REVIEW: HAIM - I QUIT

4/5

Don't Quit Your Day Job

Never quitting whilst they're ahead, the sisterhood of Haim is back! Recently, I was talking to a bassist friend about the bands and albums that got us through COVID. Mine was definitely Haim's magnum California opus, 'Women In Music Pt. III', which was locked down for almost as long as we were. Ever since hearing the iconic, Lou Reed-esque, "Du-du, du-du-du-du/Du-du-du-du, du-du-du-du-du's" of 'Summer Girl' and its Paul Thomas Anderson video for The Valley Girls, I knew we had a classic on our hands, even if that does make me sound a little like LeBron James. Helping me through the isolation of social distance, halfway across the world, just one month after starting a new job in Tokyo, I needed 'WIMPIII'. Now, after Alana Haim starred in PTA's 'Licorice Pizza', award favourite movie, not to mention a bonus 'Lost Track', we get 'I Quit' from the sisters. Dealing with Danielle's break-up, and Este's, before she got engaged and broke my heart. Not to mention, all those men from the magazine who refuse to acclaim them as the rock goddesses that they are. C###s!

Haim keep it Hollywood like only they can with Anderson's fresh, dry-clean store took photo album artwork, and neon sign. Not to mention the La La Land paparazzi promotional photos for their singles, like the latest 'All Over Me' (featuring Will Poulter and co for the sexiest video since Maggie Rogers 'In The Living Room'), or the 'Relationships' first single, inspired by Nicole Kidman walking away from divorce court, with more relief than when we left our homes after quarantine. That vivid video of the summer girls features 'Queer' actor Drew Starkey. And if that wasn't enough, the second single video, and best of the set, 'Down To Be Wrong', features Percy Jackson himself, Logan Lerman, being haunted in his hotel by three ghosts that make those of Christmas past look like humbug. Bah! This is just a great slew of singles. Like the grungy, 90s take of 'Everybody's Trying To Figure Me Out' (co-written by Justin Vernon after Danielle appeared on Bon Iver's 'If Only I Could Wait'), that is just classic Haim. Or the Weezer like 'Memories' of 'Take Me Back', featuring a photo album music video that will take a s### in the back of your truck. No coke, or Molly!

A subtle, soft rock classic, that is as undeniable as it is understated, you'll hear it as soon as you're 'Gone' like the opener, that like the saxophone of 'Los Angeles' hits differently in its opening act. Sampling some of George Michael's 'Freedom'. This Colombia and Polydor album, and first in five years, is well worth the wait. Released exactly one month before my 40th (I'm just saying) and the beginnings of their tour that will see them play the Fuji Rock festival, here in Japan, alongside the likes of The Hives and headliner Vampire Weekend. Not only have they upped the ante of their definitive 'Days Are Gone' debut, and sweet spot follow-up 'Something To Tell You', they're also pushing the envelope of their signature sound that's now legacy in Cali' for all you Mamas and Papas, or Chili Peppers. The fact that they haven't played 'Everybody's Live (In LA) With John Mulaney' is a crime. 'The Farm' details these sisters having each other's backs during dark days. 'Million Years' sounds like nothing they've ever done before. Hollywood's own Alana takes the lead on '...Spinning'. Whilst the closing of 'Now It's Time' features a sick sample for your Shazams!

Remember when Haim solved a murder mystery with Este (how could anybody?) on Taylor Swift's 'No Body, No Crime', before Swiftie became the fourth sister on a deluxe edition remix of 'Gasoline'? Well, 'Blood On The Streets' has country tracks too, with its storytelling roots. Meanwhile, 'Cry' is epic and emotional. Whilst, 'Try To Feel My Pain' takes the church organs of Norah Jones' 'I Just Wanna Dance' up a notch for even more spirit. Another highlight is 'Lucky Stars', which counts on lyrics like, "I was on my own and finally/Trying to heal myself with all the/Roaring trains of change and doubt that/Pulled in the station/Your inner light beamed blue and green/Something 'bout it made you seem like/You could fill the seat next to me/Without complication." "I would take off the chain/But you wouldn't stop the rain/And now it's coming down/Flooding out this whole house", Danielle sings on 'Love You Right' as all three siblings found themselves single before making this cathartic, therapeutic album that has them ready to party now they're back in it. Quit?! Are you kidding me?! I will never quit on my best band. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

BONUS: Now, if you're reading this, it's time to get deluxe, like the expanded edition released mid-October. With Bon Iver featuring on the terrific 'Tie You Down', like Justin Vernon writing the 'Everybody's Trying To Figure Me Out' single after Danielle appeared on his 'If Only I Could Wait' track off this year's 'SABLE fABLE' from Bon. It's lyrics, "Probably should have known by now/You don't have to read my mind 'cause I'll tell it to your face/If you wanna leave, you can or you could," (Danielle) and "We could take it one day at a time/Or we could spend it all right now/Running it to the ground/How much have we left unsaid and is it better that way?" (with Justin), are worthy of another paparazzi copping copying photo opportunity, like 'One Battle After Another', as The Valley's PTA dry-cleans the artwork. 'The Story Of Us' is 90s as f###. And beautiful as such. Like 'Figur(ing) Me Out' and where this actual album title comes from. 'Even The Bad Times' are good in closing. Singing, "nostalgia's crazy/Memories of all our good nights got me staying up/And even when you play that song/Honey, I've been down so long." It's been another incredible year for the women in music. And after seeing them in Fuji Rock (not to mention a Tower Records Tokyo talk) with a bassist that could hold her own, even next to Este, our memories were made complete. Can't quit on this now. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Down To Be Wrong', 'The Farm', 'Lucky Stars'.

Spin This: Haim - 'Women In Music Pt. III'