<\/p>\nThe 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\u2019 home state), alongside guitar solos that bite and lyrical truths that cut deep. Although quieter than previous releases, the album places<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Danielle Haim\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0vocals at the forefront of each arrangement, whilst the sisters\u2019 effortless chemistry shines through all.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nFast forward to now, 4 months later, Haim has dropped an expanded version of the LP with three new songs<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2018Tie You Down\u2019<\/i>\u00a0featuring<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Bon Iver<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2018The Story of Us\u2019,<\/i>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2018Even the Bad Times\u2019.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\nIt\u2019s safe to say that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2018Tie You Down\u2019<\/i>\u00a0with 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\u2019s vocals come in with the first line \u201c<\/span>Probably should\u2019ve known by now \/ You don\u2019t have to read my mind, cause I\u2019ll tell it to your face<\/i>\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThrough the addition of keys, a richness is created that is only amplified by<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Justin Vernon<\/span>\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0vocals, which soon enter with gentle harmonies. The pair cleverly tell a story through call and response with the lyrics \u201c<\/span>I don\u2019t wanna hold you back \/ I don\u2019t wanna hold you back \/ Something feels wrong about that\/ Something feels wrong about that<\/i>\u201d.\u00a0 The track feels personal, with the two voices drifting around one another before finally coming together at the end.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSwitching things up completely for the next track,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2018The Story of Us\u2019<\/i>, the song immediately stands out for its grittiness. A combination of jangly guitars and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Este<\/span>\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0deep 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<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cIs that the end, the end of us?\u201d<\/i>\u00a0whilst being met with heavy percussion and cymbals crashing out in the background.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\u2018Even the Bad Times<\/i>\u2019 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIf you\u2019re 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIn 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\u2019re about.<\/span><\/p>\nEmily McIntyre<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n