Single Review: Haim – ‘If I Could Change Your Mind’
2 min read
Just under 7 months ago Este, Danielle and Alana – better known as powerhouse Los Angeles sister squad Haim – released their debut album Days Are Gone. It’s a perfect mix of all the classic tropes of the ‘70s and ‘90s and delivered in an all-original three-sibling-pronged nostalgia attack. It falls somewhere in between Fleetwood Mac and Destiny’s Child covering all bases in between and they’re back this month with the bubbly fifth single to be pulled from the record, If I Could Change Your Mind.
There’s something about the way family members’ voices tend to blend with each other. It’s been the case forever and when you think about it, it’s just plain biology. From The Staples Singers to Hanson to, like it or not, The Jonas Brothers and beyond, it’s a winning formula of which Haim are keenly aware. However as is the case on much of their debut, If I Could Change Your Mind shows that the three Haim sisters (Who cut their teeth in their parents’ cover band Rockinhaim) have managed to find a sound that, while rooted in a wide variety of throwback influences, is completely and unmistakably their own.
The staccatic bass/guitar octave work is definitely reminiscent of Californication-era Chili Peppers and the harmonies have a distinctive blend of blue-eyed-soul and ‘90s girl power. Overall it plays like a modern day Everywhere – Christine McVie’s most memorable turn with The ‘Mac – but in place of the charming romantic sentiments of that tune, If I Could Change Your Mind explores the mistakes you tend to make on your way to finding love in your 20’s.
When all of this is thrown together with shimmering synths, disco tambourine and the obligatory handclaps of every pop/rock single released in recent memory, it’s a perfect storm. Haim have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they’ve struck a chord with this generation and if previous singles Forever, Don’t Save Me, Falling or The Wire didn’t sell you, If I Could Change Your Mind conveniently might be the very thing that could… well… you get where I’m going with this.
