The Updated Definitive Ranking of Halsey's Albums (plus 1 EP)

 Their BACKKK...and by they I mean me, and of course Halsey. She released her newest album last year; it's time to update the ranking. You would be surprised how these rankings can change and evolve.  But before I jump into it a PSA. These are my personal opinions, and I am not here to attack the artist. I am just a queer music lover and budding musicians with opinions.Enough Talk, let's rank.

#6 Room 93 (2014)

Track List:

1. Is There Somewhere
2. Ghost
3. Hurricane
4. Empty Gold
5. Trouble

Halsey's first body of work is a body of work. What it isn't is memorable or exciting. The exceptions are tracks 2 and 3 (Ghost and Hurricane are bops). You can also find some of these tracks on her deluxe Badlands, which work better due to the album's narrative. It's a decent debut EP...but just that DECENT.

Standouts: Ghost, Hurricane

#5 The Great Impersonator (2024)

Track List:

1. Only Living Girl in LA
2. Ego
3. Dog Years
4. Letter to God (1974)
5. Panic Attack
6. The End
7. I Believe in Magic
8. Letter to God (1983)
9. Hometown
10. I Never Loved You
11. Darwinism
12. Lonely is the Muse
13. Arsonist
14. Life of the Spider (Draft)
15. Hurt Feelings
16. Lucky
17. Letter to God (1998)
18. The Great Impersonator

    Let me preface this review by stating, I am glad this body of work exists. As someone with multiple chronic disorders, I see you. Let's be clear..this album was for Halsey. This album represented an ending for them. Due to their health issues, they were not sure if they would live to see their baby grow. That is intense, and I hope this was cathartic for them. As a listener, it felt like a chore to listen to TGI, and I tried to finish it. Three times. But to be blunt... it depressed me. Now, there are definitely some gems on this album. "Lonely is the Muse" is a rock track that makes me feel all over. Very reminiscent of Alanis Morissette in the 90s. "Lucky" is pop perfection (sampling Britney Spears' iconic track Lucky) and one of my fave songs of 2024. "Ego" sounds like P!nk, Alanis, and Fefe Dobson had a baby. So catchy! "The End" talks about chronic pain and illness in ways that I have never heard. It's a beautiful song, and I plan on getting lyrics from it tattooed on me. The album is 18 tracks, making it about 8 tracks too long. There are some other songs on the album I liked, and I will specify below. This is a personal album and I respect the artistry and heart of it. I just didn't find it as engaging as her other works. 

Standouts: Ego, The End, Lucky, Lonely is the Muse, all three Letter to God interludes. 

#4 Badlands (2015)

Track List:

1. Castle
2. Hold Me Down
3. New Americana
4. Drive
5. Roman Holiday
6. Colors
7. Coming Down
8. Haunting
9. Control
10. Young God
11. Ghost

This is gonna be short. I absolutely love this album with one major flaw... "New Americana". It is hands down one of the worst songs I have ever heard. The writing is basic, the lyrics are basic, and the arrangement is basic. I love Halsey's voice, but her limitations (at that time) are so clear in this stale "revolution song". Aside from this, the other 11 tracks are bops. Fantastic debut album as a whole. It moved from #2 to #4 due to how interesting albums 3 to 1 are. 

Standouts: Everything but New Americana

#3 If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (2021)

Track List:

1. The Tradition        
2. Bells in Santa Fe
3. Easier than Lying
4. Lilith
5. Girl Is a Gun
6. You Asked For This     
7. Darling
8. 1121
9. Honey
10. Whispers
11. I Am Not a Woman, I'm a God
12. The Lighthouse
13. Ya'aburnee

I initially listened to this at 2 o'clock one morning in 2021. Since then, I have heard it at least 4 more times. Each time I listen, I find a song I am obsessed with. Halsey delivers great lyrics, and the production on this album is tight. The themes presented in this album are childbirth, motherhood, sexuality, relationships, and loss. Track lengths range from 2 minutes to over 4 minutes. Vocally, she is the strongest I have heard until Manic. "Lilith"is an absolute banger! As someone with BPD lyrics like "I just fuck things up, if you noticed. Have you noticed, tell me have you noticed" speak to my soul. "Honey"is a sapphic story about giving and receiving head. It's sexy and brash and sensual as fuck. 

Standouts: Lilith, Honey, I am not a woman, I'm a god, Ya'aburnee, Bells in Santa Fe, The Tradition, and Whispers.

