Do you ever have one of those moments where you discover a band that's been around for a while and you're like, how in the heck did I miss this the first time around?!? That's how I felt this discovering the music of HAIM, an all-girl alternative rock group. And I think it's fair to say that I am completely obsessed at this point.
No, I haven't totally been living under a rock when it comes to HAIM. I do remember seeing them on SNL a while ago when their first album came out in 2013. And I know I had some friends that were really into them when they had new releases. Also, I'm pretty sure I tried to listen to their albums back then as well. But it was just something where I'd start the album, get distracted, and not come back to it.
Well, that's not the case now in April of 2019. I've listened to both of their albums multiple times and I am enamored with their music. There are a few different reasons why I find myself so drawn to their music. The first reason is probably one of the more obvious ones, that they're an all-girl group doing rock.
There are so few all women groups, to begin with. And then you narrow that down to look at just all women groups in the rock genre, and that number shrinks even more. For me, the only all-women rock groups I know of that springs to mind is Heart and The Runaways. Everyone else I can think of is either fronted by a woman or also includes a male member or two.
Which you would think in 2019 there would be more all women groups in rock music. I'm shocked at by how few girl groups are in rock music right now. Which is why I appreciate what HAIM is doing right now as I want more girl groups to be inspired to go into rock music. Because women belong there just as much as anyone else.
Okay so now as I get off of my feminist soapbox about how more women should be in rock music. I also love HAIM's albums because they are willing to take risks and find innovative ways to create music. I find their music, especially the album "Something to Tell You" uses some great effects to enhance the listening experience.
Specifically, I appreciate the way they distort their vocals to achieve a certain sound. Right now the song that comes to mind for me that really uses vocal distortion to its advantage is "Want You Back" off their most recent album "Something to Tell You".
It comes about midway through the song during what I would consider being the bridge. Alana takes over the vocals from Danielle, which brings a different color to the song. The distortion is more of a background vocal at that point, but it conveys this sense of a spiral. Like your going down with the thought of wanting this person back, whoever they are. Whether a former lover or a friend you lost or something like that. Which makes the lyrics resonate more or gives it a more colorful power to me.
And can we talk about how amazing Este's bass lines are? I feel like lately the art of having a good bass line has been lost, especially in rock. With more produced bass lines coming from a drum track as opposed to an actual bassist, it's refreshing to hear HAIM doing the exact opposite.
I was having this discussion with my boyfriend a couple weeks ago, about how having a great bass line can push a band from being good to being great. It elevates the song to a new height and rounds it out to really give texture to the song.
I also think a bass line can drive the feel of a song to put it in a different genre. Like technically HAIM is a rock band, but they have songs that sound more like pop songs and some that sound more like R&B songs.
For example, the bass line "You Never Knew" has more of that jazz and R&B feel as opposed to a more traditional alternative sound. It's got that walking bass line feel that's present in basically any classic jazz song you've ever heard. But if you listen to the bass line in "Falling" of their first album "Days are Gone", it has a more classic rock and alternative feel.
So if you never thought bass lines were important, think again. They can really transform a song and decide what genre the song will fall into. And I'll be honest, HAIM plays with their bass lines a lot more on their second album than they did on their debut "Days are Gone". So if you really want to listen to a clinic in bass lines, check out "Something to Tell You".
I also think HAIM's lyrics are another strong point of their music. It's easy to connect with the situations they're talking about no matter what song you're listening to. Like for me, I love "You Never Knew" because it's a song I super connect with because I've always felt like I was too much for partners in the past.
And HAIM writes all their own songs. They collaborate with others on the songwriting for their music, but all three sisters are involved with the writing of every song. To me, that gives the music a very personable feel and it has that strong connection with the listeners. Especially connecting with women, since ya know the songs are written by three women.
I was just so amazed by how much I fell in love with their music over such a short period. But I think that goes to show that HAIM isn't just another rock band. They're something different on the scene that not only knows how to do rock but also knows how to reach out to other genres as well. It's fascinating to hear and see happen.
So if you like good alternative rock and female bands that are redefining the music scene, give HAIM a listen. I'm so in love with them I'm actually thinking about stopping in Chicago for the Friday of Pitchfork to see them perform before I head home during my vacation haha.
Also, I think they're getting ready to put out a new album sometime either this year or next year. So get in on them before HAIM blows up again with most likely another amazing album. Trust me, if you like alternative, rock, or pop music, you won't regret it.