In any other era, Haim may not have made it.

Haim is made up of sisters Este, Danielle and Alana Haim. Born in the late ’80s and early ’90s, these 20-somethings grew up listening to classic rock. Their parents were even part of a band called the Rockinhaim. As the sisters began to formulate their own sound, they combined their rock roots with contemporary rhythm and blues and have released their debut album, “Days Are Gone.”

The band has garnered comparisons to artists from the ‘70s, such as Fleetwood Mac, and the ’90s, like TLC. Perhaps because of the band members’ peculiar look, with their long hair and hippie wardrobe, people are not sure what other bands to parallel Haim with. And this may be a good thing.

The album art is a photo of the three sisters sitting oh-so-cool with glasses, staring off into the distance. But it leaves a lot to the imagination for the type of music listeners are in for. There is an element of mystery with the sisters. Who are they, and what makes them tick?

The opening song, “Falling,” is reminiscent of Stevie Nicks. Their voices harmonize over an infectious, 1970s-inspired bass line. As the third single off the album, “Falling” has received international acclaim, peaking at number 30 on the United Kingdom singles chart and 85 in Australia.

“Forever,” also released as a single, is extremely fun and catchy. Different instruments are used throughout the song, including a xylophone, synthesizer and groovy bass. It sounds like the lovechild of Eugene Wilde’s 1980s smash hit, “Gotta Get You Home Tonight.”

Danielle demonstrates some of her vocal influence from Elvis in “The Wire,” mimicking his iconic pronunciation of lyrics in a pseudo-lisp. It’s another fun song that makes a strong addition to the album.

“If I Could Change Your Mind” sounds a bit like an ’80s pop song. For those who appreciate old school music, this one has a very nostalgic feel.

Haim is incredibly eclectic, since the band does not just spew out one genre of music, and includes songs on the album that have their own catchy sounds.

Take, for example, “My Song 5,” which sounds vastly different from any of the other tracks. It has a faint dubstep sound, with bits of psychedelic and electronica. Despite its differences from the others — and maybe because of them — this is one of the stronger songs on the album. The beat is simple, but what really make this song are the vocals. While there aren’t many instances where they are singing outside of their typical alto range, the Haim sisters can sing well, and this track displays that.

But besides their vocal talent, the Haim sisters also play instruments. Este plays percussion, bass and guitar, Danielle plays guitar and drums and Alana plays percussion, guitar and keyboards.

Although the band seems indie, it’s actually signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label, which is strange considering that the music doesn’t seem to reflect the genres one would associate with Hov. But what really stand out about the band is its potential and its ability to intrigue listeners with how different it is.

Perhaps in the future Haim will collaborate with Stevie Nicks or other similar artists, to whet the appetite of music enthusiasts everywhere. Haim is a breath of fresh air in an industry churning out the same prototype for each new up-and-coming artist, and the band seems promising enough to continue to stay relevant in today’s pop culture.

Published on October 7, 2013 at 11:04 pm

Contact Elaina: ekcrocke@syr.edu