Manic (2020)

Track List:

1. Ashley
2. Clementine
3. Graveyard
4. You Should be Sad
5. Forever...(is a long time)
6. Dominic's Interlude (ft. Dominic Fike)
7. I Hate Everybody
8. 3 AM
9. Without Me
10. Finally/Beautiful Stranger
11. Alanis's Interlude (ft. Alanis Morrisette)
12. Killing Boys
13. Suga's Interlude (ft. Suga of BTS)
14. More
15. Still Learning
16. 929

My initial reaction to this album was mixed. But after multiple listens, Manic is one of my fave albums ever. In my opinion, the makings of a good album are "do I always go back to it"? If yes, it might be a great album (for the listener). It is her most diverse album to date. From the pop /rock sound of "3AM," to the acoustic rock sound of Alanis's Interlude", to the country pop inspired "You Should be Sad", Halsey doesn't care about a genre. Songwriting is also one of my favorite things. Halsey shines as a songwriter on Manic, I can feel her longing as she sings to her lover on "Graveyard". The hope of "Still Learning", and the righteous anger on "Without Me".

Standouts: 3 AM, Clementine, Alanis's Interlude, You Should Be Sad, Clementine, More, Still Learning and Without Me.

Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (2017)

Track List:

1. The Prologue
2. 100 Letters
3. Eyes Closed
4. Alone
5. Now or Never
6. Sorry
7. Good Mourning
8. Lie
9. Walls Could Talk
10. Bad at Love
11. Strangers (with Lauren Jauregui)
12. Devil in Me
13. Hopeless (with Cashmere Cat)

This ALBUM (still) means everything to me. It came into my life at a time when I was struggling with undiagnosed BPD. It felt so weird it was like she was writing my private thoughts. The lyrics on some of these tracks incite a myriad of emotions. On "Devil in Me" they sing "and I came tumbling down trying to reach your high, and I scream too loud when I speak my mind". That very summer, I was diagnosed with a mood disorder. I often felt like I was fighting with a devil, and to say I can relate is an understatement. Even the songs (Lie, Hopeless) I do not care for stick with me. For this album, I am so freaking thankful. Thank you, Halsey. This body of work not only made me feel seen, but also heard.

Standouts: The ENTIRE thing

I am so happy to be blogging again! I wanted to start with this ranking because I love a good album ranking. More blog posts are coming! Stay tuned. 

I took a break but the queerpophoe is back

 I didn't mean to make the hiatus so long, but I got caught up in life and lost my passion for blogging! But I am back and have lots of fun music posts coming. Including an updated ranking of Halsey's albums and a Tove Lo ranking. Stay tuned!

My Ranking of Halsey's Albums and EP'S

 Hello again, I am back after a LONG hiatus due to school, work, and life. Oh, how I have missed making content for you all. No more talking let's get into this ranking!

Note: I Will not do deluxe albums. Also, Halsey uses she/they pronouns so I will be using both.

#5 Room 93 (2014)

Track List:

1. Is There Somewhere
2. Ghost
3. Hurricane
4. Empty Gold
5. Trouble

Halsey's first body of work is utterly forgettable. As a fan of her songwriting, these songs do not have the poetry, and beauty of some of her later work. The exceptions are tracks 2 and 3 (Ghost and Hurricane are bops). You can also find some of these tracks on her deluxe Badlands which I like more because it fits the narrative of the album. It is a decent debut EP...but just that DECENT.

Standouts: Ghost, Hurricane

#4 Manic (2020)

Track List

1. Ashley
2. Clementine
3. Graveyard
4. You Should be Sad
5. Forever... (Is a Long Time)
6. Dominic's Interlude (with Dominic Fike)
7. I Hate Everybody
8. 3 AM
9. Without Me
10. Finally// Beautiful Stranger
11. Alanis's Interlude (with Alanis Morisette)
12. Killing Boys
13. Suga's interlude (with Suga of BTS)
14. More
15. Still Learning
16. 929

This is by no means a bad album and I do not dislike it. But this is a ranking so something has to be #4. Manic is clearly a personal album, as well as a concept album. Halsey is big on concepts with her work and has the videography to prove it. Manic explores themes of mental health, losing relationships, sexuality, misogyny, and finding oneself. Lyrically she has improved immensely from her first offering (Room 93). Halsey's sound on this album is that she does not have a sound. She goes from pop-punk (3 AM) to synth-pop with hip-hop edges (Without Me), to pop-country (You Should Be Sad) within minutes. Manic is a good album, just not as good as the albums I will discuss below.

