Haim Kills

Okay, I know that Haim's latest album came out almost two years ago. And my title sucks. But, this album is so perfect that I unfortunately cannot bring myself to care. If you haven't heard of Haim by now, you've probably been living under a rock of some sort. Haim, the sister trio from San Fernando Valley in California, the group who released the hit single The Wire, has definitely hit it big. The three sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana started their own band after being a part of a family one, titled Rockinhaim.

In 2013, they came out with their first full-length record, Days Are Gone. They used fun and playful drum patterns with guitar pluckings to create a joyful, upbeat indie sound. The entire album just sort of makes you want to get up and dance. In public. They also cover a large range of sounds throughout their album. They go from If I Could Make You Stay, a synth rock song, straight to Honey & I, which is almost completely acoustic. Normally, such disconnect would bother me, maybe even compel me to turn the album, but the girls' voices are so soothing and similar that the whole thing just kind of slides into place.

Every note they choose to be in that record is calculatingly placed, including lyrics. Sometimes I find that indie rock lyrics can become repetitive, especially bands that lean more towards regular rock or alternative. I'm sure you know what I mean. That one line that is continuously repeated in song, and you think, "Jesus Christ, I just wanted some originality. Is that too much to ask?" However, Haim saves themselves from that unlikely fate by incorporating extra tweaks in the music, like a minor note, or unusual harmonization. And for that, I applaud those girls. Their lyrics are creative and have purpose, unlike much pop music in today's society.

Please, please, please go check out Haim. I promise it will be worth it.

Official website link: http://haimtheband.com
Listen to thEIR MUSIC PLEASE: https://play.spotify.com/artist/4Ui2kfOqGujY81UcPrb5KE?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open

Till next week!

Banks' New Album "Goddess" Is A Gigantic Yes

Banks, or if you went by her full name, Jillian Banks, recently came out with a new record dubbed "Goddess". This is the singer's first full-length album, having before came out with a shorter one titled "LONDON". She earlier in the year came out with a single called "Beggin For Thread". Her soulful r&b tunes combined with her synth makes her a unique sound that people like Ellie Goulding are obsessed.

Her new album includes good synth slow-burns such as "Brain", a song about insulting people while managing to sound gorgeous at the same time, which I can definitely go along with. Also, it includes the classic Banks song "This Is What It Feels Like". If you have never heard of or listened to Banks before, I highly recommend starting with this song, because it encompasses her general sound in one gorgeous vocal masterpiece. For those who don't know much about synth, trust me when I say that Banks is very good at incorporating different ranges of sounds into her songs that make it sound very, very cool. Also, Banks does load all her tones manually, which is basically like plotting a graph for every little thing. Very hard.

The album was very much well worth the wait! I have to admit, I am completely in love with her sound. She, like I mentioned earlier, has such a unique flow to it that I literally adore. If came upon someone and they asked me what music I would recommend at that exact second, it probably would not be Banks, simply because she as an artist is so subtle. Her music is subtle. She herself is subtle. She is very hesitant about how she is seen in the public eye. She doesn't partake in social media. And perhaps it's her subtly that makes her so great: you'll never know what hit you until you listen and think, "Wow. That is good music."


To go to her website: http://www.hernameisbanks.com

To listen to her music: http://www.hernameisbanks.com/tagged/listen

Till next week! -Avery

Chet Faker shocks with Built On Glass

Chet Faker became an internet sensation when he released his electronic groove version of The Blackstreet's No Diggity. The flow-y rhythm combined with his gritty low voice, all replicated in a rap song instantly made him a star. He released a full-length record in 2014 titled Built On Glass.

His birth name being Nick Murphy, he grew up listening to his dad's compiliations of electronica mixed with Chet Baker, a great Australian jazz musician. To avoid confusion, he changed his name to Chet Faker when he released his first single, No Diggity in 2011. Once the song became quite popular on the internet, he released an EP, Thinking In Textures. Later, he partnered with another Aussie, Flume, to create the EP Lockjaw.

Built On Glass combines electronic slow-burns and playful snippets such as the song /, which is the sound of a record playing along wiht a man's voice claiming, "That was the other side of the record. Now relax, still more, and drift a little deeper as you listen." The entire song is nineteen seconds long.  Another favorite would have to be Gold, a slow-burn that speaks of sacrifice, along with the sounds of records scratching. Or, you could easily enjoy 1998, a great upbeat tempo that makes you want to dance, no matter the setting.

This record is so original, it almost makes me want to cry. Having played with songwriting and synthesizers and compiling myself, I have some experience with the genre, and let me tell you: this entire collection is a goldmine. It's the perfect combination of jazz and electronic. Not to mention his brilliant voice. Murphy knows he is good at what he does, and clearly has no problem showing it off to the world with his new record.

One thing should be mentioned: this is not the album you can just hit shuffle and be fine. This isn't a boy-band album, it's art, and you should treat it as such. The songs are in a specific timeline, and if you didn't listen to them in order, or even all of them, you won't be able to appreciate the beauty of Murphy's intellect. Don't worry about the length of the record; you'll be glad you listened the way you did afterwards.

Check out his website: http://chetfaker.com

Check out his music: https://play.spotify.com/artist/2Q0MyH5YMI5HPQjFjlq5g3?play=true&utm_source=google&utm_medium=growth_paid&utm_campaign=CommercialActionsArtist_US&gclid=Cj0KEQjwhLCgBRCf0fPH043IlJwBEiQAf8P8U1LVoTdJbOPYRsn3x6HeiMiPKLkzvKgY7s4gkqT5jsAaAgQa8P8HAQ

Till next week!