TRACK REVIEW: HAIM - Summer Girl — Music Musings & Such

TRACK REVIEW:

HAIM

Summer Girl

9.4/10

The track, Summer Girl, is available via:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjuA_o6Jzyo

GENRES:

Soft-Rock/Jazz

ORIGIN:

Los Angeles, U.S.A.

RELEASE DATE:

31st July, 2019

LABELS:

Universal Music Operations/Haim Productions Inc.

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THIS time out…

PHOTO CREDIT: Elizabeth Weinberg for The New York Times

I get to talk about a band I have not covered before. I will get to HAIM’s new track, Summer Girl, very soon but, until then, I want to bring up a few themes. To start, I will discuss siblings in groups and the connection they have; summery songs and something more positive; the variety of Pop music out there at the moment and why HAIM are causing excitement; music videos and why this band are always interesting in that respect; sexism in the music industry and how HAIM have faced that; a bit on where they will head next. Este Haim (bass guitar and vocals), Danielle Haim (vocals and guitar) and Alana Haim are the stunning group and, since their 2013 debut, Days Are Gone, they have caught the critical ear. It is not always the case brothers and sisters in bands are better and more connected but I do think there is that understanding and connection that makes the music more interesting and tight-knit. There are some great bands around right now but I do find that there is something lacking. Maybe it is a lack of communication or the fact one or two members are in the background. Whatever it is, I think I tend to stick with solo artists and duos because they provide that emotional hit that I need. Maybe IDLES are an exception of a band who have that closeness and ingredient that sends their music over the top. Of course, there are siblings in bands who did not really get along (like the Gallaghers in Oasis) but, when it comes to HAIM, there is that simpatico and love between them. Before I continue on, here is an interview from NRP a couple of years back when the sisters talked about being in a band together:

“On the bond between sisters

“Este Haim: It's hard to keep secrets with these two. They can see it on my face — the second I get off a phone call, they're like, "What happened?" No matter how hard I try, or how much of a poker face I have. I could be in my house in the Valley and I can feel that Alana or Danielle is not having a good day, or they're having a great day and I'm like, "I need to call these two. What's going on? Something's off!"

On being from a musical family

Este Haim: Some of my most vivid memories [are] coming home and my dad playing drums. And I don't remember a time in my life when I wasn't playing drums. It was the same thing as when I came to the realization that not everyone was in a family band. Because I was in a family band from the time I was in elementary school, I just assumed that's what families did. And then when I would talk to my friends about it, I'd be like, "So, when's your rehearsal?" And my friends would be like, "For what?" And I'd be like, "When does your band rehearse with your parents?" And they would be like, "I'm going to the mall this weekend, Este." [Laughs.]’.

Those two questions raised some interesting points. I love the fact that the Haim sisters would have been growing up around one another and in that musical household. It is possible for band members from different families to join one another and have a definitely spark; a similar taste in music that is instant and effective. When you grow up around one another, you already have that certainty and there is a sense of trust and closeness that, I think, makes the music stronger. One does not see too many siblings in bands these days and there is something charming about HAIM. I do really like the fact they are always on the same page and, when one of the sisters is having a bad time or needs that boost, she has the other two siblings there. Maybe that is what makes the HAIM brand so appealing but I just wanted to raise the point as it is great to see a familial link in groups. There are downsides relating to keeping it in the family – squabbles and the fact that, when there is an argument, it can be pretty big – but I think that sense of togetherness and understanding is key. You know HAIM will continue to make music for years to come.

HAIM’s music has changed since their debut. Their second album, Something to Tell You, was released in 2017 and, whilst less summer-ready than their debut, it was well-received. There are bands producing something warm and effusive at the moment but I do tend to feel that the air of positivity and light that we all crave right now is not being catered for. Consider all the bands out there and how many of them make you feel more positive and lifted. I can name, maybe four or five from the current scene, but it is hard to get past that. I do think we require a dose of optimism and hope in these strained times and that should not be taken for granted. HAIM’s upbringing surely had an impact on their material and you can hear mixes of Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles in their work. They mix styles and lace together sounds seamlessly and it is fantastic to witness. I think a lot of bands who mix Pop and Rock can strike that balance between sunny and hard-hitting. HAIM are definitely not all about surface with no depth: their music digs deep and, in the case of their latest track, it was inspired by a cancer diagnosis Danielle Haim’s boyfriend received. The song is a message of hope and, although there is darkness, it will be okay. One of the biggest issues with modern music is the lack of real energy and escape that we need. HAIM send out big messages and have a lot of layers but you can play their music and feel less heavy and stressed with things. As the sun is out and the weather is warm, they are the perfect group you need in your lives. I respect artists who talk about politics and modern-day concerns but there is so much aggression and blame that is can be a bit overwhelming and tense. One does look for something a bit more relaxed and breezy.

