TRY ;-) | VINYL RECORD (LP)

Vinyl LP pressing. 2017 release. When Edmonton's Jessica Jalbert first began performing solo under the name Faith Healer, the alias was her way of avoiding being pigeonholed as a singer-songwriter. Now, however, times have changed: Faith Healer has blossomed into a band, with singer-guitarist Jalbert joined by drummer/multi-instrumentalist Renny Wilson and their first album as a duo is Try ;-). The follow-up to 2015's Cosmic Troubles was largely recorded during an intensive month-long session in September 2016 at Wilson's personal studio in Montreal. During the process, Jalbert rented a room in Wilson's house and the pair spent hours jamming and listening to bargain bin rock records in the basement. The resultant pop-rock arrangements are overflowing with beautiful sonic details-from the Twin Peaks synths that enshroud "Sterling Silver" to the funky clavinet nestled within the paisley-patterned pop of "& Waiting." Jalbert and Wilson were also inspired by the garage-punk snarl of Wipers, the deadpan drama of Leonard Cohen's Death Of A Ladies' Man, and the classic songwriting chops of Scott Walker and Elvis Costello. The intensive creative process of making this album inspired the title and serves as a reminder that sometimes you need to grab life by the horns rather than waiting for inspiration to strike. As for that winky face: "I always use that winky emoticon," Jalbert says with a laugh. "I think it's hilarious. I think it's cheeky and fun, which is something I was trying to access a little more with this record." Balancing melancholy lyrics with playful moods, lush melodies with straightforward arrangements, this album is the sound of an introspective loner leaving her bedroom to make a rock record with her best bud.