HAIM have been building up to the release of their third album on their own terms, ensuring they are in full control and showcasing what the trio guitar band are. ‘WIMPt.III’ is a blissful, heartwarming walk through their lives and a body of work that overall is rather impressive.
The record opens so wonderfully, with what feels like a walk through Los Angels, with the song named after the bands hometown of LA. It is filled with reasons why the city is so amazing for them, sweet harmonies and an organ playing that sounds so reflecting in nature.
Next is the the single, ‘The Steps’. The meaning behind this song is the embodiment of ‘WIMPt.III’, the misconception and sexism around them being a band, it’s just ridiculous that people struggle with an all girl band. Musically the song also features a classic guitar sound that runs throughout the album, a cool twangy guitar (berrwwiinnggbwinnggding)! It’s so catchy and shows off how Este, Danielle and Alana are sooooo good at making you want to boogie!
Joni Mitchell is mentioned in ‘I Know Alone’, which is about how hard it can be sometimes to face the real world, another theme on the album that shows how open and honest the girls are this time around. It’s minimalistic instrument wise but has a very catchy 808 drum beat, a great example of them stretching their legs and attempting new things on this record.
HAIM have delivered what will be their heaviest song live with ‘Up For a Dream’ and also definitely heavy in its meaning, struggling with reality. The chorus is very catchy and it’s a great turn sonically with its heavy bass and guitars, it all sounds like something Serg from Kasabian would come up with!
Later we are handed a track that shows off the amazing humour the band have, something you can seen a plenty in their interviews. ‘3AM’ is based around a midnight booty call, which starts off with a cheesy and hilarious male ringing up asking if you are game for the booty call, it leaves you in stitches. I really hope we see more of their humour because the way it bounces off the sisters is so delightful and hilarious to see and listen!
‘Another Try’ is a mellow danceable number that looks into Alana’s love of her life from the last 10 years. It becomes a celebration of the relationship with it opening up with horns at the end, it’s so wholesome. It also has extra sentiment too due to that guy recently getting engaged to somebody else, a very mature and accepting stance on such a emotional situation.
Sadly their enthusiasm and passion is
always dissed, they tackle this a lot on the record and especially on the song ‘Man from the Magazine’. Este talks openly about people’s comments on her facial expressions here, then branches over to a more universal look into sexism within music.
The album officially closes with ‘FUBT’, a brilliant and honest song about abusive relationships. It’s heartfelt and lyrically amazing, ‘all my needs I say I don’t need, how can I dream when I can’t Sleep’, really hits hard. Yet after this finishes, we have three extra tracks, personally feel that this set up isn’t my kind of thing.
So these songs are the three singles we heard last year and it just seems like a streaming tactic. Anywayyyyy ‘Now I’m in It’ has a cool palmed guitar running through it, with some great production around it and ‘Hallelujah’ is beautifully sung. Here the girls wrote the verses separately, bringing it together to celebrate their family.
The standout is ‘Summer Girl’ but is definitely a grower due to its sparse sound and unorthodox percussion. It’s so chilled and relaxing, with no surprise the meaning is very personal. Danielle’s lyrics tackle her need to be the sunshine for her boyfriend who was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago; it’s a beautiful and great song for such a personal and upsetting part of a relationship’s journey.
6.5/10
Favourite Tracks: The Steps, 3AM, FUBT and Summer Girl