Hopeless Fountain Kingdom
| Halsey
Hopeless Fountain Kingdom
Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (stylized in small caps) is the second studio album by American singer Halsey. It was released on June 2, 2017, by Astralwerks. It peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200. - Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Pitchfork
It's ambitious and nuanced, though calculating in ways that dull its impact.
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Consequence of Sound
Conceives herself as an album artist first. It just means she’s less likely to score dynamite singles.
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Rolling Stone
The star’s second album is a sprawling breakup epic full of dystopian synth-pop realness. Halsey could go anywhere from here.
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The Gaurdian
The New Jersey singer’s voice is stifled by the mega-production and collaboration fest from industry A-listers that often follows a successful debut.
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Spin
We’re left with a deeply imperfect and too-often derivative album that is not without its charms.
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Pop Matters
Represents a step backward regarding quality. Halsey has, for the most part, abandoned the specificity that was key to her lyrical successes.
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NME
Might be defiantly ambitious, but it’s surprisingly cohesive.
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Variety
Musically and conceptually it’s a big step forward from the relatively monochromatic sound of her debut.
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USA Today
Halsey's compelling identity may have won her a place in the mainstream, but if her music is disposable, how long will it last?
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COOG Radio
A visual masterpiece and Halsey has done an incredibly impressive job at creating yet again another universe for her stories to be told.
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Line of Best Fit
A clear step forward for the nascent pop star.
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Amnplify
Explores the idea of a relationship break up and emotional roller coaster ride that comes along with that. I cannot contain my excitement.
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The Odessey
A work of art and I’m so impressed that I haven’t stopped listening to it, and I find new meanings and new connections each time.
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The Young Folks
With this being only her sophomore album, I’m excited to see what her next project will be like.
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The Central Trend
The forced work of Hopeless Fountain Kingdom is subpar.
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Immortal Reviews
A modern telling of Romeo & Juliet in many ways. What is most important about it is that is teaches us that there isn't an end.
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Pop Dust
An urban dystopian kingdom that draws inspiration from medieval lore.
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The Sound Board Reviews
Still a long way to go before Halsey becomes an artist worth banking on in the long run, even if this is at least a start.
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The Alt Nation
A very solid album and shows artist growth. 8/10
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Saint Audio
Halsey has gone above and beyond with the details of this record, building an entire fantasy world through her elaborate promotion and visuals that expand upon the album’s lyrical content.
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Cryptic Rock
Halsey’s rendition of a section from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, which blossoms into a layered part-harmonization, part-chant that washes over the listener like a warm tidal wave.
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HS Insider
Saturated with colorful, cinematic perfection.
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The Top Tens
First of all, let me say that this is an extremely amazing album. In my opinion, actually the best of 2017.
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Hollywood Iife
While there’s a banger or two to be found, it mostly sounds rather…same-y. It does have its moments, though.
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The National
May not have huge anthems – the closest is the exquisitely sad Now or Never – but it’s just as satisfying.
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Kill Your Stereo
It’s important to note that even though there is a story behind it, these songs are solid in their own right.
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24 Our Music
The strongest point of this album is how rich the lyrics are. Halsey was extremely creative in putting the album together, and it really shines.
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Star 2
Singer Halsey got everyone from The Weeknd to Sia and Grammy-winning producer Greg Kurstin to work with her on this album.
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The Daily Mississippian
She immediately immerses the listener into a world where her own dark portrayal of the pair of star-crossed lovers exists, one of them being Halsey herself.
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Knight Crier
Although it’s been out to the public for a little while, my passion for these 16 songs still lives on.
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NJ True Jersey
With an all-star cast of producers and co-writers at her side, the budding star is at once sincere, vulnerable, fierce and conflicted throughout the pulsing 16-track effort.
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Newsday
Overproduced and full of clutter.
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Sputnik Music
And you thought the name was clumsy? Just wait until you hear the album.
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Nylon
New Album Is Honest, Lonely, And Leaves You Wanting More.
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Popfection
Overall, this is a very solid sophomore album, and definitely not what I expected after her debut album. The album has a great atmosphere.
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The Musical Hype
Although it’s enjoyable, it’s all over the place.
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Ben's Beat
Great pop music is great pop music. To improve so much on a sophomore album is quite impressive.
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Medium
Halsey is ambitious, but her sophomore album fails to fully realize her desires.
