Haims I Quit: A Bold and Unapologetic Breakup Album
In a year filled with numerous breakup albums, Haim's "I Quit" stands out as a masterpiece. The album's title is a bold and unapologetic declaration of independence, and the 15 tracks that make up the record are a testament to the sisters Danielle, Alana, and Este Haim's ability to effectively communicate their resignations to long- or short-term partners. The album's themes of "why I left" and "why I'm about to" are a sharp focus, and the streamlined sound of the album reflects this narrowing of lyrical concerns.
Despite the absence of Ariel Rechtshaid, who was a primary co-producer/co-writer on the previous three records, the sound of "I Quit" doesn't completely change. Rostam Batmanglij, who is still on board as a co-producer with Danielle, maintains some points of sonic continuity. However, Rechtshaid's quirky and clever aural landscaping that marked 2020's "Women in Music Pt. III" is missed in this more minimalist approach.
Despite the tradeoffs, "I Quit" is a bold step back in the direction of being a more rock-oriented band on record, as they've always been on stage. Danielle's drumming on "All Over Me" and her power chords and guitar solo on tracks like "Gone" feel like getting closer to the source of what the band might sound like in the rehearsal studio.
There are some outliers on the album that keep it from completely settling into a mood. The lead single, "Relationships," aims to make fun of domestic drollery with a '90s R&B feel. "Take Me Back," meanwhile, is a fast-chugging dip into affectionate nostalgia for the sisters' rowdy teens and post-adolescence. "Million Years" is another serious departure from the rest of the record, with a breakbeat time and a rare moment of transcendent romantic love.
The overall tone of the album is rather more glum or searching and reflective about why too much time was wasted in a long, nowhere love affair. Some of the songs blend together a bit, but the whole album is an admission that it's hard to get unstuck from a no-longer-functioning relationship and then get unstuck from spending further time trying to make retrospective sense of it.
The best track on the album is its closer, "Now It's Time," which gives U2 co-writing credit for having lifted a couple of power chords from their song "Numb." Danielle sounds newly awakened and proactive in moving on instead of obsessively focusing on the desire for an apology. The album ends with the couplet: "Am I reaching out to say / I never gave two fucks anyway," which perfectly encapsulates the boldness and defiance of the entire record.
In conclusion, "I Quit" is a bold and unapologetic breakup album that showcases Haim's ability to communicate their resignations to partners in a unique and powerful way. The album's themes and sound are a testament to their talent as musicians and songwriters, and it will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the music industry.
