HNAF: HAIM’s ‘I Quit’ Is the Breakup Album of the Year!
HAIM’s long-awaited return arrives in the form of I Quit, their boldest and most emotionally raw album yet. Released on June 20, 2025 via Columbia/Polydor, the trio—Danielle, Este, and Alana Haim—deliver a 15-track journey through endings, reinventions, and unapologetic self-definition. It’s a breakup album in every sense—romantic, professional, and personal—with a sonic palette that ranges from lush soft rock to gritty garage pop and shimmering 80s synths.
Opening track “Gone” sets the tone with a brilliant, brazen sample of George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90,” reimagined into a feminist battle cry. It’s messy, triumphant, and instantly gripping. Much of the album carries this energy—raw but stylish, full of sharp edges softened by HAIM’s signature warmth. “The Farm” leans into bluesy swagger; “Relationships” glides between R&B, power pop, and rap-adjacent vocals with effortless cool. Even the album’s gentler moments—like “All Over Me”—pulse with a quiet confidence.
Produced largely by Danielle Haim with co-production from Rostam and Buddy Ross, I Quit is brimming with collaborators like Tobias Jesso Jr., Justin Vernon, and Ariel Rechtshaid. Yet the voice that emerges is undeniably HAIM’s—more assertive and self-aware than ever before. After five years away, they sound more fearless, and more themselves.
Thematically, I Quit is about knowing when to walk away—from relationships, from expectations, from versions of yourself that no longer fit. There are moments of sonic whiplash, and not every risk lands cleanly, but that’s part of its charm. It’s imperfect in a very intentional, human way. The production veers into experimental territory at times, echoing the disjointed process of emotional release.
Critics have been mostly favorable—Pitchfork called it “emotionally direct,” while The New Yorker praised its urgency. Even when it fumbles, I Quit feels like a necessary statement: sometimes the bravest thing you can do is let go.
I Quit doesn’t ask for perfection—it demands honesty. And HAIM delivers, loud and clear.
