album impressions (3): halsey "the great impersonator" + fka twigs "magdalene"

(last album impressions post / part 4) 

Hello, welcome to my first post in 2026. I got a bit distracted in wanting to post here, and there were some additional things I had to take care of so I couldn't post earlier this week like I wanted to (and by the time I post this it's already next week). Here is the third part of my album impressions series, where I go through a backlog of albums I've been wanting to listen to in full, and just talk about it. So without further ado, let's talk about Halsey's The Great Impersonator and FKA twigs' Magdalene.

Small disclaimer: Everyone has unique preferences in music tastes. An album that I enjoy will not always resonate with someone else and vice versa. So please don't be disrespectful in the comments.

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Halsey - The Great Impersonator

My rating: 7.8/10

Favorite Song(s): Ego, Dog Years, Lonely is the Muse, Arsonist, Darwinism or Panic Attack (honorable mention)

Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Pop, Alternative Rock, Alt-Pop, Pop Rock, Contemporary Folk, Art Pop

General Thoughts: Oh man it's been a while since I've heard stuff from Halsey since If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power. I also had forgotten that Halsey has been doing more country and folk stuff lately, which isn't a bad thing, but I was kind of unfamiliar with her country/folk songs present in the album. And before I talk about it, I would like to also mention the little countdown promo for the album by replicating album covers from various artists and the songs themselves are also inspired by different decades between 1970s-2000s (or so I'm told).

However, I actually still had a good time with the album, and it was definitely so good to listen to on a winter drive the day before new years. I just wasn't so extremely wowed by it despite how beautiful and sad the album concept is, detailing Halsey's struggles in life especially prior to being diagnosed, having a baby, fear of death, feeling trapped in some kind of image of herself (y'know like an impersonation). It just...sometimes felt very background slideshow, but whether you take it as a good or bad thing is up to you.

Only Living Girl in LA did not click with me when I was listening but I reconsidered this as I'm literally listening to this song as I type this. But I get a big kick out of the more pop rock and alternative rock songs from the album like Dog Years, Ego, and Lonely is the Muse. Arsonist and Darwinism were also very interesting songs too, with Arsonist having that little kick of sinisterism to it, and Darwinism gave me a bit of chills.

Still, I hope my score doesn't read it as me saying this sucks and I didn't get anything out of it because it's around a 7 because I could just listen to Halsey's voice regardless.

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FKA twigs - Magdalene

My rating: 8.9/10

Favorite Song(s): fallen alien, sad day, mary magdalene, home with you (honorable mention)

Genre: Art Pop, Glitch Pop, Alternative R&B, Ambient Pop, Deconstructed Club, Progressive Pop

General Thoughts: Okay so this isn't my first time listening to stuff on this album. I only started really getting into FKA twigs from some YouTube video of a RYM ranking for Glitch Hop music and it featured two songs from this album (sad day and fallen alien) that i later kept repeating (well mostly fallen alien to be honest). ALTHOUGH, I guess my first song I listened to from this album was cellophane thanks to that "let me do it for you" dog meme.

But meme aside, let's just say...this album is so beautiful and almost otherworldly feeling thanks to not part to FKA twigs' soft voice paired with vivid, experimental operettic sound. My only meh track is the one with Future featured oop.

I will never forget how much I looped on repeat the rawness of fallen alien and the jittery melody from sad day. For some reason, mary magdalene on first listen I just didn't understand it but I really did NOT know what I was thinking. Probably a very loose comparison but it somewhat reminds me of whatever feeling I have when I was listening to some tracks of Björk's Vespertine in which I'm very much sat and listening. Raw, ethereal, beautiful stuff in this album, so do check it out.

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Took a while for me to make this post. As always, any needed edits on here such as fixing sentences or to further flesh out my thoughts.

Later!

o( ❛ᴗ❛ )o