Every once in a while a musician comes out with a project that redefines the way music is engineered. This is precisely the case with Halsey’s debut album BADLANDS. A combination of a true lyrical genius (“Colors”, “Drive”, and “Young Gods” highlight this), and completely original production, BADLANDS is an immersive concept record that provides nothing less than a top-notch listening experience.

Halsey alienates no listener. BADLANDS incorporates a diverse number of sounds and musical techniques, drawing influences from all places. The album seamlessly ties together pop, rock, and electronic elements to create a conclusive, triumphant sound.

Keep the word ‘triumphant’ in mind as you are introduced to the opening track of BADLANDS: “Castle”. “I’m headed straight for the castle/they wanna make me their queen” Halsey announces in the chorus. If anything, it’s a slight nod to the growing attention the singer has gotten in recent months. She’s gained almost half a million followers on Twitter since her debut EP, Room 93, came out in April. She also recently completed a leg of Imagine Dragons’ Smoke + Mirrors world tour, and will be opening for the Weeknd this fall. The song establishes Halsey’s place as one of the most powerful voices in alt-pop, making use of the natural grit and toughness that accompanies her singing voice.

The series of songs following “Castle” set the tone for BADLANDS, establishing the foundation of one of the year’s best albums. “Hold Me Down” and “New Americana”, two of the album’s promotional singles, highlight Halsey’s unique lyrical and production styles, while “Drive” and “Hurricane” bring her powerful voice to center stage. 

BADLANDS was critically acclaimed and extremely commercially successful, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Over all, the record is an intuitive blend of alternative production and pop melodies, making for an enjoyable listening experience. BADLANDS appeals to a large audience while not selling itself out for mainstream tricks. It has a song for everyone, and I anticipate that nearly every song on the record will be on repeat for months to come.