Halsey, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power | Album Review 💿

Alternative pop standout Halsey delivers the best LP of her career with her fourth album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power. 

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id anyone expect 🎙 Halsey (Ashley Frangipane) to return sooner than later? I certainly didn’t! Sure, 💿 Manic was released the Winter of 2020, but it didn’t seem like a new project would materialize until, say, 2022 at the earliest.  Frangipane pleasantly surprises us with the best album of her career, 💿 If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.  If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power is an album with a darker sound that finds Frangipane reflecting on love, mental health, and childbirth.  She gets a huge lift behind the boards thanks to the Academy- and Grammy-award winning production team 🎛 Atticus Ross and 🎛 Trent Reznor.  

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“The Tradition” 

✅ 🎵 “The Tradition” commences If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power enigmatically.  Rather than kick things off with a banger, Halsey surprises with this minor-key, primarily piano ballad.  Worth noting, there is some programming, which amplifies the dark, chilling nature of the record. Frangipane sounds stellar here, selling the intriguing songwriting like a champ.  The chorus is the crowning achievement – well – in addition to that haunting production work.

“Take what you want, take what you can
Take what you please, don’t give a damn
Ask for forgiveness, never permission...”  

I heart the minimalist, driving rhythm that initiates ✅ 🎵 “Bells in Santa Fe.” This groove remains intact throughout, eventually expanding (growing heavier). Here, the influence of producers Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor is incredibly pronounced. Like “The Tradition” that precedes, “Bells in Santa Fe” has a darker vibe, particularly compared to Frangipane’s past work.  There a plenty of lyrical highlights, including the liberal reference to the resurrection of Christ: “Jesus needed a three-day weekend / To sort out all his bullshit, figure out the treason.” ✅ 🎵 “Easier than Lying” segues as “Bells” concludes busily.  Once more, the rhythmic nature and groove is potent – totally in your face. Also ‘totally in your face’ are aggressive vocals by Halsey on the chorus, as well as a robust, fuzzy bass line, and distorted, turned-up guitars. This is a rock record with no shortage of energy or intensity, including the angst-filled chorus:

“One eye open and one eye closed
‘Cause I’ll hang myself if you give me rope
I lost all my faith and lost all hope
That everything means anything at all.”

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“Lilith”

✅ 🎵 “Lilith” continues the groove-fest that is If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.  Besides a sick beat, the bass line is fire, period.  Halsey continues to deliver a strong vocal, working with dark and brutally honest lyrics.  That means there are some bombs dropped, beginning with “And by now, I don’t need a fuckin’ introduction,” and later adding, “I just fuck things up if you noticed / Have you noticed? Tell me, have you noticed?” Besides the ‘salty language,’ I love some of the vocal effects incorporated in specific instances.

“Lilith” is great, but the trip that is ✅ 🎵 “Girl is a Gun” eclipses it. “This girl is a gun, before you know it, it’s done / And you’ll be wishin’ that you crossed your fingers,” Halsey sings on the chorus. She shows off her versatility, switching to hyper rhythmic, alternative dance pop.  Besides the epic production, Frangipane gives us ear catching lyrics, which highlight girl power and the problem with men.  On the pre-chorus, she makes it crystal clear what she thinks of these boys: “I feel better when the boys stop callin’.” The rest of the chorus, excerpted earlier, continues: “Oh, but God, is it fun when you can have more than one / So, let me show you how to touch my trigger.” Woo!  

🎵 “You asked for this” has a tough act to follow – a tough couple of acts being honest! No problem, of course, since Halsey has a consistent spark throughout If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.  “You asked for this” has more of a pop/rock feel, bringing additional contrast to the album.  Despite the stylistic change, the choruses continue to land superbly.  Besides another electric chorus, I love the stark contrast that arrives via the outro.

