The Los Angeles Trio return with their third album. Fuelled by frustrations and euphoric experimentation, the established band prove they’re here to stay.
Haim has a good decade’s worth of experience within the music industry, and in that time, encountered an abundance of obstacles to pass. Heading into this album, it is clear that the sisters crash through those barriers with insouciance. Starting with the obvious reference to a tired question asked of many female musicians; “How does it feel to be a woman in music?” as if women have only started being part of the industry in the 21st-century. The album continues to address issues of misogyny in a defiant showcasing of their independence, an attitude they’ve addressed as being ‘enforced’ on them. Danielle Haim told The Independent an example of “going to a guitar shop and the man at the guitar shop asks if you’re looking for a guitar for your boyfriend.” Imagine asking the woman who toured with The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas at age 20 that question.
Yet this album does more than addressing their gender, it deliver their most heartfelt and honest lyrics over jazzy, surfer funk beats. The opening ‘Los Angeles’ is riveting with its saxophone introduction and cheerful disposition to distract from their complicated relationship with their home city – ‘Give me a miracle, I just want out of this.’ This introduction alone encapsulates their ferocious talent and confidence that is only heightened as we continue. ‘The Steps’ is an appreciated modern women’s single, delving into the complications of living in a time where lots of women have much better opportunities but there is still a long way to go.
What is making this album stand out against their other two – equally praised – records? There’s a clear growth, nothing is lacking in production or riffola, there is only the addition of experimentation. No track sounds the same but is all very clearly Haim songs by their prowess on their prominent instruments of choice, Este Haim – Bass, Danielle Haim – Lead Guitar, and Alana Haim – Percussion/guitar.
This album is generous in its contents, 13 tracks plus 3 bonus, that gives me the joy of re-visiting and enjoying different aspects every time. Like the banshee-style wails on ‘All That Ever Mattered’ that just feel cathartic, and the Joni Mitchell-style acoustic commentary on ‘Man From The Magazine’ (it’s quite scary how much Danielle Haim sounds like her on this track.) I would also like to mention the addictive riff on ‘FUBT’ that dominates the track and deliciously delivers on classic rock that this band can do so well.
The hardship that came before this album seems to have given the band a ‘fuck it’ attitude towards trying to fit into a predefined box. Haim cannot easily be swayed by outdated attitudes and delivers on an album that is receiving a huge amount of deserved attention. I will certainly continue to enjoy this album for a while.
saharamelts 