Score: 80
Release Date: January 17, 2020
Release Date: January 17, 2020
Genre: pop, pop-rock
Similar Artists: similar
After spending her last two albums in fictional worlds, Halsey’s latest effort, Manic, explores her own life. The LP is an enjoyable listen, containing lyrics that, although deeply personal, are also very relatable. The production on the record is also beautiful, featuring warm synths that create a dream-like atmosphere, allowing the listener to feel like they are really inside Halsey’s head. The songs are different in style, a good representation of the inconsistent mental state Halsey describes herself being in throughout Manic, but that being said, they all tie together very well.
I went into this album with low expectations since I honestly found the lead single “Without Me” to be a little obnoxious, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I ended up hearing. The first track, “Ashley” (her real name) is about Halsey trying to understand how to be herself in a society that discourages individuality. She opens up about feeling alone on “clementine” and insecurity on “I HATE EVERYBODY.” Lyrics about claiming to not need anybody, but really just being afraid to approach a relationship out of fear of being heartbroken can probably resonate with a lot of listeners. So can the themes of the penultimate track “Still Learning,” one about trying to understand how to love yourself during a time when it seems nobody loves you. This is music you listen to when you’re alone at night, looking at the stars through your window.
Overall, Halsey spends Manic exploring a large variety of genres with relative ease.
Features from Alanis Morissette and Dominic Fike are welcome additions and, although it could be fleshed out a little bit more thematically, the album is definitely a well-constructed one.
- Molly Endyke | Guitar & Pen
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