On the way down - a fall from grace

Continuing my trip back through the 2017 album charts.

14/07/17 : Something To Tell You - HAIM


I liked Days Like You, their debut album (which we haven't met) and Women In Music, Part III, their third album (which we have) and so, quite obviously, I've never ever listened to this (and I'm not sure I even knew it existed). I've no reason to think I won't like it though...

And well, I do like it and it's got a nice overall Fleetwood Mac-esque kinda vibe - but, on first listen, it's lacking a killer track and some of the tracks just slightly outstay their welcome. Maybe multiple listens would slowly draw me in and maybe they wouldn't - but I suspect we're never going to find out.

We're at #2 in the charts this week with a new entry on the start of a nine week run - which makes it a relative failure compared to their neighbouring albums, both of which got to #1. The rest of the top five were Ed Sheeran, Jay-Z (another new entry), Public Sector Broadcasting (and another one) and Rag'n'Bone Man and the next highest new entry was Lucy Rose (#34).

Wikpidia doesn't have an awful lot on the album - they basically spent TWO YEARS touring to promote Days Are Gone and then headed straight to the studio to start work on this. The only fact of interest is that a documentary about the making of the album was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, which seems like a pretty minor project for him but he was interested in the group because their father was one of his art-school teachers - and he then went on to write Licorice Pizza with Alana Haim in mind for the main role. Back to the album, it was generally well critically received, with words like "polish" and "craft" being bandied about and commercially, it did best in English speaking countries, getting to #11 in Canada, #4 in Australia and Ireland and #7 in the US. 

discogs.com tells us that you can pick up a decent version of the album for £4, but if you want the double clear 45rpm vinyl version then it's going to set you back £50. I imagine that both looks and sounds pretty fine, but I can't help but have a sneaking suspicion there's a bit of style over substance going on here - which is a shame.

21/07/17 - Mostly harmless

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