecrack has received positive reviews. Critics have commented 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 called the album "dynamic and self-depreciating".[9] Mike Usinger of The Georgia Straight said that Wisecrack is "new territory" for Blais, calling it "insanely lovely" and full of "thrilling twists and turns."[2] Writing for Exclaim!, Heather Taylor-Singh has said that the album "has achieved both lyrical and sonic cohesion".[1]

Credits are from the artist's official Bandcamp page for the album.[3]

• Haley Blais – string programming (on "Beginner’s Guide To Birdwatching"), vocals, acoustic guitar, Wurlitzer, bass organ, percussion, bells
• 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")