The debut and concept album Badlands has finally been released on iTunes and Spotify, after a long wait for Halsey fans. Singer-songwriter Ashley Frangipane, who goes by the stage name Halsey, (an anagram of her name as well as a street she lived on) is 21 (we share the same birthday, September 29) and originally from New Jersey, majoring in writing in college. Frangipane’s songs are usually based on her own state of mind, telling stories of many of her own life experiences in New York, describing “the Badlands” as a code name for the unhealthy life experiences she once encountered while living there.

Badlands was produced by Astralwerks and Capitol records, and dropped on August 28, 2015. The album starts with a powerful, techno-based track titled “Castle” about the current discography of Halsey and her current role in the media with her fan base (“I’m headed straight for the castle, they wanna make me their queen.”) The song points out that once someone gains recognition, they are going to have to listen to people that respond negatively, and that “there’s no use crying about it.”

The lead single “New Americana” speaks of decisions that American adolescents can commonly make in this generation, and the positives and negatives tied into them. “Colors” is about Ashley’s past relationship with a man told symbolically in different colors (“You were red, and you liked me ‘cause I was blue.”)

One of my favorite songs on the album is “Coming Down,” which describes Frangipane’s many past relationships with different lovers throughout a chunk of time and the various lessons they taught her. The track is very acoustic and laid back, but very colorful with confident flow. The album is overall very well-progressed with most tracks standing out to me, ending with a well put together cover of “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash (on the super deluxe edition only). Badlands even comes with an exclusive trailer narrated by Frangipane herself that can be found on Youtube and Vevo, describing the main synopsis of the album as an introduction.

Although a lot of the material is repetitive musically and lyrically with similar themes about feminist power and an overall traditional pop-based sound, Badlands will have people all over the country relating to many of Halsey’s powerful lyrics about what it means to be an everyday human in all situations such as relationships with others. I am very happy for Frangipane, supporting her since her EP, room 93, was released last December. I encourage anyone interested to give Badlands a listen; I guarantee you will have it on repeat!

By Mary Mancini and Sam Mitchell

Fashion Club is a great opportunity for students to share ideas, learn new things, and explore their interests in the fashion industry. This is Fashion Club’s third year at HHS and we’re already looking forward to our annual spring fashion show. We’ll be having multiple fundraisers and events throughout the year to help fund the fashion show and we all can’t wait!

This month New York Fashion week took place from September 10th-17th in the Big Apple. Featured designers like Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Herve Leger, Public School and Rachel Zoe displayed their new collections. Those to walk the runway in these trendy pieces were famous models like Kendall Jenner, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Candice Swanepoel, Karlie Kloss, Lily Aldridge, Stella Maxwell, Hailey Baldwin, and Ashley Graham.

Designers seemed to branch out from their similar inspirations and created a number of new pieces which showed up more than once, signaling a roundup of trends to look forward to. Many designers channeled the vibrant shades and easygoing spirit of the Caribbean with hibiscus prints, colorful crocheted pieces, bucket hats and citrus shades. Styles taken from the ’70s were everywhere this season, models sported boho maxis, flared pants, fringed hemlines and tie-dye patterns. Palettes for this year’s Fashion Week included warm, feel-good hues such as blues, buttery yellows, and pale pinks paired with common neutrals.

Stripes and clothing that skimmed both the collarbone and shoulders were frequent along with luxurious (and expensive) pajamas. To go with the variety of outfits, the models typically sported fresh faces and a defined brow in intentions of keeping it simple.

The weather is changing quickly and summer days will soon be far behind us. Before winter whisks around the corner, make sure to have some festive fun this fall with a few pumpkins, some ghosts, and maybe just a hayride or two. One of the best parts about New England is its colorful Septembers and chilly Octobers; lucky for us, our ticket to having a fall-day-out is just a few minutes down the road.

Rumor has it that one of the best apple-picking spots is right in East Bridgewater at the C.N. Smith Farm. There is truly nothing better than baking a warm apple pie with apples you pick yourself! Another excellent spot for apple collecting is Russell Orchards Farm, a beautiful farm on the North Shore with legendary cider donuts and bright orange pumpkins to bring back home.

While you’re at it, why not head over to Sauchuk Farm in Plympton? Find yourself lost in a curving corn maze with a friend at your side or on a hay ride in the warm breeze of a nice fall day.

If you’re in the mood for something spooky, you have several options at hand. The Alden Haunted House in Duxbury is local and very creepy; in other words, everything you want in a haunted house. Fall River’s Factory of Terror is another haunted house that brings daredevils from all over New England. The name says it all about this spooky site. Of course, Barrett’s Haunted Mansion in Abington is very popular this time of year and for good reason: if you’re a thrill seeker, the terrifying clowns haunting Barrett’s will give you quite a scare.

A more kid-friendly option is the Spooktacular Halloween Party & Costume Contest on October 27 at Paragon Carousel in Hull. Dress up in costume and hitch a ride on a haunted Halloween carousel

On a different note, the Norris Reservation nature trail in Norwell offers a quiet, scenic (and clown-less) trail through the autumn woods. Perfect for walking your dog or bringing a book to sit down with for awhile, the reservation will make you feel like you’ve really embraced the fall season. Another option if you’re looking to get some fresh autumn air is the Breast Cancer Walk on October 4. For an excellent cause in ending breast cancer and saving lives, the walk allows you to make some well-intended strides while enjoying a fall day in Boston.

Another family-friendly option is watching a Patriots game in Foxborough at Gillette Stadium. Bring your Patriots gear one afternoon, grab a hot dog, and cheer on the players.

Whatever you do, make sure to enjoy the fall weather while it lasts. As American journalist and author Jim Bishop said: “Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.”