I will move on to another subject but I think it is important to promote artists who make of smile and have a positive vibe. Sure, Summer Girl has a bit of a heartbreaking start but you listen to the song and are put in a better mood. I wonder whether this is all leading to a third album because HAIM have been pretty busy on their road since their last album came out. Some have said Something to Tell You was a weaker effort than Days Are Gone. Maybe it was the fatigue of touring but there were fewer hooks on Something to Tell You; a sense that the songs were a bit samey and it was a more straightforward album. For those looking for big explosions, brashness and a freewheelin’ lyrical touches might have been disappointed. I think their latest effort returns more to their debut in a way. There is always that pressure when it comes to the second album and, perhaps, HAIM felt a bit of expectation that meant the songs suffered a bit. I actually really like the album but it is not quite as bright and unexpected as their debut. With talk of a third album buzzing, I do feel like there will be more of Days Are Gone’s themes and sounds. We shall see what HAIM come up with but I think Summer Girl is a great track and one can find little fault with it. If some critics were a little critical of HAIM’s previous album, many agreed that the optimism and energy was pretty infectious. I do feel like simpler music can be more effecting. HAIM can pen these catchy choruses and beautiful vocals but, rather than forget about the song the first time you hear it, you’ll come back for another go. It seems like, as I will explain later, HAIM are using their debut as a springboard and sort of working off of that for their new work.

PHOTO CREDIT: Vogue Russia

I have discussed some of the influences regarding HAIM’s music. I could picture the three sisters at home and listening to their parents’ records. You can detect California and the open road in the music of HAIM but I can also hear some 1980s stuff and Disco. I think HAIM started out life playing covers; their mum and dad enlisted them to play Motown tracks in the family band whilst they plated in the San Fernando Valley. Earlier HAIM songs had a mix of Rock and Roll guitars and 1990s R&B but they mutated into a more straightforward Pop group. Perhaps people assume that the family connection and the fact that the sisters have been playing together since they were children would lend some dysfunction to the ranks. Maybe there would be problems and cracks forming soon enough. The clear love and connection the sisters have means that there is this rock-solid foundation. In terms of their sound, HAIM can do polished and carefree but also ensure that their music stands out and they have their own voice. If some have been too ready to compare them to Fleetwood Mac and highlight the vocal harmonies, you only need to listen closely to HAIM and realise that they have their own course. Their debut album was lauded because it has a bit of polish but the songs stood up to repeated listens and scrutiny. The passion and energy in every song caught the imagination and built a huge fanbase. Look at some of the best and most engaging Pop of the moment and you will name artists like Christine and the Queens and Lizzo. These artists deal with big themes but, in terms of the music and vocals, you get something pretty intoxicating, inspiring and pumped. I do think there are a lot of great Pop artists but so many are either pretty dark or they are far too commercial – the same processed beats and production values leads to a lot of dull clones.

I think HAIM’s latest track actually takes them in a slightly different direction. Reviews of Summer Girl have compared them to Loud Reed and his track, Walk on the Wild Side. There is sparseness and cool that is less about the bright harmonies and production shine and more about something a little more developed and mature. That is not to say HAIM have lost that cheer and distinct sound but they have pared it down a little; maybe signalling where their third album might go and reacting to some critics who felt they lacked real promise and range on their sophomore album. I maintain a lot of critics were a bit harsh when it comes to Something to Tell You. Maybe some were looking too closely at the lyrics and felt they were a little generic. HAIM’s strong point has always been the vocals and music and, whereas they could turn phrases on their debt, maybe there was something missing the second time around. I do feel like there will be a leap on their third album and, whenever that arrives, we will see a group revitalised and repurposed. If the music has faced some backlash from certain quarters, I feel the videos make up for any shortcomings. There seems to be a common theme with HAIM videos. If some acts like to be in the studio when it comes to recording videos, HAIM are very much about getting outside. Summer Girl sees them casting off clothing and moving from the studio into the street. They have previously worked with Paul Thomas Anderson on Night So Long, Little of Your Love and Right Now and it is a great partnership. I think it was Anderson who directed Radiohead’s Daydreaming and, there, we saw Thom York being tracked as he moved through doorway and through various scenes. There is a sense of openness, movement and geography when we look at Anderson’s videos. I do feel a lot of music videos are too much about flashing lights, constant cuts and lazy storyboards.