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Reddit
Every facete is explored, and Halsey does a tremendous job of conveying a wide range of emotions with her strong lyrical presence and wonderful voice.
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Oxygen
Ultimately falls victim to the same problem as its predecessor – tangled, and in danger of being more melodramatic than sincerely melancholic.
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Brent Music Reviews
Conceptual, incorporating the artist’s own love issues as well as referencing Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, among numerous other influences.
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Lemonade Magazine
It is so much more. It is truly art, whether Halsey would agree or not. For some, chaos is art.
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Bol
Good singing, beautiful CD, well produced.
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Word of Daydreamer
Overall I think that Hopeless Fountain Kingdom is a step up from Badlands in all aspects.
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Vendor Culture
By no means an awful album but it could do with more individuality and less industry standard.
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Pursuit of Pop
A huge disappointment to this reviewer. That said, if you’re a huge fan of Halsey, you will probably enjoy it, but if you’re not, you’ll just hear mainly soulless synth-pop.
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QPGH
Hopeless fountain kingdom, her best and most ambitious album yet.
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V Magazine
The rising star's sophomore album showcases her ambition and versatility.
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Ultimate Guitar
Doesn't live up to the standards Halsey has held it to.
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Idolator
Work that will solidify Halsey’s status as one of the most promising artists in pop.
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Redbrick
While she starts strong, the story gets confused near the middle and I’m lost by the end. However, it’s a decent attempt for a sophomore album,
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Wandering Wolff
One of the most shockingly impressive albums of 2017 thus far.
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A Bit of Pop Music
With her determination, work ethic, impeccable ear for a great pop hook and uncompromised honesty in her lyrics, she is here to stay.
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I on the Arts
Represents a step backwards in terms of quality.
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MTV
Halsey’s grip on her aesthetic has always been strong; now she has the chance to project it onto a giant screen.
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La Vista
Disappoints With A Lack Of Originality And Mundane Melodies.
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Press Play OK
Halsey largely squanders the platform she’s been given, trotting out songs that are largely so forgettable you’ll struggle to place.
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The Duquesne Duke
Delivers classic tale in new, exciting way.
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The Fresh Committee
Alas, this final product suffers from poor conceptual execution and lackluster curation.
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Diandra Reviews it All
Halsey wants to emote her lyrical story, and she does so successfully.
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Stack
It’s a super poppy release that anyone who loved her previous work will absolutely adore.
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The Daily Listening
The singer’s best work yet, HFK is also her most mature and complex, creating an entire world meant to be dissected carefully by the listener.
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Pop Wrapped
It is dynamic in the storytelling and sticks strongly to a theme.
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She Bops
Admitted radio-friendliness of hopeless fountain kingdom renders it a less insufferable and, vitally, much more listenable album than Badlands.
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Climbing Moss
It seems to be a truthful tale of love and how it ebbs and flows, like this album.
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Missoulian
But it's just as satisfying, with Halsey's breathy voice and confessional lyrics taking you to unexpected places.
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Back 2 Curly
I really recommend you checking this album out, there's something for everyone.
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Media Hype
Relatable, experimental, emotional and everything in-between.
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Glaad
Halsey's sophomore album, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom is groundbreaking
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What Jess Listens To
You cannot deny that she is an incredible songwriter.
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On the Move World
If the singer wanted to produce more mainstream and more accessible titles , she still offers us an experimental production full of flavors!
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Colorful Monsters
Halsey thrives on smart lyrics coming from personal experiences.
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Campus
What makes a Halsey album so great – the contrast, the colours, the complicated nature of it all.
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Luna Paper
Doesn’t deserve a pox upon it by any means, but like Romeo and Juliet’s romance it’s mostly shallow at best.
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On Record Magazine
Anything but a rework of her debut.
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The New Nine
A Masterpiece.
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The Courier
A work of paramount importance for the progression of recording music.
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News OK
It's a complex, sober, riskier CD brimming with heartbreak from one of pop's most exciting artists.
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Rowan Does Reviews
It’s a solid album and it still FEELS Halsey and definitely shows off her talent.
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Thomas Bleach
Sees her maturing and reflecting on life while delivering big pop songs that will fill arenas.
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Uproxx
The Triumph Of A Millennial Pop Star
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Kill Your Sereo
There is a story behind it, these songs are solid in their own right.
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Fandom Bay
(This album most definitely falls into the ‘great’ category.)
