The deluxe version of HAIM’s “I quit” came out on Oct. 17, adding “Tie you down,” “The story of us” and “Even the bad times” to the original “I quit” album, which was released in the summer on June 20. Notably, “Tie you down” is a collaboration with Bon Iver and was released as a single on Oct. 10, but it has now been added to the larger collection of “I quit.”
The band HAIM is made up of the three Haim sisters: Este Haim, Danielle Haim and Alana Haim. Typically, Este Haim is considered to be the group’s bass guitarist, Danielle Haim as the lead guitarist, vocalist and percussionist and Alana Haim as another vocalist and guitarist. Still, all three play many instruments, and the trio often sings three-part harmonies.
Overall, “I quit” marks a thematic shift in HAIM’s work following “Women in Music Pt. III.” What was once a dire need to fit into a sexist industry by appeasing the male figure is now a rejection of socially conventional relationships. On the surface, these seem like diametric narratives, but a closer reading tells a story of coming to reconcile that some discrimination is institutionalized within industries such as music.
While “I quit” lacks some sonic cohesiveness, it makes up for this shortcoming with its varied explorations of relationships that leverage a diversity of sound. Songs like “Relationships” capture frustration and outrage while “Lucky stars” captures the feeling of coming to terms with falling into a healthy relationship after bad past experiences. “Take me back” embraces a frequently repeated lyric, and “Million years” deviates in yet another direction, leaving the lyrical focus entirely to sonically emphasize a breakbeat.
Taking a closer look at the deluxe tracks speaks to a narrative of lost love seeking reunion while feeling a certain level of retribution.
In “Tie you down,” Danielle Haim and Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) tell a narrative of a relationship falling apart. This is particularly evident through the way the chorus changes throughout the song. In the first chorus, the narrator is afraid of limiting the partner, saying, “I want you here / But I don’t know how / Not to tie you down.”
However, this evolves throughout the song as the lyrics in the second chorus go, “I want you here / But I don’t know how / To tie you down,” indicating a shift in this relationship. Danielle Haim and Vernon play into this tension in a bridge where Vernon echoes Danielle Haim for the effect of the listener feeling that both partners yearn for the same ending and yet cannot reconcile this commonality.
“The story of us” describes the loss of trust that the present end is truly the end. This rage-filled anthem opens with the line, “You hate that you love me / You hate that you want me back / I hate that I love you / But, baby, it got too sad.” By exploring the loss of trust that comes with people not being fully honest and lacking closure, HAIM explores the grief that comes with uncertainty.
The deluxe version of the album closes with the song, “Even the bad times.” This song extrapolates on “The story of us,” discussing the consequences of giving in and getting back together. “Every time that we try / I know it’s not right, baby / I fight with you like you are a child / I feel like a fool / I could leave like I should / Baby, but / I can’t help it, even the bad times wеre good.”
While this chorus concedes that the relationship is unhealthy, it also highlights the ways that being in any relationship is easier than being alone. The outro cites nostalgia as a reason that the relationship is easy, but the lyrics tell the story of someone who is insecure about honoring their own voice. While this song does not directly give advice to the listener, it enables the listener to be an outsider, see the dangers and hopefully apply the lyrics to their life, thereby serving as guidance.
Oddly enough, there are several titles on this deluxe album that closely match song titles of Taylor Swift’s music. HAIM’s “All over me” is awfully close to Swift’s “You All Over Me” featuring Maren Morris from “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” and both HAIM and Swift now have songs entitled “The story of us.” Interestingly, Swift and HAIM collaborated on “no body, no crime,” from Swift’s ninth album, “evermore,” and HAIM was an opener for Swift’s Eras Tour. Despite the similarities in titles between HAIM and Swift’s songs, the songs actually foil one another both thematically and sonically.
While the title of the album, “I quit,” had fans questioning if this was the final album from this girl group, the sisters have assured fans that this is not the end. HAIM is already touring this album. They have already taken a lap through the United States with support from Dora Jar and flowerovlove and have scheduled upcoming shows in the United Kingdom.
With all of these moving parts, the album had a weird rollout. It started with the singles, before moving into the main album, then circling back for another round with the collaboration single for the deluxe track and now finally the full deluxe album. Not to mention, all of that had a tour wound up in the middle of it. This rollout, combined with the sonic inconsistencies, leaves listeners questioning if the album was pushed to release before it was truly ready. However, with the full deluxe album now released, fans can sit back and just enjoy the record.
