Album- Days Are Gone
Artist- Haim
American indie pop band Haim are a really cool new group
that somehow manage to maintain this sheen of an alternative, we are not that
mainstream image, whilst in reality they are becoming a big music force with
major label backing from Polydor Records and Roc Nation. Their debut album Days
Are Gone sees the trio meld their distinctive and cool blend of pop, RnB and
rock to hopefully capture the listeners attention and take you on a cool music
journey. So does Days Are Gone live up to the hype, or have the girls actually
failed to make a decent debut?
Track 1- Falling
Album opener Falling is an atmospheric slice of indie pop
that features the girls singing of being slaves to the sound and just falling
in this state of euphoria. The lyrics are smartly composed and have this nice
intricacy that is cool in that you can bend the lyrics a little to suit your
own personal meaning, with the song having the potential to be romantic or life
affirming. The song is vocally strong as the girls harmonise really well and
give us this sultry vocal style that builds in power and will make you want to
sing along a little bit towards the end. Production wise the song is also great
in terms of this blend of 80’s new wave synth notes, funky guitar grooves and a
clanky melody that builds with the vocals and which will have you dancing
around merrily by the end.
4/5
Track 2- Forever
Lead single Forever is another atmospheric, euphoric
sounding track with a bit more of an upbeat tempo and more of an obvious
romantic tone to the lyrics. Here we finds the girls singing of trying to get
this guy’s attention and make him see their compatibility, but now they are bit
sick of things and just need forever to be right now. The song is lyrically
strong in terms of the amount of lyrics that the group pack into the song
whilst still making the track flow well, and although the vocals could be a bit
more refined for my taste, the girls do sound passionate and deliver the lyrics
in a slick way that never shows any weakness. The track blends funky, clicky
instrumentation with a pulsating guitar groove and some snappy hand clapping in
the bridge to give the final chorus an extra musical kick.
3.5/5
Track 3- The Wire
The groups best performing single to date, The Wire is an
upbeat song that works well as a great break up tune. The girls sing of being
sorry for what they did to the relationship but it came naturally, as when it
came down to the wire the couple just wasn’t compatible. With the stuttering
bass guitar and the hand clapping beats that make this an arena ready tune, The
Wire has a sound that is preppy and fun and makes this a nice break up song that
also still feels heartfelt. Furthermore, the vocals are stronger within this
track not only in the sense of the harmonies being tight but in that we also
get to hear the individual voices of the trio a little more, which adds a great
new texture to the groups sound.
3.5/5
Track 4- If I Could
Change Your Mind
With the stumbling of the synthesised beats and the groovy,
tinny instrumentation, If I Could Change Your Mind is a fun song that grabs you
sound wise from the beginning. The girls are definitely strong in terms of
making melancholic things sound wistful and almost euphoric. This time the trio
focuses on the wish that if they could change the mind of this person then
things wouldn’t have ended and they can just be happy together. The song nicely
acts as the flipside to the previous track and the vocal harmonies are stronger
here, with the song also having a lovely rise and fall effect in the vocal performance.
The snappier vibrancy of the production also adds a bit of 80’s disco flavour
to the track, and for me this would work well as future single.
4/5
Track 5- Honey &
I
Honey & I changes up the groups sound a little once
again for a funkier 60’s/70’s rock vibe that creates a summery, blissful feel
to the track. The song is strong in the way that it is catchy whilst the chorus
is really built around simple repetition of the songs title, and it is really
great that the girls can pull this off. Within the lyrics the girls are
blissful with their respective partners, although they know they can turn them
away if need be, making this a feel good number that is made better by the
blissful essence of the vocal harmonies and the nice layering of vocals, and
with the upbeat fun section that is the bridge, this is a song that works well
as a casual listen but which will also work well live.
3.5/5
Track 6- Don’t Save
Me
Second single Don’t Save Me takes the tempo up and gives us
more of a solid rock effort from the singers. The song is a lyrically simple as
the girls tell this person to not save them if there love isn’t strong enough.
