Taylor Swift

[Norah]

Lover, ranked:

I Think He Knows
You Need to Calm Down
Death by a Thousand Cuts
Cruel Summer
Paper Rings
I Forgot That You Existed
The Man
False God
The Archer
Cornelia Street
Soon You'll Get Better
It's Nice to Have a Friend
Afterglow
Lover
Me!
Daylight
Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince
London Boy

[verb_to_trust]

Me! Is so underrated

[epilogue]

I Forgot That You Existed is so catchy and a great intro into the record. But I kinda hate the way she stops singing to speak a word or two here and there. Not a deal breaker but it's weird. I have a feeling it'll be super charming to me at some point, though. It's the kind of thing that should work on me.

[epilogue]

Cruel Summer is great. Man, I wish Annie was playing guitar on it, though. Maybe she'll do a remix?

[epilogue]

Lover is still a standout for me.

Easily my favorite of the opening run.

Lover
Cruel Summer
I Forgot That You Existed

[epilogue]

Lover (the song) somehow pulls from so many other things that I adore (David Lynch, Lana Del Rey -- btw, I'd probably fall over and die to hear her cover it -- motown, Roy Orbison). It's not quite the post-modern thing trag and I were discussion yesterday because she isn't turning anything on its head. But it's such a rewarding and satisfying listen. Great track.

[epilogue]

The Man reminds me of something else. It's on the tip of my tongue but I can't pinpoint it. I dig it, though and I enjoy the sentiment. It feels like quintessential 2019 pop but it's a excellent version of that thing.

Lover
Cruel Summer
The Man
I Forgot That You Existed

[epilogue]

The Archer is a great change of pace. Atmospheric and pumped with style and tone. Very "modern" and "retro" at the same time. Probably a tad overwrought but who the fuck cares. Shades of so many other artists/sounds that I'm enjoying right now. I do wonder how this will age. Will it be totally limp and forgettable in a year or two as music evolves and shifts styles? Or will it grow in its own confidence and structure? Could end up being something like The Mynabirds third record that just gets more and more rewarding as time goes on.

Lover
Cruel Summer
The Man
The Archer
I Forgot That You Existed

[epilogue]

I Think He Knows is baller af! Pure pop bliss. Again, it feels familiar but also exciting and new. The stacchetto melody is sublime. This is great. I think Lover is a bit more my taste. But really that one and this one are the two easy standouts upon relisten.

Lover
I Think He Knows
Cruel Summer
The Man
The Archer
I Forgot That You Existed

[epilogue]

This record is already stronger this time than it was on first listen. That's good.

[epilogue]

Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince is kind of generic and derivative. It's not bad but it unlike the other track on here where Taylor borrows from familiar styles and tropes, nothing feels elevated here. Others have done this and done it better. It's a little bland and sanded down. I wish it had some edges.

Lover
I Think He Knows
Cruel Summer
The Man
The Archer
I Forgot That You Existed
Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince

[Norah]

I Think He Knows is baller af! Pure pop bliss. Again, it feels familiar but also exciting and new. The stacchetto melody is sublime. This is great.

yesssssssssssssssss

[epilogue]

Paper Rings suffers a bit from proximity. I don't like the sequencing. I wish this didn't follow Miss Americana. There's also something in the phrasing that's too similar to earlier tracks, specifically The Man.

But I like the poppiness and the energy. The sentiment, again, is nice too. It also has a propulsion and relentlessness that wins me over by the end. Certainly danceable and sing-a-long-able.

Lover
I Think He Knows
Cruel Summer
The Man
Paper Rings
The Archer
I Forgot That You Existed
Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince

[epilogue]

Cornelia Street is rich and full. I like the beat and the way the song feels rain-soaked. It's evocative and has a kind of sonic unami quality. Great pop. It's probably too generic and reductive to have long-lasting flavor. But right now it's satisfying in a big way. I like pop music to be drunk to and this fits that perfectly. It's overblown and rom-comy. And that's right up my alley.

Lover
I Think He Knows
Cruel Summer
Cornelia Street
The Man
Paper Rings
The Archer
I Forgot That You Existed
Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince.

[epilogue]

Death By a Thousand Cuts is the first time on that I'm checking to see how long this record is. There's nothing terrible about the song but there's nothing new or fresh or especially gripping for me. It's the first song that I feel like skipping.

Lover
I Think He Knows
Cruel Summer
Cornelia Street
The Man
Paper Rings
The Archer
I Forgot That You Existed
Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince
Death By A Thousand Cuts

[epilogue]

London Boy is so bouncy and accessible. It's a great palate cleanser after the last two tracks. I, too, enjoy drinking in the afternoon, Ms Swift.

Lover
I Think He Knows
Cruel Summer
Cornelia Street
The Man
London Boy
Paper Rings
The Archer
I Forgot That You Existed
Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince
Death By A Thousand Cuts

[verb_to_trust]

Wow! Nice run King Joseph!

[epilogue]

Soon You'll Get Better is a lovely song. I think it's probably trite and cloying but I love the arrangement and I like how different it is from everything else on the record so far. This seems like the kind of song RM would fucking hate. So it makes sense that it touches me.

Also... THE DIXIE CHICKS!

Lover
I Think He Knows
Soon You'll Get Better
Cruel Summer
Cornelia Street
The Man
London Boy
Paper Rings
The Archer
I Forgot That You Existed
Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince
Death By A Thousand Cuts

[epilogue]

False God is another welcome change-up. Love to see her explore this side of the pop spectrum. It comes a little late in what feels like a long, LONG album. But I dig it. It's another one I'd love to hear Laura Burhenn and The Mynabirds cover. I also really love the production on this track. Sounds great, feels fresh and interesting.

Lover
I Think He Knows
Soon You'll Get Better
Cruel Summer
False God
Cornelia Street
The Man
London Boy
Paper Rings
The Archer
I Forgot That You Existed
Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince
Death By A Thousand Cuts

[epilogue]

Auto-tune and "I said damn" aside, You Need to Calm Down is infectious. It's angular yet slithery. The way she forces too many words into the verses is hilarious and reminds me of They Might Be Giants. Yeah, this song is fun.

Lover
I Think He Knows
Soon You'll Get Better
Cruel Summer
False God
Cornelia Street
The Man
You Need to Calm Down
London Boy
Paper Rings
The Archer
I Forgot That You Existed
Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince
Death By A Thousand Cuts