Manic
by Halsey
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Jan 17, 2020
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
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  1. No Ripcord
    Feb 4, 2020
    40
    The real problem is that the best ideas are outvoted by frustrating ones, leaving us with little touches like the short, yelping-like sound in the second verse of More or the distorted vocals that end killing boys. There are some good moments here, but even the best of them can’t help Halsey get out of her own way.

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Most Discussed Album of 2020

User Reviews

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User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 1008 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 844 out of 1008
  2. Mixed: 56 out of 1008
  3. Negative: 108 out of 1008
  1. supercutx
    Jan 17, 2020
    10
    best album ever!!!!!!! i love the way she made a perfect chaotic emotion throughout the album
  2. viniciussawate
    Jan 17, 2020
    10
    Manic is a very lyrically cohesive album, with a diverse and heterogeneous aesthetic sound, and earns points for Halsey's maturity in relationManic is a very lyrically cohesive album, with a diverse and heterogeneous aesthetic sound, and earns points for Halsey's maturity in relation to her own aesthetics and, albeit full of small slips and some choices that don't fit within the album's organicity like the interludes, most of the songs advance toward a beautiful, self-sufficient sensory dream that captivates us from the first note.… Full Review »
  3. XYA
    Jan 26, 2020
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Manic marks for her a new apogee in terms of versatility and authenticity.

    A journey through Halsey's personal point of views and life experiences. The choice of not including Nightmare makes even more sense now as Manic is already oversaturated by the abundance of different genres waving through the album, approximately separated by the interludes in three main solid units. The singer's primary strength is found in her songwriting skills, in Manic they leave the more philosophical inquisitions of her past discography in favor of an extemporaneous, still sophisticated expression that puts the listener in a chair right in front of her genuine storytelling. With the exception of a couple of fillers, the songs themselves evince a neat identity while oozing pop fragrances absorbing as much as possible from out-of-pop sounds in order to follow and enhance whatever emotion is brought to the table.

    Highlights: You Should Be Sad, Forever... is a Long Time, Finally // Beautiful Strangers

    Partial scores:
    A.S.S. (average songs score) = 8.0/10
    Overall composition = 7.8/10
    Overall production = 8.3/10
    Overall songwriting = 9.2/10
    Creativity = 8.2/10
    Cohesivity = 7.5/10

    The final score is obtained using the following formula:
    (ASS x 2 + composition x 2 + production x 2 + songwriting x 2 + creativity x 1 + cohesivity x 1)/100 =

    82.3/100

    Manic's final score falls within the category very good albums.    … Full Review »
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