Days Are Gone
by Haim

From llibnanoon 11/25/2020 14:39 | #261383

Love these talented Haim sisters. Rating (76.82)

1. 70
2. 60
3. 90
4. 90
5. 65
6. 90
7. 60
8. 30
9. 60
10. 55
11. 90

The debut album from pop-rock trio HAIM is an album that slowly grown on the listener. The pop hooks, the unusual rhythms and usage of typical rock instruments form an inherently modern sound that might not please fans of rock initially. But after a while, it's difficult not to enjoy their uptempo melodies, great lyrics and fine vocals. 'The Wire' and 'Don't Save Me' stand out as eccentric and happy tracks, impossible not to like. 'Running If You Call My Name' is a beautifully emotional track to finish the album on. In contrast, 'My Song 5' is a heavier and darker song with strange instrumentation that just doesn't do it for me. Overall though, the sound on this album is both modern and unique, giving HAIM an edge in terms of the ever-evolving landscape of indie rock. It will be very interesting to see where the trio takes their sound on subsequent albums.

My only gripe is the repetitive loops on many songs, particularly in their choruses. They get tiresome when listening to the entire album from start to finish. The rhythms and melodies turn pretty repetitive by the end as well, which really doesn't allow the latter tracks to stand out the way they deserve.

From buzzdainer 06/28/2017 14:46 | #193342

A far cry from Danielle and Este Haim's early work as Richard Marx collaborators the Valli Girls, Days Are Gone is a tightly crafted collection of pop songs that would have fit perfectly on Fleetwood Mac's Tango in the Night. I mean that as a compliment. (Tango in the Night is, I think, a grossly underrated Fleetwood Mac album.) My favorite track here is the slow burner "Go Slow," which recalls some of the emo synth sound of Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes," with lyrics that invite nostalgia: "I just want to hold on to the way that I was / 'Cause you took away all my young life." It's a sentiment we all probably can identify with on some level, though the specific "you" for each of us is a secret we all bury deep.

From meruizh 09/18/2014 00:41 | #122141

It start really strong with the first four songs, then it just vanishes away. Still make a pretty solid listen and a promising debut

Fun album. Although the second half isn't as strong as the first, it's still one of the best releases of 2013.

one of the most well put together records of the entire year

From paladisiac 01/03/2014 19:43 | #99709

When these sisters nail a pop/rock song, they do so just as good if not better than female-fronted artists of the 80s like fleetwood mac and the bangles. I think it was a pitchfork article that brought my attention to how much their music seems influenced by music of 1987, or the late 80s to be less specific. From their predilection to rock out a bit like heart or the bangles or the Jacko-like vocal tics of lead singer Este, both elements illustrated well on "forever", these girls bring the pop/rock with a splash of R&B. (Ok, check out defiant breakup song "the wire" for even more michael jacksonesque singing style and stevie nicks-like rhythm.) For this type of music, the first 4 songs are UNstoppable with an awesome display of songcraft. The rest is pretty good too, but just short of the near perfection of "falling" and "if i could change your mind" (with awesome backing vox on chorus). But DAMN -- this is their debut and a stellar debut at that. I look forward to hearing their interpretation of pop/rock circa 1990 on their next album! ;-)

From HoldenM 12/05/2013 19:21 | #96439

Such an unexpectedly good album. What it lacks in sophisticated lyrics and innovation, it makes up for in interesting songwriting, perfect production, excellent flow, varying but tactful instrumentation, and unshakable catchiness.

From Freddie55 10/30/2013 19:08 | #89833

The album is just a collection of songs, some good and some not so good. I found their last EP and live Youtube performances more engaging than this album.

I've been excited for this album since hearing Send Me Down, and I'm a bit disappointed. Most of it is at least decent and I really dig a few tracks like The Wire, Days Are Gone and My Song 5. However, as a whole it just doesn't do much for me aside from being acceptable background music.