The song is a fun I don’t want this relationship number that finds the girls
giving us wistful but strong vocal performances with a quirky delivery of some
notes that adds passion and funk to the track. The stomping drum beats, groovy
guitar riffs and snappy rhythm of the track perfectly melds with the passion of
the lyrics, giving us an upbeat number that is good to listen to if you’re in a
relationship that isn’t good enough anymore.
3.5/5
Track 7- Days Are
Gone
Title track Days Are Gone sees the girl’s team up with
rising British singer-songwriter Jessie Ware for a post break up track which
stands firm in its lyrical sentiment that the days of a happy relationship are
firmly gone, but it is annoying for the trio that they still think about those
past times. The song nicely sinks into the pain of heartbreak with a readily
accessible chorus, and the song is vocally great as the harmonies are as tight
as ever but the girls also utilise their falsetto’s well in certain places, and
we also get a different lead vocal that has a bit more depth and which adds
extra emotional weight to the track. The song melds stuttering synth rhythms
with snappy beats for a sound that feels cool and indie whilst also infusing a
little bit of the girls RnB appreciation into their music.
3.5/5
Track 8- My Song 5
With My Song 5 the girls continue on the heartbreak and
break up lyrical road, as here we find the group wishing they could understand
why this person has been lying, whilst there is a strong hint of the girls
wanting to take revenge. The message is intense and is given more substance by
the grainy texture of the vocals which nicely uses the range of the girl’s
voices to make more of an impact. The songs snappy sound gives the listener more
of a hard rock track with the stomping bass and gritty electric guitar riffs,
whilst the sound also feels a bit hip hop influenced and shows the trio’s versatility
off superbly.
3.5/5
Track 9- Go Slow
Go Slow definitely lives up to its title with the funky but
chilled rhythm of the music and the lilting tone of the vocals. Lyrically the
song isn’t as strong as some of the other sets but is intriguing as the group
sings about trying to understand this relationship which was seemingly quite
passionate and which has now altered them slightly. The vocals are strong in
terms of the way certain lyrics are emphasised, and the trio really imbue a
strong sense of personality within the track. The guitar and drum sound is fun
if a little too languid by the end of the song.
3/5
Track 10- Let Me Go
From the beginning of Let Me Go there is this haunting,
disturbing quality to the track that is very intriguing and which immediately
singles the song out as a stand out track. The song is a great mix of mid to up
tempo with a powerful, intense vibe that really captures the listener. The song
focuses on the trio wanting to be let go from a relationship that is too
passionate and a bit volatile, as they are girls that are consumed by love and
cannot walk out on their own. The song is vocally very passionate and powerful
with the trio’s voices intertwining beautifully in the song and bringing this intensity
to the track, whilst we also get to hear the distinctiveness of the individual voices
a bit more. Production wise this song is just brilliant and attention grabbing,
with clattering drums and gritty electric guitar rhythms that just creates this
ever intensifying, dark and intriguing sound.
4.5/5
Track 11- Running If
You Call My Name
Final track Running If You Call My Name is an atmospheric
song that almost acts as a sort of sequel to the previous track, and ends the
record in a simple and quite languid way. Here the girls sing of remembering this
relationship and simply telling this person that if they come for them they
will not be there. The song is smart and sophisticated with lyrics that can be
applied to different situations, whilst the airiness of the girls vocals work
well within the track and bring out the passion of the chorus a bit more. This
is probably one of the safer tracks sound wise, with the mix of plucky
percussion and simple beats creating an ambient sound to finish up the album.
3.5/5
Final Review
Days Are Gone is an accomplished debut album with smooth
vocals and sophisticated, intriguing production for each track. The album
definitely shows off the girls at their best, melding together different
influences and genres for an album that flows very easily whilst taking you on
a varied musical journey. The lyrics are smart and intricate whilst being
easily catchy, and the girls have a vocal style that feels both classic and
refreshing, making this album definitely one of the best debut records of 2013,
and cementing Haim’s status as one of if not the best new girl band right now.
8.5/10
Best Track- Let Me Go
Worst Track- Go Slow
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