HAIM – Days Are Gone (Polydor)

HAIM – Days Are Gone (Polydor)

HAIM - Days Are Gone

The release of these three California sisters’ debut album catalyzed some internet handwringing about what does, or does not, count as “indie,” so let’s get this out of the way real quick: Two of these sisters were in a teenpop band — svengali’ed by Richard Marx, of all people — who had a song on the Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants soundtrack. There ain’t a damn thing indie about them. What they are is a smart, versatile, idiosyncratic, show-offy pop group, a band whose sense of songwriting adventure matches their considerable chops. And on their debut album, they bring Stevie Nicks float, Michael Jackson glide, and Debbie Gibson twinkle to the table, subsuming them all into the massive force of their collective personality. They’re not indie, but if they were, indie would be lucky to have them. –Tom [LISTEN]