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Olly Boston
Overall this is another fantastic album from Halsey and I genuinely feel like this is my favourite album of hers.
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Stereoboard
Another high concept approach can’t hide the fact that Halsey’s voice seems a little lost
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Times of India
Halsey shows her range as a musician, is liberal in aping other musicians (Rihanna, Lady Gaga), yet delivers a fearless, stunning album that breaks taboos and is her strongest work till date.
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Full Access Detroit
Halsey's moving from ult hero to global superstar.
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Teen Ink
Her album does nothing but shine.
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Pitchfork
The rising pop star's sophomore album goes for experimental radio hits that are full of anhedonic drama. It's ambitious and nuanced, though calculating in ways that dull its impact.
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Rolling Stone
Halsey Showcases Wild Ambitions on ‘Hopeless Fountain Kingdom
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Consequence of Sound
An ambitious sophomore outing that could stand to break its musical mold more often
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The New York Times
Something New, but a Lot Borrowed
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The Guardian
The New Jersey singer’s voice is stifled by the mega-production and collaboration fest from industry A-listers that often follows a successful debut
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SPIN
Halsey’s hopeless fountain kingdom Is Not Entirely Hopeless
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NME
New Jersey popstar’s ambitious Romeo & Juliet-inspired album.
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Variety
And for the most part, “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom” works: Musically and conceptually it’s a big step forward from the relatively monochromatic sound of her debut, and it’s very much her album despite the heavy company she’s kept.
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Pop Matters
It is with disappointment, then, that I have to report that Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, Halsey’s second full-length, represents a step backward regarding quality. Halsey has, for the most part, abandoned the specificity that was key to her lyrical successes on Badlands.
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News Day
Halsey, overproduced and full of clutter.
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Idolator
hopeless fountain kingdom tells the story of a modern romance, and, like any relationship, it’s fraught with imperfection.
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Coog Rad
Hopeless Fountain Kingdom is a visual masterpiece and Halsey has done an incredibly impressive job at creating yet again another universe for her stories to be told.
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All Music
Same-sex love songs remain a rarity in the pop music of the 2010s, and while that's a sly reveal of how Halsey represents a generational shift, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom as a whole feels quintessentially 2017 in how it jumbles styles and sentiment, streamlining a teeming, contradictory culture into something smooth, glassy and easy to digest.
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The Soundboard
The effort is commendable, and the fact that some brighter instrumental tones have finally been brought in to a greater degree definitely makes it seem more natural, but as a songwriter, Halsey’s work lacks the sort of nuance and depth that it really should have to tackle these topics effectively.
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Pop Dust
While Halsey still creates a unique world within her album, I think it's represented even stronger in Hopeless Fountain Kingdom. While Halsey still excels at creating catchy riffs within her songs, she advances in maintaining that while creating a more dynamic, unique album that truly tells a story.
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V Magazine
The rising star's sophomore album showcases her ambition and versatility.
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Immortal Reviews
Now she's back, and Halsey builds a narrative in Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, and while the music doesn't always support the quality, the story brings a nice change.
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Popfection
Overall, this is a very solid sophomore album, and definitely not what I expected after her debut album. The album has a great atmosphere, and it really executes this idea of the concept and the album’s character, Luna. I hope to see more of this from Halsey, and I am excited to see the rest of this era unfold.
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Metal Lifestyle
Truth be told, it’ll probably be another two years or so until we see another record from Halsey and I’m 100% okay with that. Hopeless Fountain Kingdom will more than hold me over as it’s a perfect addition to Halsey’s discography. I can definitely see this record popping up in my shuffle for quite some time until the vinyl winds up on my doorstep.
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Cryptic Rock
With Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, Halsey begs to do something different, and it is that type of bold risk-taking that builds a star.
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The Line of Best Fit
Halsey is getting closer to that sweet spot.
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Brent Music Reviews
Halsey returns with a conceptual sophomore LP, ‘Hopeless Fountain Kingdom,’ an enjoyable effort that’s all over the place.
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Saint Audio
Halsey has gone above and beyond with the details of this record, building an entire fantasy world through her elaborate promotion and visuals that expand upon the album’s lyrical content.
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Sputnik Music
And you thought the name was clumsy? Just wait until you hear the album.
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Medium
Halsey is ambitious, but her sophomore album fails to fully realize her desires.
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Hollywood Life
Halsey’s ‘Hopeless Fountain Kingdom’ Is More Of The Same, But It Works.