Standouts: Clementine, Graveyard, You Should Be Sad, 3AM, Without Me, Alani's Interlude

#3 If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (2021)

Track List:

1.  The Tradition        
2. Bells in Santa Fe
3. Easier than Lying
4. Lilith
5. Girl Is a Gun
6. You Asked For This     
7. Darling
8. 1121
9. Honey
10. Whispers
11. I Am Not a Woman, I'm a God
12. The Lighthouse
13. Ya'aburnee

I listened to this at 2' o clock in the morning a few nights ago and boy I do not regret losing sleep. Going into this new era, I was not sure what to expect from Halsey. Do not get me wrong, she proved she could do variations of rock music pretty well on 3AM. Nevertheless, I was nervous about if I would vibe with the sound. Halsey delivered great lyrics and production on this album was tight. The themes presented in this album are childbirth, motherhood, sexuality, relationships, and loss. Track times range from 2 mins to over 4 mins. Vocally she is the strongest I have heard on any album favorite or not. I can tell this album will become a fave the more I listen.

Standouts: Lilith, Bells in Santa Fe, Honey, I Am Not a Woman, I'm a God, Whispers

#2 Badlands (2015)

Track List:

1. Castle
2. Hold Me Down
3. New Americana
4. Drive
5. Roman Holiday
6. Colors
7. Coming Down
8. Haunting
9. Control
10. Young God
11. Ghost

To be Frank, I do not have much to say about the album asides from it being one of my fave albums. Absolutely love 10 out of 11 songs on the LP. Halsey really shines on her first album, this would have been #1 if not for 2 reasons: 1) HFK is an album that helped me through dark times. 2) New Americana is an awful song and ruins the flow of this album. 

Standouts: Everything but New Americana

#1 Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (2017)

            Track List:

1. The Prologue
2. 100 Letters
3. Eyes Closed
4. Alone
5. Now or Never
6. Sorry
7. Good Mourning
8. Lie
9. Walls Could Talk
10. Bad at Love
11. Strangers (with Lauren Jauregui)
12. Devil in Me
13. Hopeless (with Cashmere Cat)

This ALBUM means everything to me. It came into my life at a time when I was struggling with my mental health. Listening to this album got me through one of my lowest points in life. It was so weird cause it was almost like she was in my head. The lyrics on some of these tracks incite both negative and positive reactions, On "Devil in Me" they say "and I came tumbling down trying to reach your high, and I scream too loud when I speak my mind". That summer I was diagnosed with a mood disorder. To say I can relate is an understatement. Even the songs (Lie, Hopeless) that I do not care for stick with me. I may have my issues with Halsey due to some of the things they say, but this album will forever be in my heart and queue. For this album, I am so freaking thankful. 

Standouts: The ENTIRE thing

Wow, it has been amazing to blog again and I thank you to all who have taken the time to check out any of my posts. You are all wonderful humans and until next time... stay gay.

Happy Halloween my little queerlings!

Mini Reviews: Brandy, and Haim

 Hello hello, it is queer pop hoe and I am back again from a hiatus! I have been so busy with school and work that i have not had time for doing my blog. Today though I have no assignments to do and some energy. Today's blog post will be mini album reviews for two very different artists. I got around to listening to B7 and Women in Music PT III yesterday during a slow period at work. I have thoughts on both, but one more so than the other. So let's jump into this.. Starting with Brandy's B7.

Brandy B7(2020)

Let's talk quickly about the cover art! I freaking love this cover art. She looks absolutely beautiful and the gold 7 makeup effect is dope! It is Afrocentric nostalgic but futuristic realness and I love it. 

That is probably the nicest thing I am going to say about the album, but before you drag me hear me out. Brandy is one of my fave artists and I love most of her music. So going into B7 I was quite excited to hear the album. I am gonna keep it short and sweet by separating the album into Positives and negatives. Then I will list the songs I think are standouts! Let's begin.

                                                            THE POSITIVES

•  vocals 👍
  
• production👍
• visuals👍
• songwriting👍 

Her vocals are always on point so I knew I was in for smooth harmonies, great vocal control, sweet runs and range for days. 

Production wise it is perfection. The beats, the way the songs flow, the art direction, all good. The visuals also go hand in hand with his as well. 

The songwriting is good! Especially track 6 "Borderline". It is an amazing song about mental health that resonated with me.

                                                

                                               💜💜💜💜

                                         The Negatives 

• it is just okay 👎
  
• she didn't take risks 👎
  
• very safe 👎

Brandy is still one of my fave artists but the album was nothing special. With the exception of "Borderline" and "Baby Mama"the songs were not memorable. I was bored and disappointed that she took no risks. Is it a decent album..sure. Will anybody be talking about a year from now? Unless you are a super fan I would so no. I still love and respect her artistry and what her previous albums mean to me. 

Tehn's Favorite Songs Right Now

Tehn's Favorite Songs Right Now: These are some of my favorite and most played songs right now. It was hard to rate them but these are my most most played, to most

My favorite Brandy Songs!

