It is a big deal in music industry when an artist decides to change his/her musical style or explore more genres than his/her roots. And the usual outcome of it is the lukewarm reviews of the fan-base & critics. But that’s not the case when you’re talking about the Country music star Taylor Swift.
So, Taylor Swift released her 5th studio album “1989” yesterday and that is all everyone is talking about. Since 1989 marks her official transition from “Country” to “Pop”, there was a bit of a speculation how it might turn out to be. And from what the reviews look like I can say, it is a huge success.
1989 is the Birth-year of the artist hence the name. It contains many electronic sounds & heavy usage of deeper bass-lines & drum machines that gives it a Pop & a little bit of Hip-Hop feel to it. Most songs are written by Taylor Swift & Max Martin. Ryan Tedder & Shellback also receive credits.
I got the iTunes Deluxe Edition (or D.L.X.) of 1989 yesterday & I spent well over an hour or so listening to the whole album & boy, was it worth the while. While I was listening to it, So many ideas & thoughts came into my mind & I wanted to write something about those thoughts.
Hence I decided to do a track by track review of the album. I’m not a huge music critic but I do like to think that I know more about music than most. So here goes…
1. Welcome to New York
The first track of the album is a very upbeat & danceable song. The melody is catchy & instruments are cleverly played. The lyrics intelligently guide you to the new sound that Swift has in stores for us. This song seems to be one of the best songs of the album & is most likely to get a Music Video. 5/5 for this one.
2. Blank Space
It’s the kind of a song that can be rapped. The drum beats are somewhat similar to a rap song & lyrics rhyme too. So if it was sung fast it might sound like a different Rap/Hip-Hop song. But, what Taylor does by taking it real slow is to make you move with the beat & you would be singing along without even knowing. 4/5
3. Style
This song is all about style. In terms of music, this is a type of a song you’d expect from an electronic band like CHVRCHES. But Taylor Swift’s vocals do justice to the drum-beat. And…. The lyrics describe how the “boyfriend” looks so, it does have a certain quality from Taylor’s past music writings. 5/5
4. Out of the Woods
Rhythmic, well-written, well-composed & last but not least rather catchy. This was the second single of the album that was available as an iTunes pre-order. The chorus of the song isn’t what I had expected after the beginning. Beautiful. This is another one whose music video I’d like to watch. 5/5
5. All You Had To Do Was Stay
The lyrics to this one might sound a little familiar to “Stay Stay Stay” from the 2012 album “RED” but the meaning of the song is completely different. This song is a complete Pop package that includes a fast chorus and good production & it is the shortest song from the album. Since I couldn’t give it 4.5/5 in iTunes I’ll give it a perfect score.
6. Shake It Off
Best Song of the Album, Period. You should be getting down to this sick beat if you aren’t already. The first single from the album with a crazy music video and with a message to everyone who isn’t ready for the new Taylor Swift music. Haters gonna hate & breakers gonna break but Swift doesn’t give damn. I can’t give it more than 5/5 to this one so, 5/5 it is.
7. I Wish You Would
This is the song that doesn’t start of as well you’d like it to be but, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the wait. It grows on to you while you’re listening to it. Wouldn’t give it perfect score but 4/5 seems good.
8. Bad Blood
The song starts off with an energetic roar & maintains it throughout the whole song. I used to think of the “Bastille” album “Bad Blood” whenever I heard the phrase Bad Blood, but not anymore. From now on it’s this song that will come into my mind. With charming lyrics like “Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes” Swift just shows how she has mastered the art of writing break-up songs. This one also gets 5/5.
9. Wildest Dreams
If I was making a romantic movie, I would definitely use this song in its soundtrack. It has slow lyric progression with a melodic chorus. I’ll give 5/5 to this one.
10. How You Get the Girl
If you’re familiar with Swift’s previous music style this is something you’ll like. The use of Guitar & Percussions give it a distant Country touch. But the drums & bass-lines keep it away from going full Country. 4/5 (Wanted to give it 4.5 but…)
11. This Love
The real music in this song isn’t the guitar or drumbeats but it is the ambient voice of Taylor Swift. Beauty of her voice flows for 4 minutes & 10 seconds. Atmospheric vocals steal the show from the instruments. 4/5.
12. I Know Places
The first 10 seconds of the song had me like, “Wait, is it a different version of Mine from Speak Now?” But No, the way she curves that into a full-fledged Pop performance is the best thing about it. Is it greedy of me to want a Music Video of this one too? The Lyrics, Vocals, Music production everything is speak for itself. Perfect 5.
13. Clean
This four and a half minute Easy Listening song is the longest song from the album. It might take more than one listens to like it if you’re not into Swift’s slow songs. It is also the last song of the “Regular/Normal Edition.” (So in a way it cleans you before you move onto listen the DLX Exclusive tracks.) 4/5.
14. Wonderland
The first thing I thought of when I heard the word “Wonderland” reminded me of the 2010 Electronic album from Steve Aoki & sub-consciously I expected something upbeat. Coincidently that’s exactly what I got. (Because I know it has nothing to do with Steve Aoki). Piano compositions go perfectly with the Drum-machine sound. 4/5.
15. You Are In Love
A person is likely to like this song. Either because of the calming music & opening or because of the wonderful chorus. I praise this song especially for its production & lyric composition. 4/5.
16. New Romantics
I found this last song a bit cheesy. I also found an 80’s feel to the song & since the album title is a year from the good ol’ 80’s I wouldn’t cut down its marks. Still I’d give it 3/5.
17, 18, 19. Voice Memos
In this album Taylor Swift has included 3 voice memos for the 2nd, 7th & the 12th song. This memos contain how Swift got the idea of the specific song or why she wrote it. I think this memos give the whole album a personal touch from her.
In conclusion, I’d say we might be looking at some of the best work of Taylor Swift here in 1989. We secretly always knew that Taylor Swift is as good of a pop-star as she is a country-singer. From what I see in her Facebook, Twitter & Instagram feed, I think this is just the beginning.
Verdict: ☆☆☆☆ 4/5
To read more about 1989 click here.
Download it from iTunes.
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