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.