PHOTO CREDIT: London Evening Standard/eyevine/Redux

HAIM’s sunny and coast-seeking music, I guess, begs videos that find them striding and swaggering but one could easily make these boring videos that have no real purpose. Although HAIM’s videos don’t rely too much on plot and effects, I think their strong suit is that outdoor feel. That is a weird sentence but the camera walks with them down the street. The sisters are always moving and, even on a more emotional song like Summer Girl, you are soon brightened and smiling. I really love HAIM’s videos because you get that style and distinct touch but they are always different. Have a look at Summer Girl and another brilliant video from Paul Thomas Anderson. How often do we talk about music videos these days? MTV recently celebrated its thirty-eighth anniversary and it made me think about the classic days of music videos and how effecting they were; many remain with me now. That is not suggesting artists lack that magic now but I think there are fewer standout videos these days. Maybe there are too many around or we have too much technology and choice. What makes HAIM’s videos brilliant is that lack of technology and complication. They bring us into their world and lead us through the streets. They can captivate and entice easily and there is something about their videos that is utterly engaging and fresh. I shall leave this subject because, before I move onto the song review itself, there is s subject I want to broach.

Although reviews have not directly mentioned gender and used sexist terms, HAIM are a group who have had to face sexism for years. I will bring in an interview they gave in 2017 where they discussed their experiences. I do wonder whether woman in bands face sexism a lot. Definitely, when some people see women in bands, they get this impression and feel that they will be weaker and not as impressive as the men. Maybe, if they have instruments with them, they get withering and patronising looks. When they talked with NME a couple of years ago, HAIM tackled sexist attitudes:

“That, and they’ve got more important things to talk about – such as rampant sexism in the music industry. Even now, they still suffer from its toxic effects. They’re still asked ‘Who writes the songs?’ and have been mistaken for girlfriends of bands at “every festival we’ve been to,” says Este. “I literally have to say, ‘We just played behind you’”.

“We still have to fight this s**t,” bristles Alana. “The other day, I was told at a radio station, ‘You don’t need headphones. I’m sure you don’t want to mess up your hair.’” She continues: “I feel like the one thing that’s happening is we’re all banding together and not letting that s**t get us down. Like f**k that s**t! I’m f**king over it! Like, no one is going to make me feel anything other than a powerful woman because I love playing music and I love being onstage and if these f**ks want to do that s**t, the only way that will change is if we don’t stop”.

It is a shame HAIM have had to face this kind of crap but it doesn’t surprise me. There is still a big problem with sexism in music and I hope we see attitudes change. The fact that HAIM are great songwriters and musicians, one feels, should silence sexist tongues but we are still seeing toxicity raise its head. It is such a shame.

PHOTO CREDIT: Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP

Rather than rush in with layers, harmonies and big production notes, there is something a lot groovier and more interesting that greets Summer Girl. The drums trip Jazz-like and they have a definite swagger and punch. The bass is quite sparse but it guides the song forward and has this elasticity. Few would expect a HAIM song to start like this but, as with a lot of their previous work, they have that love of the 1970s. Comparisons to Lou Reed are fair enough but, rather than the song walking on the wild side, there is something more emotional at heart. “L.A. on my mind/I can’t breathe…” opens the track and gives proceedings a real sense of heart. Knowing the inspiration behind the song – Danielle’s boyfriend and his cancer diagnosis – one cannot help feel a sense of sadness and tenderness. The lyrics discuss him being there when she (the heroine) closes her eyes; a smile being forced but that being turned into tears. There is this rawness and loss; a feeling that things are strained but, when he closes his eyes, his summer girl will be there. The HAIM heroine is there for him and, whilst things are bad right now, she is a support and here to make things better. There is actually a bit of Tracey Thorn, oddly, in the vocals; something Massive Attack might have made in the 1990s because, as the song progresses, we hear some smooth saxophone and these nice little touches. Fans of HAIM might be expecting harmonies and sunniness from the off but the group build up and there is this beginning which is quite soft and evocative; a sense that someone is struggling and times are hard. Look at the video and the sisters are on the street; they are literally peeling the layers from one another and sort of turning the gloom into a less suffocating warmth. With a nice wordless chorus – and removing their jumpers in the video – HAIM ease the mood and let the hero know that things will get better.

