CD Review
Taylor Swift
1989
Big Machine Records
Various Producers
Review: Dave Leary
✰✰✰
Much has been written about Taylor Swift’s first “official” pop album. As of this writing, it was on track to be the first album released in 2014 to sell 1 million copies. Of course, she’s been everywhere promoting it and the whole album isn’t available on streaming sites such as Pandora and Spotify. Here is my track by track review. (Tracks 14-16 are only on the Target deluxe edition)
1. Welcome to New York- A definite ‘80s synth sound to kick things off. Not surprisingly, she’s already been named a global ambassador for New York City. Not a great album opener, but should be a good way to open the shows on her upcoming tour. Written with Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic.
2. Blank Space- Swift has some fun with her image as a serial dater with this one with lines like “got a long list of ex-lovers, they’ll tell you I’m insane”. Kind of sounds like “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield.
3. Style- This was love at first listen for me. Captures the vibe of the lyrics about driving around at midnight. Cool song, my favorite on the album. The title can’t be a coincidence. (See track 4)
4. Out of the Woods- Written with Jack Antonoff of fun. Has a hypnotic quality thanks to the repetitive chorus. But the lyrics are classic Swift as she paints a vivid picture of a relationship ending. (Has to be about Harry Styles)
5. All You Had to Do Was Stay- Just OK, nothing special. The high-pitched “Stay” used in the chorus is off-putting to me.
6. Shake it Off- If you haven’t heard this one, you must’ve stumbled upon this review by accident. My reaction when I first heard it over 2 months ago was “This is pretty terrible”. Maybe it’s because I’ve heard it so much since then but my opinion has changed. I don’t dance but I always feel like dancing when I hear it. That breakdown IS super awkward though, but I think that’s the point. Taylor is laughing at herself.
7. I Wish You Would- Another collaboration with Antanoff. Nothing special here.
8. Bad Blood- Reportedly about Katy Perry. Comes off as just bland and generic.
9. Wildest Dreams- Sounds like Swift’s attempt at a Lana Del Rey song. Nice vocal, this one suits her well.
10. How You Get the Girl- Acoustic guitar (not played by Swift) wrapped around more of the same sounding drum beat. Sounds like it would’ve been on a late ‘80s or early ‘90s movie soundtrack.
11. This Love- The only “old-school” Taylor song on the album. Written without a co-writer, she does play acoustic guitar and works with longtime producer Nathan Chapman. Not surprisingly, one of the stronger songs here.
12. I Know Places- Written with Tedder, a song about dealing with paparazzi. Another hook I’m not crazy about.
13. Clean- Written with Imogen Heap, the production is dialed down a bit. Nice melody, the lyrics compare a relationship to an addiction.
14. Wonderland- Stronger than some of the songs on the album proper. Swift successfully goes out of her vocal comfort zone.
15. You Are In Love- Written with Antonoff, another one right in the Swift wheelhouse.
16. New Romantics- Should be good in the clubs, but sounds like it could have been a Katy Perry or Lady Gaga song.
So commercially, Swift’s “risk” is paying off. Artistically, I would say no. This album is missing much of what made Taylor unique. Not many memorable or interesting lyrics.. It’s a OK pop record but most of it doesn’t feel like a Taylor Swift record. Max Martin and Shellback are hugely successful writers and producers but the problem is they’ve worked with so many other big pop acts. To me, a lot of the production doesn’t even sound like the late ‘80s. I understand Swift’s desire to not keep doing the same thing each album, but if she continues to go this route, she risks becoming generic. Fortunately, she’s still just 5 albums into her career and more popular than ever. It’ll be interesting to see what she does next.
