HAIM - I Quit - Review

HAIM - I Quit

by Nick Dent-Robinson

published: 8 / 7 / 2025

Label: Polydor
Format: CD

Strong harmonic pop on fourth album from HAIM, who are a Californian trio of sisters

Review

The recent death of Brian Wilson was a reminder of the enduring quality of classic Californian pop. From Wilson's Beach Boys to The Byrds and The Eagles, the harmonies of the American West Coast sound make the perfect background for an idyllic summer. Amongst the recent exponents of brightly hued Californian pop are the three Haim sisters, whose fine songwriting is an inspired mix of modernity and tradition. Performing together as HAIM, the sisters' newly released fourth album, ‘I Quit’ is ostensibly a break-up record but somehow, even when Danielle, Este and Alana are singing about heartache, the Californian sun still shines through. “I hear a voice in my head, and it keeps asking: why am I in this relationship?” Danielle sings in ‘Relationships’ with close-knit harmonies blending neatly with funky drums. The song may be reflecting the 2022 break-up of Haim's frontwoman Danielle's relationship with the band's former producer, Ariel Rechtshaid – as might the lyric Danielle sings on ‘Down To Be Wrong’.......I crushed my whole heart, trying to fit my soul into your arms”. The album - with its melodic vocals, shimmering guitars and shuffling grooves, is, however, as much a celebration of single life and the empowering sense of freedom that can come with it, as it is a lament for lost love. The risque ‘All Over Me’ portrays Danielle as a woman taking control..... “Take off your clothes, unlock your door, 'cause when I come over, you're gonna get some”. The trio are all now into their thirties and they also seek refuge from some of the complications of adult life by reflecting back to earlier times. ‘Take Me Back’ is an acoustic flashback to nightmarish teenage dates, triggered by a drive past their childhood home in the San Fernando Valley. ‘Million Years’ is a nostalgic number.... “Sometimes I sit around and think about the times we used to run around the city with nothing much to do”, Danielle reflects. Sisterly support is apparent throughout the album with bassist and eldest sister Este providing lead vocals on ‘Cry”’ On ‘The Farm’ - a folky track in the tradition of the Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter scene of the late 1960s/1970s – Danielle sings, “My sister said it's alright.....You can stay with me if you need to calm down.” Interestingly, despite HAIM's 100% American heritage, this album is bookended by a couple of musical references from this side of the Atlantic. Opening track ‘Gone’ samples the euphoric chorus of George Michael's ‘Freedom! '90’ and ‘Now It's Time’ closes the record with an interpolation of U2's hypnotic 'Numb’ - which should work really well in live performances. Danielle has commented, “We were on a huge nostalgic streak while making the new ‘I Quit’ album because we were all single again at the same time......which we haven't been since high school - and we are all into our thirties now! I think it is a strong album and it is in the best traditions of Southern Californian music,

Track Listing:-

1 Gone
2 All Over Me
3 Relationships
4 Down To Be Wrong
5 Take Me Back
6 Love You Right
7 The Farm
8 Lucky Stars
9 Million Years
10 Everybody's Trying To Figure Me Out
11 Try To Feel My Pain
12 Spinning
13 Cry
14 Blood On The Street
15 Now It's Time