Hello my queerpophoes, it is I QueerpopHoe and I am back again with another blog about MUZIK. I was torn between doing this topic or another ranking of an artists full album. I decided to this blog over the other option in honor of Brandy Norwood's new album B7. The way I am going to do this is as follows:

1. Will list My Fave Brandy Songs from 20 to 1
2. I will include what Album (fuchsia)it is on and the year.
3. I will also list any honorable mentions
4. I have not listened to B7 yet so none of the songs off the album will be featured here. 
5. I will be doing a review of B7 on my blog at a later date. 

Brandy Norwood is a singer, actress, and songwriter. Want more info about her, just visit her website linked below.

https://4everbrandy.com/

Ranking Lesbian Jesus: Hayley Kiyoko Extended Plays from Least Favorite to Favorite

Hello my loves it is I queerpophoe back at it with my second ranking blog. Who have I decided to do you ask? The Lesbian Goddess, and patron saint known as Hayley Kiyoko. If you do not know of her I am assuming you are straight. Lol jk.....but not really. Hayley Kiyoko is  Japanese-English-Welsh-German singer/actress from LA. She is hands down one of my fave singer/songwriters.  My first intro to Kiyoko was through the first Cartoon Network live action Scooby Doo film. Playing the queer icon that is Velma Dinkley. Through further research I found out she made music. Being the inquisitive queer I am I decided to give it a listen. It was the best decision I ever made. As a songwriter she sings about the queer experience in a way that touches the soul. Add her ability to co-produce her videos and her presence on screen I was hooked. "Girls like Girls" (2013) forever lives in my heart as a Queer anthem. So when thinking about who I wanted to rank next, she was an obvious choice. Let's Begin.

#4 I'm Too Sensitive for this Shit (2020)

Track List:

1. Demons
2. L.O.V.E Me 
3. Runaway
4. I Wish
5. She

Kiyoko's most recent release ITSFTS is a sold EP. Unfortunately this body of work was released after her well received debut LP "Expectations". Which is one of my fave bodies of work from 2018. Which is quite a tough thing since the album holds so much weight for me. The sound of this extended play has a similar sound to what you have heard from her in the past. That being said some of these songs just do not move me. They are not catchy nor do they get stuck in your head. With the exceptions of "Demons" and "I Wish" which are the standouts of the work. The other three tracks seem like throwaway tracks. Nevertheless if you are a fan of her work, give it a listen. 

Standouts:Demons, I Wish

#3 A Belle to Remember (2013)

Track List:

1. A Belle to Remember
2. Rich Youth
3. Maple
4. Hit and Run
5. Wild and Wicked World
6. Better than Love

This is Hayley's first EP which I would describe as a pop/soft rock indie outfit. The songs are all cute and catchy, but they are also quite safe. She was not yet the creative powerhouse that she is today. That is apparent on this EP, tis no shade. The EP just lacks the confidence and self-assured attitude we see later. Despite that it is a good pop record. Its a personal body of work and for that it gains so many points. 

Standouts: A Belle to Remember, Rich Youth, Better than Love

#2 Citrine (2016)

Track List:

1. Gravel to Tempo
2. Ease my Mind
3. Pretty Girl
4. One Bad Night
5. Palace

It was hard to figure out who would take the #1 spot. Both #1 and 2 are solid bodies of work. Ultimately "Citrine" had to be number 2. All but one track on this album are my absolute faves. Citrine is a great pop/r&b/hip hop EP. That confidence I mentioned above is on full display on this work Lyrically I can confidently say this is her strongest body of work. Some stand out lyrics are "I thought I was depressed but I think I just needed to cry " (Gravel to Tempo), "suck on your amber lips, just give me one bad night" (One bad Night) and all of Ease my Mind. Many times I find myself screaming me too girl!!! The only song that I do not care for is "Palace".

Standouts: Tracks 1-4

#1 This Side of Paradise (2015)

Track List:

1. Given it All
2. Cliff's Edge
3. This Side of Paradise
4. Girls like Girls
5. Feeding the Fire

THIS EP is perfection. I wish I could end it there but that ain't a proper review.From the lyrics, to production, to subject matter, to the music videos everything spoke to me. Here Hayley is honest,and authentic. She peels back all the layers and (basically) comes out with "Girls like Girls". "This Side of Paradise" discusses longing in a way that hit my queer soul. That Queer longing really be hitting you in the gut. All of the tracks are well written, and this was when I knew she was a force. Her ability to write about her queer experience is unmatched. This EP in my humble opinion put her on the map.

Standouts: The Entire EP

I Present Thee Lesbian Jesus

Some of her music videos to check out: 

What I need Ft. Kehlani

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YynKelHGhNc

Gravel to Tempo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOm2rGwmhWg

 

Sleepover

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6jxPFtIAnw

I hope you enjoyed today's ranking and stay gay my little queerlings.

Sources: spotify, Wikipedia, my opinion, the interwebs.