Makes me wonder if he’s listened to the production.
Halsey - The Great Impersonator
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Accusing someone of “main character syndrome” on an album that they wrote about their own mortality because of a life threatening Lupus condition is so needlessly barbed and pig headed
I actually subscribe and like Fantano for the most part so it’s disappointing to see him lean into this weird *points at t shirt* “do you even listen to Nirvana?” energy (which feels a little misogynistic i said it)
I actually subscribe and like Fantano for the most part so it’s disappointing to see him lean into this weird *points at t shirt* “do you even listen to Nirvana?” energy (which feels a little misogynistic i said it)
he/him
I went in expecting it to be, like, Halsey stans being annoying but it’s…not. Legit just his audience being like, “did you somehow miss the part where she has cancer? lupus?”. Kind of surprised, because they usually just shit post in the comment section.
And not that something like that automatically means an album isn’t fair critical game, but he doesn’t acknowledge illness at all in the video, and it’s the one thing anyone should know going into it.
Starting to become a little fascinated by the polarizing reactions they still seem to conjure at this point in their career. Like on a surface level I can understand using the campaign rollout against the album in terms of sound (even if that feels obtuse) but to weaponize that to the point of taking any merit out of the work itself is giving ax to grind.
It has my stubborn ass streaming the album more so at least there's that!
It has my stubborn ass streaming the album more so at least there's that!
Another fantastic performance!
She / Her
Oh this is essential.
I'm finally getting to spend some time with this album today and it's such a delightful record for being so heavy in subject matter. No shortage of highlights here but Hurt Feelings is divine.
Highkey perched at the discourse about Critics that this album has been able to captivate because of the Pitchfork and Fantano reviews and how faulty/spotty these critics can be. Like, alright disliking the music and finding it subpar, but don't try to over intellectualize the situation just to get the egg in your face. I know this isn't something new per se, but after drowning in Poptimism within the last years, it feels like things went quiet for some time because no one wanted to rock the boat too much, and now the "rage-bait" is coming in vogue again. I've seen some people also try to say Halsey's post was an attempt of weaponize the fans against the critics "just because it isn't a glowing review" but I really don't see it that way.
Of course, we're talking about pop culture and music doesn't exist in the vacuum all alone to be reviewed, but it isa knife a double-edge sword where you have to acknowledge the different aspects and not just what fits your narrative. Just because it's an album written by someone who is battling a disease makes it good? No, but it for sure justifies what they'd be calling ""main character syndrome"". It's just so out of touch.
I also think there's some gatekeeping happening just because of the fun impersonator roll-out and people truly thinking "how dare she mention Fiona Apple/Kate Bush/anyone as an inspiration??" but I digress.
Of course, we're talking about pop culture and music doesn't exist in the vacuum all alone to be reviewed, but it is
I also think there's some gatekeeping happening just because of the fun impersonator roll-out and people truly thinking "how dare she mention Fiona Apple/Kate Bush/anyone as an inspiration??" but I digress.
he/him
She's kinda giving Return of Saturn era Gwen meets Amy Lee here
What's funny is that the writer of the Pitchfork review loved Halsey's post. So everyone else is just doing... a lot in an attempt to spark part 5,973 in the discourse about pop stars and journalists
Oh i definitely agree with you @DinahLee when it comes to this release, people seem so pointed toward Halsey in a way we haven’t seen in a long time.
I just feel like it’s such a fucking weird criticism being like “THIS DOESN’T SOUND LIKE THE INSPIRATION DON’T MENTION X AS AN INSPIRATION” , when let’s be real, people would’ve criticised if the album was wearing its influences too much on its sleeve calling it a pastiche.
I think Halsey manages to carve out their own identity while drawing from a bunch of different influences which is not an easy thing to do. And the lyrics ties it all together, really give so much depth to everything. Halsey’s truly is an amazing songwriter. The stories told on this album, that’s powerful.
I just feel like it’s such a fucking weird criticism being like “THIS DOESN’T SOUND LIKE THE INSPIRATION DON’T MENTION X AS AN INSPIRATION” , when let’s be real, people would’ve criticised if the album was wearing its influences too much on its sleeve calling it a pastiche.
I think Halsey manages to carve out their own identity while drawing from a bunch of different influences which is not an easy thing to do. And the lyrics ties it all together, really give so much depth to everything. Halsey’s truly is an amazing songwriter. The stories told on this album, that’s powerful.
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he/him
Call Her Daddy episode is up
It’s such a lazy hill to die on, too - especially if you’re a respected critic or whatever. It just screams that they’ve done nothing more than a shallow reading of the album. Don’t even get me started on the “main character energy” critiques. Like… what?!
That just makes me mad, because it’s so disrespectful. It doesn’t even add anything to the discussion, like what?
Anyways, Afraid of the Dark is wonderful and the best bonus track. The production really complements the back half of the main album so well. I’m so glad I grabbed it!
he/him
I think the only extra track I wasn’t totally feeling was “Nothing”, but it was still cute for a bonus
I've come to accept I connect with and relate far too deeply to Halsey's desperation to people-please whilst soapboxing on issues affecting our generation/childrens' generations to engage with her music and art objectively.
And this year I've started having manic episodes as well, largely pertaining to my own artistry and career prospects, somewhat similar to Halsey themselves, all whilst trying to stick my neck out for kids getting pulverized by ammunition my taxes are indirectly paying for.
All this on top of having to care for a child as a single mother whilst dealing with a host of mental and physical ailments which she had every reason to believe would kill her? Not unlike what Britney—who Halsey directly references—openly feared in "The Woman In Me" when she wrote about her family sending her to an expensive rehab against her will.
Maybe I'm just a deeply disturbed artist who needs to find community instead of refuge in my favorite artists' vulnerable disjointed confessions set to music. All I know is, no album has made me prouder to be a Halsey fan than this one.
And this year I've started having manic episodes as well, largely pertaining to my own artistry and career prospects, somewhat similar to Halsey themselves, all whilst trying to stick my neck out for kids getting pulverized by ammunition my taxes are indirectly paying for.
All this on top of having to care for a child as a single mother whilst dealing with a host of mental and physical ailments which she had every reason to believe would kill her? Not unlike what Britney—who Halsey directly references—openly feared in "The Woman In Me" when she wrote about her family sending her to an expensive rehab against her will.
Maybe I'm just a deeply disturbed artist who needs to find community instead of refuge in my favorite artists' vulnerable disjointed confessions set to music. All I know is, no album has made me prouder to be a Halsey fan than this one.
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