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The Musical Hype
Alternative pop artist Halsey returns with a conceptual sophomore LP, ‘Hopeless Fountain Kingdom.’ Although it’s enjoyable, it’s all over the place.
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Star2
Singer Halsey got everyone from The Weeknd to Sia and Grammy-winning producer Greg Kurstin to work with her on this album. She deserves to shine on her own.
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The Fresh Committee
With a trimmed track list and a focused perception, hopeless fountain kingdom could have catapulted Halsey’s artistry into pop’s elite. Alas, this final product suffers from poor conceptual execution and lackluster curation.
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The National
Halsey returns with Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, a complex and mature new album.
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This is Jvke
With all of that being said, hopeless fountain kingdom is a solid record. It is definitely radio friendly and is cohesive in sound, tone and lyrical content.
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Knight Crier
If the album is played on repeat, it can almost seem like a cycle, “Hopeless” to “100 Letters” is her transition from an okay relationship to a toxic one. Although there are a few duds, as to be expected from any album, a strong majority of the songs are excellent and meaningful.
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The DM Online
Halsey saves herself in latest release ‘Hopeless Fountain Kingdom’.
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Oxygen
Hopeless Fountain Kingdom may not be an out-and-out breakup album, but it is not quite strong enough to stand up as the modern-day operatic romance tale it hopes to be.
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Missoulian
Halsey returns with complex, mature new album.
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Lemonade Magazine
It's actually a fairly interesting album, but it's a little monochromatic, both lyrically and musically.
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The Fresh Committee
Trying to connect the dots is a wild goose chase. Aside from a jumbled thematic, this follow-up’s sonic palette bites off more than it can chew.
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Vendor Culture
Hopeless Fountain Kingdom gives Halsey a blank canvas to endlessly experiment with and the dilemma between pop longevity and artistic integrity proves to be a damaging balancing act.
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Ultimate Guitar
Hopeless fountain kingdom doesn't live up to the standards Halsey has held it to.
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The National Arts & Culture
On her sober second album, Halsey is stretching herself with a new collection. It’s a complex, sober, riskier CD brimming with heartbreak from one of pop’s most exciting artists.
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Pursuit of Pop
Halsey massively disappoints with her sophomore album,” Hopeless Fountain Kingdom,” with its weak concept and even weaker songs.
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24 Our Music
Halsey lets her creativity shine with Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, offering dark soundscapes and moments of reflections with her listeners.
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The Alt Nation
Overall Hopeless Fountain Kingdom is a very solid album and shows artist growth.
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Rowan Does Reviews
It’s a solid album and it still FEELS Halsey and definitely shows off her talent, but it’s different than my taste in music so I couldn’t fully enjoy it as I normally would have.
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Don't Bore Us
It takes less than a second for Halsey to set the tone on her much-anticipated second studio album Hopeless Fountain Kingdom; heartbreak, unrequited love, dark dramatic beats and all over pain for pleasure that some relationships have to offer.
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Word of Day Dreamer
Each song has a distinct sound, some that you would not expect to come from Halsey at all. Yet when they come together they create one style and work cohesively.
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Media Hype 101
This time around, Halsey experiments with different genres and themes, complete with an epic movie-like track structure.
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A Bit of Pop Music
Halsey reaches for the sky on sophomore album Hopeless Fountain Kingdom.
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Salute Magazine
Hopeless Fountain Kingdom flows like an open diary, spilling Halsey’s innermost emotions, struggles, demons and triumphs.
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Bens Beat
hopeless fountain kingdom is a spectacular and surprising pop album and a major improvement from Badlands, and I can always appreciate a bit of a story tied in.
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Alter the Press
hopeless fountain kingdom at times feels so much larger than just an album.
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AP News
Halsey returns with complex, mature new album.
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Kill Your Stereo
Halsey remains pure & honest.
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Redbrick
Halsey sets herself apart with her subject matter and delivery - hopeless fountain kingdom isn’t your typical break-up album as she doesn’t hold anything back.
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Thomas Bleach
Her sophomore studio album “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom” sees her departing her alt-pop regime and heading towards an arena ready pop sound.
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Wandering Wolf
Overall, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom is perhaps one of the most shockingly impressive albums of 2017 thus far.
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Red Music REviews
In reality? It isn't horrible, it is just totally uninspired, it sounds exactly like every other generic pop song possible created by lazy producers and singers from the last two years.
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