The sisters of Haim have been playing music together for a long time, and it shows on this, their debut album. They have a level of polish and professionalism most bands simply cannot reach on their first album, as well as an excellent understanding of what works about '70s and '80s pop music, and it works out to equal one of the best records of the year.
Days are Gone is probably the Fleetwood Mac-iest thing I've ever heard. Each track bounces with staccato vocals, and the sisters' voices provide a nice variety. The album is simply stacked with one great song after another: "Forever" and "The Wire" recall '70s rock music, while "If I Could Change Your Mind" and "Falling" show the band's '80s pop side, with guitars lifted straight out of Thriller. "Honey & I" is worth mentioning too, as it slowly builds to something very impressive. Truth be told, the first seven tracks are all standouts.
Unfortunately, the album tails off a bit after that. "My Song 5's" EDM tendencies are jarring, and take you out of the retro '70s/'80s experience that the first half of the record replicated so well. It's really the only bad song on the album. The last three are fine, nothing more.
Though it tails off at the end, this album is packed with great songs, including some of the best singles of the year ("The Wire"). Days Are Gone is a tremendous throwback, sort of a Fleetwood Mac/Michael Jackson hybrid that understands the aspects that made those artists great, and works them in to deliver a great album of their own.
Grade: A-
Video: "The Wire"
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