I have seen these girls since their modest beginning, playing small clubs like the Echo, performing at block parties, then growing and having their music celebrated at the Santa Monica pier two years ago. But now they are big, huge and this happened so fast. Their music is okay I guess, not very remarkable to me, and yes they have a good energy on stage, but so have many other bands I get to see.
Since that time, Haim got a top ranking in BBC’s sound of 2013 poll, was Pitchfork’s best New Music rating, SPIN’s cover story, played big festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella, and truly made it to the top, although I still don’t get it. But there is a lot of mainstream music that I don’t get… Wait a minute is Haim indie or mainstream? They are supposed to be this bridge between the two, indie embracing mainstream culture, covering everything from Fleetwood Mac to Sheryl Crow and even Miley Cyrus!
I give you this, they are young girls and cute, and this is why we get this new vinyl of their track ‘My Song 5’, shaped like Alana Haim’s derriere, with her legs and arms sticking out of the vinyl’s edges. Why? Did fans need this? I am certain they will sell out very fast the limited edition with such an attractive shape (even though the price, $16.98 on Amazon isn’t cheap) but was this necessary? I find it a bit tacky and overly self-promotional. It’s true that Haim signed with Jay Z’s Roc Nation management group, so I don’t expect them to have good taste. Like everything they do, they are trying too much, they are playing too hard at the nobody-is-cooler-than-us game, … it’s a bit like their music, too much at the same time, too many genres mixed in one big song that they force at everybody’s throat as an energized rock ‘n’ roll live band. Sometimes less is better.
Anyway, if you are a fan you will disagree and will probably buy the limited shaped-picture vinyl featuring two versions of ‘My Song 5’, since the side B features the brand new remix of the song featuring A$AP Ferg. It is due out October 27th, and pre-orders are now ongoing.