A track-by-track review of Taylor Swift's new album 1989.
(Also at 411Mania.com)
1989 is Taylor Swift’s first full venture into pop music. And it’s awesome. I discussed the genius of Taylor and previewed 1989 (which you can read by clicking here) and now I’m here to review her latest album track-by-track.
1. “Welcome to New York” - Welcome to “Ms. Pop” Taylor Swift is more like it. Heh. Taylor kicks off her new life soundtrack by welcoming us (how kind) and letting us know what to expect (a lot of songs you can dance to). It sets the tone for the entire album.
2. “Blank Space” - At the time of this writing, this is my favorite track. That’ll probably change by the time you read this. This track speaks as a warning to Taylor herslef and to guys and has a Lorde (ya ya) feel to it. Taylor knows she’s about to make a mistake, the guy knows it’s eventually going to end, but why not go for it?
3. “Style” - This one may or may not be about Harry Styles, but let’s pretend that it’s just about two lovers who can’t help but always find their way back to each other. They’re both attracted to each other, even if it might not be healthy. Just like a white t-shirt, it’s always in style, even if you look like a homeless douchebag wearing it.
4. “Out Of The Woods” - We get our first ballad of the album and a nice follow-up to “Style.” Relationships are tough, you gotta remember the good times and get through the rough times. That’s a lot easier sung than done.
5. “All You Had To Do Was Stay” - And the trilogy is complete with this track. Seriously, just listen to “Style,” “Out Of The Woods,” and “All You Had To Do Was Stay” back-to-back-to-back and tell me that it doesn’t sound like a Nicholas Sparks audio book in reverse. I’m waiting for someone to mash-up this track with “Stay Stay Stay” from Red.
6. “Shake It Off” - You’ve heard this song a million times by now and you either hate it but still sing and dance to it or love it and really sing and dance to it. It’s a self-aware empowerment track that I’m sure everyone has chanted after something bad has happened to them. Boss was a jerk today? Shake it off.
7. “I Wish You Would” - If you’ve listened to previous Swift albums, you’ll recognize that she constantly mentions times like 2 and 3 am. It makes me wonder if her relationships would work better if she just went to bed at a decent hour. I love the chorus and arrangement, I could take or leave the lyrics.
8. “Bad Blood” - If it sounds like a Katy Perry song and is sung like a Katy Perry song, is it a song about Katy Perry? Even if it’s not about Katy Perry (it is) it’s still a really good song to listen to as you’re planning your revenge on that friend who wronged you. It bumps well too.
9. “Wildest Dreams” - Everyone tells me that Taylor mimics Lana Del Ray on this track. I don’t listen to Lana Del Ray so I wouldn’t know. I’m not a huge fan of this track because it doesn’t really play to Taylor’s strength and she gets a little lost during it. Sorry Taylor, as much as I love you, you’re not the seductive type.
10. “How You Get The Girl” - To get the girl, all you have to do is be honest. Sounds easy enough. This is a nice self help song for those of us struggling to be in a relationship. If only it were that simple. This song sounds like something off of Speak Now.
11. “This Love” - As John Cena recently found out on Total Divas, if you love something, sometimes you have to let it go. This isn’t “All Too Well” (no track ever will be) but it’s a nice slow song to pace the album.
12. “I Know Places” - As of this writing, this is my favorite track. It’s about taking your lover to a hidden place where you two can be alone. Taylor is mainly talking about escaping the media to be alone, but if you’re just a normal person, you can take it as escaping the terrible people around you who might be jealous of your relationship. It’s that deep, yo.
13. “Clean” - After all the heartbreak and longing throughout the album, Taylor finally admits that it feels good to be clean from relationships on the closing track. The chorus on this song is awesome and I love the collaboration with Imogen Heap.
14. “Wonderland” (Bonus) - It’s the lyrical version of Alice in Wonderland with a love story mixed in. I thought this might’ve been about John Mayer since he did sing “Your Body Is A Wonderland” but I think Taylor has moved past that relationship and already ethered him with “Dear John.”
15. “You Are In Love” (Bonus) - This song will be quoted and played at weddings across the world for years to come. Mine included. It’s just a beautiful song that really tugs at anyone who is currently in love, has been in love, or searching for love.
16. “New Romantics” (Bonus) - While “Clean” was a good ending to the regular album, “New Romantics” is a good ending to the overall product. It’s a new outlook on love and an upbeat song that you just want to dance to.
Final Thoughts: This album is perfect. Alright, so maybe perfect is a bit strong, but I honestly don’t have many complaints. I enter every Taylor Swift album with high expectations and she never disappoints. Every song on this album is catchy in its own way and a medley of every track goes through my head 24/7. Taylor’s first full venture into pop is a success. The only bad thing about new Taylor Swift music is that now I have to wait another two years for new Taylor Swift music.
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