Who is the person behind Halsey? This question concerned her latest record, “The Great Impersonator.” Themed around the decades from the 1970s to the 2000s, it was a mix of synthpop and alternative songs that told stories about Halsey’s health (both mental and physical), identity, and relationships.“I really thought this album would be the last one I ever made,” said Halsey in a teaser for the record.
The album was preceded by multiple singles, including “Lucky” which interpolated the Britney Spears song of the same name. To countdown to the record, Halsey released one photo a day where they impersonated iconic musicians such as Dolly Parton, David Bowie, Fiona Apple, and many others on her social media.
Halsey uses she/they pronouns.
Highs
Halsey held back no punches, delving deep into depressing and cutting subject matter. This led to the record being Halsey’s best lyricism to date. The record was filled with story-based songs that sounded like confessions, such as “Only Living Girl In LA” where Halsey morbidly sang about being insecure in their life, stating “I don’t know if I could sell out my own funeral.” Other songs were steeped in metaphor, such as “Life of the Spider (Draft)” which used a metaphor of being a spider in one’s house, simply trying to live but under attack for merely existing.
Especially notable were her explorations of chronic illness and family. Many of the songs touched on her battles with lupus and T-cell disorder, such as the first song released “The End.” Through its detail, the album showcased bravery in discussing chronic illness, a topic with little representation in mainstream music. And on familial relationships, particularly notable was Hasley’s complicated, adult view of her parents on “I Believe In Magic” and “Hurt Feelings.”
Halsey’s vocal performance was deeply moving and emotional. She showed anger on songs such as the bitter “Dog Years” and the sultry standout “Arsonist” which also benefited from out-of-sync vocal layering. She mostly presented sadness, sounding on the verge of tears on songs such as “Life of the Spider (Draft)” and the three “Letter to God” songs. She also showcased conflicting emotions well, such as “Panic Attack” switching between anxiety and wistfulness and “The Great Impersonator” where she took a playful tone to narrate a gruesome story.
Lows
The record came in at 18 tracks, over an hour long, and failed to justify it. Most of the songs were trying to be as emotional and detailed as possible, but it lended to many of them bleeding together and after a while, the emotions became numb. These songs were less complementary and more in competition.
The length wasn’t helped by much of the album’s production and backing music. The sounds weren’t enough when it came to memorability, catchiness, and surprises. The music could have gone further with genre, especially if it had leaned more into its retro concept. The length compounded this, as it made it harder for songs to standout. Though there were exceptions such as “Arsonist” with its whispering backdrop, “Hometown” with its country leaning, or “Lonely is the Muse” which was outright rock.
Verdict
“The Great Impersonator” was the bravest album in Halsey’s discography. It was filled to the brim with raw emotions and richly detailed lyricism. But it did suffocate itself a bit with its length. The album was a bit of a mess and a hard listen, but ambitious and in a way, genius.
Content warning for listeners: the track “Dog Years” featured references to a dog dying.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
