Step right up and marvel at The Great Impersonator, wherein pop chameleon Halsey finds inspiration in some of the most influential artists of her time, assembling a rich collage of sounds that balances her confessional singer/songwriter vulnerability with artistic fearlessness. Building upon 2021's revelatory opus If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power, Impersonator continues in that exploratory vein with the help of the album's conceptual conceit. Adopting the personas of her favorite icons through the decades (and even her 2014 self), Halsey crafts faithful sound-alikes on the more exciting cuts, while absorbing the energy of others on less obvious selections. Indeed, part of the fun is trying to hear how Halsey chose to honor her inspirations, providing a fascinating view into her creative process. Even without peeking at the notes, some are immediately apparent: Stevie Nicks twirls through the instantly familiar "Panic Attack"; PJ Harvey slinks out of the dark on the dissonant "Dog Years"; Britney Spears' bittersweet lyrics are interpolated on the Monica-sampling ode "Lucky"; and Bruce Springsteen leaps from the "I'm On Fire"-esque "Letter to God (1983)." Meanwhile, Joni Mitchell's patient guitar work and sparse vocal harmony inform "The End"; Dolores O'Riordan's signature "doo doo doo" vocalizations pepper the coming-of-age rocker "Ego"; Dolly Parton stomps along to the charming, down-home jam "Hometown"; and Starman-era Bowie drifts through the lonely, piano-backed "Darwinism" (which sounds like it could have been on If I Can't Have Love…). Kate Bush (the shimmering pop gem "I Never Loved You"), Cher ("Letter to God [1974]"), Linda Ronstadt ("I Believe in Magic"), Fiona Apple (the jazzy, trip-hoppy haunter "Arsonist"), and Evanescence's Amy Lee (the dramatic rocker "Lonely Is the Muse") are also along for the ride.

Digging deeper, less obvious allusions buffer the journey, like on the touching "Letter to God (1998)" -- which incorporates vocal samples of Halsey's child in the spirit of the baby coos from Aaliyah's "Are You That Somebody?" -- and "Life of the Spider (Draft)," an unflinching, unpolished piano confessional inspired by Tori Amos. On an album of standout moments and exciting surprises, the delightful title track -- inspired by Björk -- is an absolute highlight, fluttering along harp trills colored by electric guitar riffs, and punctuated by playful, sprite-like vocalizations unlike anything Halsey's ever sung before. If that seems like a lot, it is. However, with such variation in styles and approach, The Great Impersonator reveals something new with each listen, it's a rewarding experience for longtime fans and curious newcomers alike. Mining her musical upbringing and honoring her myriad inspirations, Halsey comes full circle, connecting her own youth and innocence with intimate adult ruminations on parenthood, aging, and legacy. It's an engrossing homage to the figures that made her into the artist -- and inspiration -- that she has become herself.

Only Living Girl In LA    
Ego    
Dog Years    
Letter To God (1974)    
Panic Attack    
The End    
I Believe In Magic    
Letter To God (1983)    
Hometown    
I Never Loved You    
Darwinism    
Lonely Is The Muse    
Arsonist    
Life Of The Spider (Draft)    
Hurt Feelings    
Lucky    
Letter To God (1998)    
The Great Impersonator