After a five-year wait since their 2020 release ‘Women in Music Pt. III’ Haim delivered a radiant evolution with their latest album ‘I Quit’.
Navigating relationships, heartbreak, and freedom across 15 new tracks with sharper edges and a gentle honesty, the trio made a confident return.
The album is worlds away from their days of 2013 glittery indie pop, whilst still maintaining their recognisable sound, authentic and reflective of their current stage of life. The whole tracklist sparkles with a cool California air (a homage to the Haim sisters’ home state), alongside guitar solos that bite and lyrical truths that cut deep. Although quieter than previous releases, the album places Danielle Haim’s vocals at the forefront of each arrangement, whilst the sisters’ effortless chemistry shines through all.
Fast forward to now, 4 months later, Haim has dropped an expanded version of the LP with three new songs ‘Tie You Down’ featuring Bon Iver, ‘The Story of Us’, and ‘Even the Bad Times’.
It’s safe to say that ‘Tie You Down’ with special guest Bon Iver is quite the exciting collaboration of minds for any fan of indie music. The track is a tender arrangement that starts delicately with twangy guitars and soft percussion. From the get-go, it radiates warmth with a slight folky twang, but it is not long before Danielle’s vocals come in with the first line “Probably should’ve known by now / You don’t have to read my mind, cause I’ll tell it to your face”.
Through the addition of keys, a richness is created that is only amplified by Justin Vernon’s vocals, which soon enter with gentle harmonies. The pair cleverly tell a story through call and response with the lyrics “I don’t wanna hold you back / I don’t wanna hold you back / Something feels wrong about that/ Something feels wrong about that”. The track feels personal, with the two voices drifting around one another before finally coming together at the end.
Switching things up completely for the next track, ‘The Story of Us’, the song immediately stands out for its grittiness. A combination of jangly guitars and Este’s deep bass is paired with muffled vocals to create the perfect grungy vibe. The song alternates between rockier sections and softer vocals with a lighter, less guitar-heavy backing before ramping up the intensity towards the end. Coming to a cathartic close, Danielle yells the lyrics of “Is that the end, the end of us?” whilst being met with heavy percussion and cymbals crashing out in the background.
‘Even the Bad Times’ then transports listeners straight back into familiar Haim territory. The mix of strummed guitars and energetic percussion soaks the track with the laid-back West Coast warmth that the trio has nailed throughout the entire album.
If you’re one for an explosive chorus, however, then this might not be for you. Yet in spite of not having one, the momentum never drops throughout as the entire song is carried by its upbeat rhythm section. It complements the lyrics of the song perfectly, as they reflect on past relationships and the glossing over of the most tumultuous times.
In this deluxe drop of their album, Haim offers three very different tracks that utterly capture every element of their new sound. Heartfelt and reflective yet still fun, their latest release lets you know exactly what they’re about.
Emily McIntyre
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.musicistoblame.co.uk ’
