In my opinion, this is the only Ellie Goulding album worth purchasing, but It is well worth purchasing. Musically, It has a strong electronic influence but It cant be categorized as EDM, hip hop, dubstep, trap, or house. It has elements of these styles but It is unique, which makes It such a strong album. Successive albums, in my opinion, stray from this unique indie-style and embrace more of a ho-hum pop style that i can hear on any radio station that i make a point of avoiding.
Lyrically, It is heartfelt, hopeful, heartbreaking, joyful, sad ... everything that a strong album should be. Buy this! but dont Buy her other stuff.
She layers her harmonies and vocals so much, it's just amazing.
Now, that being said; I'm not getting the feeling that Halcyon is as poppy as her earlier works.
I understand and appreciate that. but that's not what i want to listen to. Ironically, even though
I carefully listen to her voice, i don't really care about lyrics, i care about what makes my shoulders move.
I have to give this album 4 stars just because her talent alone doesn't deserve merely 3.
I'll jack It to 5 when i start going through withdrawal, like i do with the two songs listed above.
Halcyon is a complete album and It didn't take me long to adapt to her sound and put this thing on repeat. i recently joined the rest of the world in picking up Adele's 21, but this is an even more complete album in my opinion. i don't usually like to suggest which way artist should Go with their craft, but i hope she keep exploring this electronic-mixed-with-traditional-instruments sound she has going. her and her producers have weaved the sounds so seamlessly that the electronic elements, that so often sound more like a gimmick, mix beautifully with her voice and traditional instruments. in short, her production is amazing.
If You like anything you've herd of her in the past, i have to recommend this album. i was blown away frankly, and I'm so happy i found her so randomly. this is a women I'll be following throughout her entire career.