Haim and Warpaint, two girl bands that are rocking right now. Who’s best? I already had an idea but I only got a final sense about it, after their performances at Coachella last week. I tried to find out something on their rivalry but I didn’t find anything. No insults on each other, no stolen boyfriends etc. Is it true? Is it possible that their managers still haven’t smelled the scent of a media war, like Britney vs. Christina in the golden age? – I know Warpaint could turn up its nose because it’s a “rock band”, but these girls run up the Hollywood boulevards faster than the sisters. Given that I want to see them wrestle in the mud (“Two Girls, One Cup” way but they’re actually seven, so could be even better), the dirty duty to throw the bone of contention is mine. Let’s proceed step by step to elect our favourite.
- Live
Not a snowball’s chance, Warpaint is Coachella veteran now. You can tell this is its third time performing at the festival. Haim, newcomer in Indio, plays music on stage with an additional member, drummer Dash Hutton. Poor guy, can you imagine handle three sisters having their period? Este’s bass face, anyway, worth the ticket price.
Winner: Warpaint
- Production
All of the girls are from Los Angeles; they come from slightly different backgrounds. The most experienced one seems to be Danielle Haim, she also played for Julian Casablancas among the others. I personally don’t get why everyone link the sisters with Fleetwood Mac. The closer similarity, to me, is with another family band. Haim is Hanson after sex reassignment surgery, isn’t it? Haim debut album “Days Are Gone” has been recorded almost everywhere from California, to NYC, to London, why not? It seems a good way to connect job and vacation. “Warpaint”, second effort of our non-family-band, didn’t convince critics as their first “The Fool”, 2010. The debut album was produced by Tom Biller (Beck, Karen O, Liars) and mixed by Andrew Weatherall (New Order, Primal Scream, Bjork) and Adam Samuels (John Frusciante – who used to fuck with one of the girls –, Daniel Lanois). With such a staff on my back I probably could have released something proper too. Unluckily nobody contacted me. If you changed your mind please call me at mealtime, mon-fri, no time waster.
Winner: Haim, because visited more places to record just one album. Smart!
- Deadline
Perspectives are definitely more propitious for a band made up by three lovely sisters, alias the Kardashians with a few music skills. Liam and Noel, by the way, lasted more than Blur. In an interview for Noisey Emily Kokal, voice and guitar in Warpaint, didn’t stop repeating she has compromise in her soul. Actually, to me, the good one at compromise must have been her sister, the first drummer, the casted out one: Shannyn Sossamon, she’s an actress, musician and dancer (at least according to Wikipedia); she only left winning a canine beauty contest.
Winner: Haim
Despite the music inside, “Days Are Gone” cover is very up-to-date. It looks like an easy collage but is probably not. Both the covers of Warpaint’s albums look better in any case, specially the second. Designed by the bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg’s husband, a.k.a. that guy who directed Aphex Twin’s “Come to Daddy” music video, “Warpaint” artwork shows the 4 girls dissolving in the same space.
Winner: Warpaint
- Video/Look
Haim videos are funny. The most successful and minimal one is their last “If I Could Change Your Mind”. I love their synchronised movements, probably because of the innate awkwardness they have. I would pay my friends to go out and replay their choreography in the middle of the dance floor of our favourite club.
Warpaint released less but good videos. Both the bands are enough fashion conscious. The sister could be well dressed but the girls in Warpaint are striking.
Winner: draw
- Perception
At first blush I couldn’t listen to Haim. I discovered Warpaint with “Love Is to Die”, which still doesn’t tell me much. Listening better to them, I changed my mind. I find the three sisters of LA funny in the end, Este’s bass face counted much to make me think so. Warpaint is better live and the first record is really good, its way to write and make music results more authentic. Even though according to the standards above they drew, a winner must be decreed. Therefore I’m going to abuse of my judge and critic (self-empowered) authority to proclaim the winner of this first fight.
And the Winner is… (drum roll) Warpaint!