Taylor Swift is the ultimate pop
princess; forget Britney or Katy Perry this delightful fun figure of a lady is
back on form in the creation of her new album. As the album hit its release
date I saw twitter explode with excitement as the ‘Swifties’ got a hold of
their copies and listened till their ears bled. I happened to buy this album
because I fell in love with Shake it Off when I saw the music video on a
chart show whilst getting ready for a heavy night out. I still conclude it is
the best song to get you out of bed and dancing around your room even it is 6am
and still dark outside.
It’s fair to start this review by
saying how adaptable Taylor Swift is; I was recently talking to a huge fan of
her old school songs, who deeply misses her country lyrics and her sickly sweet
voice. But Swift has grown up and with the release of ‘I Knew You Were Trouble,’
and ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together,’ it created the path for sure pop
stardom which has helped to cement her songs as classics for radio. Yes, the
songs of break-ups that have helped to terrify potential boyfriends are still
there but they have a grown-up feel helping to transfer Swift from barefoot,
guitar playing chick to the hard hitting pop princess that we see today! It’s a
big change but does it work out? Let’s find out!
We start with ‘Welcome to
New York.’ Much like New York sang by Alicia Keys you know this song is
just not going to go away; the song sings about being broken hearted in the
city that nobody but you, yes you understands. It’s a little whimsical and after
hearing Shake It Off I’m surprised the album didn’t start with something
punchier for the listener to really get their teeth into. It also talks of
putting your broken heart in a drawer; not my style I must admit but for Taylor
apparently this works! Blank Space the next song on the album, she
opens up about her long list of ex-lovers and tells them where to put it,
ultimately asking them not to judge her on this alone. Lyrics like ‘you look
like my next mistake,’ show how far Taylor has come from her original albums.
Out of the woods actually sounds like it
could have come straight out of the Lion King. It’s a little odd if I’m honest
but it’s nice to have another big change from this lady; it’s got a strong beat
and it’s catchy as all Taylor’s songs are. All You Had To Say makes me smile because
it’s Taylor doing what she does best and that is whack out a song that ladies
can listen to when they’re with their girlfriends, drinking white wine and
eating pizza whilst cursing their latest man to the back of beyond; it’s catchy
as always and you cannot help but think she knows exactly what she’s doing. Shake
It Off is my favourite song on the album’ it’s loud, bright, brash and
so god damn catchy! You can hear me singing this in the shower in the morning,
on the bus, on the train, walking home, and dancing in the subways I cannot get
enough of it. Additionally singing the wordy part in the middle 8 with your
girls over a bottle of wine is the perfect way to spend the evening. It’s just
perfect pop music with a little bit of edge and it shows off her voice
wonderfully; top track! I wish you would honestly sounds like a
number of tracks on her red album. It’s got an 80’s synth vibe and it talks
about breaking up (once again) It’s a pretty standard Taylor track but I wish
she could have sung about something else, it’s catchy but only just halfway
through the album I was getting a little tired of the angsty break up songs.
Now comes something I was not
expecting but kind of loved in a terrible way; it’s ultimately a put down of
Katy Perry and it’s odd because I don’t think Taylor comes across as
particularly callous to other female performers but here she has
definitely taken the chance to throw a few catty comments. Lyrics including ‘You
live like that, you live with ghosts’ which apparently refers to Perry’s song
about the breakup of her marriage whilst lyrics such as ‘the jealous of cherry lips,’ also
refers to the pop starlet. Perry seemed to take a swipe back stating on twitter
‘Watch out for the Regina George in sheep's clothing..’ oooo-errrr.
Wildest Dreams is unfortunately a near
miss for me as although it shows off her voice and it packs a punch it feels
like she is trying to replicate Lana Del Rey. The problem is that Taylor’s
voice is a little too cutesy to carry it off and it falls flat as you’re hoping
to hear the dulcet tones of Miss Rey. There’s not quite enough grit to pull it off
but it’s close and it definitely shows that Taylor is adapting her voice to
attract new listeners. How you get the girl is noticeably the catchiest song on
the album I tell you not! It’s poppy, preppy and typical new Taylor I loved it,
but I didn’t love singing it for the next two days of my life. Now, one thing I’ve
missed from this album is a slow ballad style song and This Love is probably the closest
you’re going to get, it’s a nice change but I wish there were a couple more
slow burners earlier in the album. When reviewing albums I’m always looking for
the arena style track that fans are going to love screaming on her tour and I
think I know places is the one on this stellar album. With the lyrics ‘They are
hunters, we are the foxes,’ You can almost hear the screams! We finish with Clean
and it’s
a wonderful way to end the album with a collaboration with Imogen Heap. The
song is clean and fresh and it finishes the album off perfectly; the harmonies
are also sublime.
Overall I really enjoyed this album
there are a few hits and misses but I like the new sound of Miss Swift and I
can’t wait to hear her next album!