One can look at Summer Girl and apply it to other scenarios. Although there is a personal story and something dear to HAIM, everyone can relate to the song and get something from it. I do love the smoothness of the song and the fact that it sounds different to other HAIM songs. There is definite optimism and sun in the song but, rather than this being projected through harmonies and big choruses, a general mood exists that makes you feel calmer and better. The nice little saxophone interjections give the song a definitely niche that not many Pop bands are incorporating into their work. If other HAIM work has put us in the 1970s, I do feel like, as I said, there is a bit of 1990s Trip-Hop and Jazz this time around. It is impossible to listen to Summer Girl and not look at that video. HAIM are no stranger to walking down Ventura Blvd. but, this time, I love the fact that they keep on removing layers. It seems like they have a never-ending supply of clothes and I know it is a metaphor. Removing the struggle and weight; creating something lighter that can breathe. It is a clever technique and message and I love the fact HAIM have a sort of standard video style. They can make strolling down the street look really fascinating and cool. The video gets pretty interesting – have a look to see what I mean – but I think one of the biggest steps HAIM have taken since their latest album is the lyrics. “From over my shoulder, I need you/I need you to understand/These are the earthquake drills that we ran/Under the freeway overpasses/The tears behind your dark sunglasses/The fears inside your heart as deep as gashes/You walk beside me, not behind me/Feel my unconditional love” are wonderful words and lines that get into the mind and projects images. I keep coming back to Summer Girl because the lead vocal is so smooth, cool and rich that it has this great nuance. The lyrics are deep and make you think and the composition is really great. More subtle and relaxed than previous HAIM offerings, some fans might need to readjust but I think it is a really great move from them. You can hear some distinct influences but, like all HAIM songs, they put their own stamp on things. I do hope there are more tracks coming along because I am really intrigued. It is a brilliant song and one that deserves a lot of airplay. If you are not familiar with HAIM and what they are about, I suggest you start with Summer Girl and then go and check out their two albums. A brilliant song that, actually, ranks alongside my favourite from the year so far. You will come back to Summer Girl again and again because it has that really alluring sound that is hard to resist.

It has been a busy last few years for HAIM. After album releases, there is that touring blitz and there is rarely time to stand still. At the moment, HAIM are busy promoting Summer Girl and the song has been getting really good press. It is a different sound to what they have come up with before and suggests, if there is another album brewing, they might strip back some of the layers and adopt more Jazz influences as opposed Pop and Rock. The sisters have played a few gigs recently and I hope they get a bit of a rest before they are back out again. One does feel like an album is coming soon enough and that will be interesting to see. Many will be excited to see what HAIM have up their sleeves and whether they change direction on their third album. I feel there will be the same blend of harmonies and polish but, as Summer Girl suggests, that optimism will be more stripped back and the sound is a bit different. If you can see HAIM live this year then do so as their shows are incredible. Their songs come to life on the stage and almost sound liberated and released compared to the album versions. That is not a slight but I think one can only do so much in the studio and it is hard to give that live feel to a song. HAIM are fantastic live performers and they are really crowd-pleasing. I know the rest of the year will be pretty busy but, as I say, I do think we are gearing up for another album soon enough. I do really like everything they have put out into the world and have followed them since their debut. Maybe Something to Tell You was not quite as strong as their debut but it did have some golden moments – Want You Back and Walking Away are definite highlights. Let us wind up in a minute but I suggest people check out Summer Girl and that amazing video. I have read a lot of reaction on social media and people are getting primed for more HAIM music. I cannot wait to see what they come up with but, when it comes to tight-knit groups who make infectious and bright music, there are few to rival HAIM. The group have had a successful and busy career so far but many of us are excited to…