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“Darling”

🎵 “Darling” is a personal, singer/songwriter record.  Halsey reflects on the past, and embraces the present, the birth of her first child.  Essentially, “Darling” finds Frangipane evolving from where she once was – she’s in a better, more welcoming place in her life.  “Foolish men have tried,” she sings on the chorus, “But only you have shown me how to love.” Who? Her past self, with all her flaws, as well as her son.  The significance of 🎵 “1121” is key to Frangipane – it’s the date she found out she was pregnant.  After multiple miscarriages, Frangipane has now successfully had her child, and this song celebrates that milestone and the love she’s experienced.  “But I won’t die for love,” she sings on the chorus, continuing, “But ever since I met you/ You could have my heart / And I would break it for you.” Touching.  

“She’s on the tip of my tongue, she’s on the top of my thighs / And if I searched a thousand miles, I’d be dyin’ to find.” Never afraid to reference her sexuality, ✅ 🎵 “honey” finds Halsey singing about an experience with a ‘wild girl.’ Of course, despite digging what this girl served up, they’re no longer an item, hence why “She was sweet like honey / But all I can taste is the blood in my mouth / And the bitterness in goodbye.” 🎵 “Whispers” finds Frangipane reflecting on her state of mind – mental health.  Dark and enigmatic, she masterfully depicts the ins and outs of her head.  While the chilling, sometimes ‘whispered’ “Whispers” is specific to her experiences, anyone who has experienced mental health issues can relate.

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“I am not a woman, I’m a god” 

✅ 🎵 “I am not a woman, I’m a god” marks one of the best produced songs from If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.  Better yet, it has a legitimate case for the song to beat.  Like much of IICHLIWP, “I am not a woman, I’m a god” possesses a dark tilt. Ross and Reznor excel at dark, so, the backdrop and strong vocals and lyrics from Halsey make this a match made in ‘heaven.’  Thematically, the record focuses on the heart, with Frangipane making numerous references to being hurt – struggling with love.  This, of course, is a theme she’s explored throughout her career. At the same time, she contradicts herself, particularly the chorus, but it’s intentional, making things cooler. 

Despite being called ✅ 🎵 “The Lighthouse,” Halsey continues a dark, ‘minor-key’ path.  Case in point – the chorus: “There is a lighthouse / In the middle of the deep / And I’m still stranded on the shoreline there / And nobody hears me scream.” Yikes! Besides the chorus, Frangipane provides examples of several bad, devilish experiences.  On the first verse, she mentions an ex who “Was tall and mean with venom eyes so green / Wanted reconciliation, but my tongue was in my teeth.” On the second verse, the sailor she meets is not good – “A sailor ain’t a savior cause they only tell you lies.” Of course, Frangipane also admits her own devilishness on the bridge, while on the outro, “the waves come crashing down.”

With “The Lighthouse” being a ‘bummer,’ 🎵 “Ya’aburnee” is more optimistic… for the most part.  Halsey references morbid things mind you, but simultaneously recognizes love.  The singer/songwriter has experience ample pain, particularly when it comes to pregnancy.  Finally, she’s achieved her dream to have a child, one she asserts, “Will Bury me / Before I bury.”

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Final Thoughts 💭 

Halsey shines like a beacon on If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, period.  This album far exceeded my expectations, which were just so-so going into the project.  Yes, 💿 Manic was great but I still wasn’t jumping up and down for joy when I heard her fourth album was arriving sooner than later.  Any lack of enthusiasm I bore prior to If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power is long gone after listening.  Frangipane sings well and writes authentically while Ross and Reznor provide killer productions.  Ladies and gents, we have a new ‘best album’ by this underrated pop artist. 

 

✅ Gems 💎: “The Tradition,” “Bells in Santa Fe,” “Easier than Lying,” “Lilith,” “Girl is a Gun,” “honey,” “I am not a woman, I’m a god” & “The Lighthouse”

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🎙 Halsey • 💿 If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power • 🏷 Capitol • 🗓 8.27.21

[📷: Capitol]

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