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Halsey opens Hopeless Fountain Kingdom by reading a passage from William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, a sign that they're intent on achieving grand things with their second album. The time is right for a great leap forward. Badlands, their 2014 debut, established Halsey as a possible contender for Lorde's brooding throne, but they received their breakthrough singing on the Chainsmokers' smash 2016 single "Closer." Both events inform Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, which casts a far wider net than Badlands. Where that album essentially dedicates itself to EDM-inspired pop, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom uses that sound as an anchor that allows Halsey to dip their toe into stark singer/songwriter confessions ("Sorry"), hip-hop ("Lie," featuring a verse by Quavo of Migos), soul ("Alone"), and a healthy dose of pop songs designed for mass exposure. It's a slight shift, but it's notable particularly because it helps differentiate the songs from one another. This doesn't always happen -- the first half of the record tends to bleed together into one pulsating neon smear -- but when the melodies are sharply articulated and the production not so cloistered, the tracks seem distinct, even memorable. "Alone," a foray into smooth soul, is chief among these cuts, rivaled by the soaring "Bad at Love" and "Strangers," where Halsey laments that their lover "doesn't kiss me on the mouth anymore." Same-sex love songs remain a rarity in the pop music of the 2010s, and while that's a sly reveal of how Halsey represents a generational shift, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom as a whole feels quintessentially 2017 in how it jumbles styles and sentiment, streamlining a teeming, contradictory culture into something smooth, glassy and easy to digest.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Chris Braide, ComposerLyricist - John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Peder Losnegård, ComposerLyricist - Adrienne Woods, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Lido, Producer, Engineer, Keyboards, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other - Chrysanthe Tan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Kiara Ana, Viola, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Frederic, ComposerLyricist - Ricky Reed, Producer, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Ethan Shumaker, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
Happy Perez, Producer, Guitar, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Nathan Perez, ComposerLyricist - John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Benny Blanco, Producer, Keyboards, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Luftman, Unknown, Other - Dave Schwerkolt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Abel Tesfaye, ComposerLyricist - Cashmere Cat, Producer, Keyboards, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Magnus Hoiberg, ComposerLyricist - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Seif Hussain, Unknown, Other - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other - Sarah Shelton, Unknown, Other
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Kurstin, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - alex pasco, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
Dan Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Tony Hester, ComposerLyricist - John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Frederic, ComposerLyricist - Josh Carter, Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ricky Reed, Producer, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Ethan Shumaker, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
Happy Perez, Producer, Guitar, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Nathan Perez, ComposerLyricist - John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Benny Blanco, Producer, Keyboards, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Luftman, Unknown, Other - Dave Schwerkolt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cashmere Cat, Producer, Keyboards, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Brittany Talia Hazzard, ComposerLyricist - Magnus Hoiberg, ComposerLyricist - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Starrah, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Seif Hussain, Unknown, Other - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other - Sarah Shelton, Unknown, Other
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Kurstin, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Recording Engineer, Mellotron, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - alex pasco, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Peder Losnegård, ComposerLyricist - Adrienne Woods, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Lido, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other - Chrysanthe Tan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Kiara Ana, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Dante Frangipane, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer - Alexandra McKoy, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Peder Losnegård, ComposerLyricist - Quavious Marshall, ComposerLyricist - Adrienne Woods, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Lido, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Quavo, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other - Chrysanthe Tan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Kiara Ana, Viola, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Peder Losnegård, ComposerLyricist - Adrienne Woods, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Lido, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other - Chrysanthe Tan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Kiara Ana, Viola, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Frederic, ComposerLyricist - Ricky Reed, Producer, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Justin Tranter, ComposerLyricist - Ethan Shumaker, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Roget Chahayed, Producer, Unknown, Other, ComposerLyricist - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Peder Losnegård, ComposerLyricist - Lido, Producer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Kurstin, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - alex pasco, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Lauren Jauregui, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other - Ezra Kurstin, Voices, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Kurstin, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - alex pasco, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Kurstin, Producer, Drums, Keyboards, Additional Keyboards, Piano, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sia Furler, ComposerLyricist - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - alex pasco, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
Joshua Coleman, ComposerLyricist - John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Benny Blanco, Producer, Keyboards, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Luftman, Unknown, Other - Dave Schwerkolt, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cashmere Cat, Producer, Keyboards, Unknown, Programming, Other, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Magnus Hoiberg, ComposerLyricist - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Seif Hussain, Unknown, Other - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, Unknown, Other - Sarah Shelton, Unknown, Other
℗ 2017 Astralwerks
Dan Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Tony Hester, ComposerLyricist - John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Halsey, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Frederic, ComposerLyricist - Big Sean, FeaturedArtist - Josh Carter, Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stefflon Don, FeaturedArtist - Rymez, Vocal Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ricky Reed, Producer, Unknown, Programming, Other, AssociatedPerformer - Maximilian Jaeger, Vocal Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Louis Bell, Producer, Additional Producer - Ethan Shumaker, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ashley Frangipane, ComposerLyricist - Gregg Rominiecki, Vocal Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeremy Vuernick, A&R - Ryan Del Vecchio, A&R Admin
℗ 2018 Astralwerks
Album review
Halsey opens Hopeless Fountain Kingdom by reading a passage from William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, a sign that they're intent on achieving grand things with their second album. The time is right for a great leap forward. Badlands, their 2014 debut, established Halsey as a possible contender for Lorde's brooding throne, but they received their breakthrough singing on the Chainsmokers' smash 2016 single "Closer." Both events inform Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, which casts a far wider net than Badlands. Where that album essentially dedicates itself to EDM-inspired pop, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom uses that sound as an anchor that allows Halsey to dip their toe into stark singer/songwriter confessions ("Sorry"), hip-hop ("Lie," featuring a verse by Quavo of Migos), soul ("Alone"), and a healthy dose of pop songs designed for mass exposure. It's a slight shift, but it's notable particularly because it helps differentiate the songs from one another. This doesn't always happen -- the first half of the record tends to bleed together into one pulsating neon smear -- but when the melodies are sharply articulated and the production not so cloistered, the tracks seem distinct, even memorable. "Alone," a foray into smooth soul, is chief among these cuts, rivaled by the soaring "Bad at Love" and "Strangers," where Halsey laments that their lover "doesn't kiss me on the mouth anymore." Same-sex love songs remain a rarity in the pop music of the 2010s, and while that's a sly reveal of how Halsey represents a generational shift, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom as a whole feels quintessentially 2017 in how it jumbles styles and sentiment, streamlining a teeming, contradictory culture into something smooth, glassy and easy to digest.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 00:52:10
- Main artists: Halsey
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Astralwerks (ASW)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2017 Astralwerks ℗ 2018 Astralwerks
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