Halsey – Hopeless Fountain Kingdom
(Astralworks)
Reviewed by Bridget Herlihy
It seems like it has been a long wait for Halsey (aka Ashley Frangipane) to release the often clichéd ‘difficult’ sophomore album. Speculation always appears to be rife as to whether an artist who produces a critically acclaimed debut album can deliver the goods for their second LP (look no further than the pressure faced by Lorde while writing the forthcoming Melodrama). Recorded in a friend’s home in California on a relatively minimal budget, Halsey’s 2015 debut Badlands was a masterfully crafted blend of alternative/electro/synth pop that deals with love, loss and life in a futuristic setting; an album Halsey referred to as a “strong female album”. Spawning several successful singles, including a new anthem for generation M(illenial) with The New Americana, the exquisite Ghost, and Castle, which was picked up for the soundtrack of The Huntsman: Winter’s War. Yet, arguably, it was Halsey’s guest vocals on the irritating yet catchy hit of the summer Closer from The Chainsmokers that saw Halsey’s name spread far and wide.
The album opens with Halsey reciting the opening lines to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet; setting the scene for trials and tribulations of two “starcrossed” lovers that weaves throughout the album. The aforementioned references to difficult sophomore albums don’t entirely apply here, as Hopeless Fountain Kingdom packs an eclectic punch, reinforcing Halsey’s growing reputation as a force to be reckoned with; a self-assured, ambitious and confident 22 year old woman who is broadening her musical horizons.
Yet whereas Badlands remained faithful to brooding electropop, Kingdom is more eclectic. featuring contributions from songwriting heavyweights including Sia and Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd), whose own distinct sounds are evident, at times detracts from Halsey’s own authenticity. Now or Never, while a solid r&b track, sounds like it could just as easily have been released by the likes of Rihanna or Beyonce, and the slightly cringe-worthy lines of Don’t Play where she warns “Don’t fuck up my vibe, motherfucker don’t play with me” sound contrived and simply just don’t fit. Yet despite trying on a number of musical ‘hats’ some which fit better than others, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom features a number of standout gems of songwriting, such as the album’s supurb second single Strangers (a duet with Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui), the edgy Heaven In Hiding, Eyes Closed and Devil In Me.
On a whole Hopeless Fountain Kingdom is a likeable and enjoyable album, although it is lacking in some of the raw edginess that made Badlands so refreshing.
