1989

Best Song: Out Of The Woods. I like the layered rhythms and the driving chorus, but I think the writing in this song is the best on the album, from even just a purely aesthetic view. The staccato feeling of "are we out of the woods"and "are we in the clear yet" really gives a feeling of running and driving purpose. Worst Song: Bad Blood. I really dislike the chorus, especially how it sounds like it was designed to be sung by a crowd and therefore can't stand up on its own merits. Overall: A very solid pop album, although it does feel like a mix of megahits and forgettable tracks. Lyrically and tonally it is pretty one-note, but it does that note pretty well.

I wasn't looking forward to this and, while I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it again, 1989 wasn't as bad as I thought. I listened to the Taylor's version of the album as I do respect Taylor thumbing her nose at a controlling record company. I was going to complain about it being overlong, but the original was nearly 30 minutes shorter, so I won't. Ironically, the only song I would like to hear again aside from Shake It Off - which was good fun, is only on Taylor's Version - New Romantics. Overall though, most of the album is just generic, mass market, pop that I feel I could get from anywhere.

I tried to listen to this with an open mind. I get that it's probably better than your average pop album made by a former Nickolodean kids star, but at the end of the day, it's still a pop album made by someone who might as well be a Nickelodeon kids star. Plus, she's a Florida Panthers fan, and that is unforgiveable.

One of my preferred Taylor albums

This is a turn I didn’t expect

is great pop album 5/5

Catchy boppy pop. Not for me.

Best. Album 💗

Better than I expected but still not a Swiftie

This album is incredibly catchy all the way through. I'm really enjoying the non-singles much more than the tracks that were singles, but there's a number of songs I can see myself going back to again and again. Best of the singles for me are probably Style and Bad Blood. Having never listened to the album itself it's much better than I had been anticipating. I think this gets a 5 from me. Haha, the Jack Antonoff-produced tracks practically struck me in the face with their Jack Antonoff-ness. But I did like them. Standout non-singles. Out of the Woods and I Wish You Would.

I’ve heard this album a few times. It’s got that 80’s feel to it. Even the vault songs are good. Best songs are “Shake it Off, Style, Blank Space, and Clean. 1001 album worthy: yes 98/179

First, and foremost, billionaires are inherently unethical, and Taylor Swift is a billionaire. I realize she was far from billionaire status when this album was released, but nevertheless, it needs to be taken into consideration. With that being said, she's clearly not as bad as most billionaires. Now, Swift is the most polarizing musician in the United States Of America. If it's not her misogynistic haters who get a boner listening to Morgan Wallen, it's her cult of Swifties who would have you convinced her diarrhea tastes better than pizza. It's very hard to have any views on here that fits in between these two, but I'm here to let you all know I fall into this (ever) so shrinking demographic. What we have on this album is some great Pop songs which have endured more than a decade. Some of you won't admit it, but you'll catch yourself singing the chorus of these songs to yourself. Thankfully, Swift, at the very least, ditched her Country Music career. Favorite Track: "Shake It Off".

I forgot how insanely catchy this album is. The fact that I was able to sing along in some capacity to every single track came as a shock, but in retrospect is completely unsurprising given how often I used to listen to it. Catchy lyrics and an easy to listen to sound are two of the things that Taylor does very well. I do feel as if it generally lacks the depth I often look for in the music I listen to, but I’m willing to overlook it due to how /fun/ it all is. However, due to how catchy the lyrics are they did have a tendency to start to grate on me a little bit towards the end of each track, and while I was generally able to overlook how corny they are, in certain tracks such as Bad Blood it was particularly apparent. Overall, while I will not pretend this album is some sort of lyrical or musical masterpiece, it’s very good at being what it is: a fun collection of catchy pop music. Favourite track: I Wish You Would

Lots of her most iconic songs that are wide enough in appeal to say even less than just silence. For being so lyrically focused, the emotional content seems to be as dense as a walmart valentines day card. Lots of focus on decentralized general want, revolving around simple wishes of keeping a romantic connection, although the order and arrangement of the songs does not suggest any conscious consideration on her part. "This love is good/This love is bad" Given the level of the popularity of this album it makes sense to have on this list, now I can be an educated hater.

Favorite song: Wonderland (on DLX) and Out of the Woods Nostalgia. It's fine. It's better than a basic corporate pop album but it's not fantastic. It was perfect when I was 7 and I still know all the lyrics to most of the songs but outside of that context it's just classic Taylor Swift. Bad blood has a really good music video, it's just really fun and Kendrick's verse is still good. Wildest dreams can burn and die. I really don't like 'How you get the girl's it feels too corporate pop. The ending to 'I know places' feels very anticlimactic and like it doesn't quite fit the vibe of the end of the song. By the end I was just tired of it.

Good pop songs about bad break-ups

THE GUITAR BUILDUP TO STYLE UGH Probably my 3rd favorite T Swift album. Fun, loud, has a big sound to it that almost feels like NYC in an album

Always love Taylor!

Catchy tunes, but this is fluff from a narcissist.

I own this one… sorta. The first time I heard these songs, it was courtesy of Ryan Adams, who covered the album in its entirety. And it’s great! The arrangements were vastly altered, and while the brainless Swifties were quick to condemn his work, Taylor herself heaped high praise. It had surprised me that he described her album as “perfect”, and given his popularity at the time, that is a bucket of respect. Since then, he’s been Me-Too’d, and who now gives a fuck what he thinks? Me. I still listen to his album on regular. First time I’ve sat thru this version. It’s good, and she’s a great lyricist. Not sure what’s all the hubbub about her, why the vitriol and social media madness. To hell with all that. I hope she keeps kicking ass!

First time I’ve listened to an entire Taylor Swift album, although I’ve heard plenty of her songs. It’s a fairly well done album full of pop nuggets. It was a fun listen.

personne ne m'avais jamais dit que taylor swift c'etait aussi bien !!

Average songs that are over produced.

Surprisingly enjoyable. A well crafted album, mixing the crowd pleasers with some slower tempo songs

Blinding headache after 3 tracks. Felt like I was stuck in a shopping mall.

Perfect poptimism, Taylors lyrics, Antonoffs production. Tay Tay at the top of her game.

Was surprised by this. Pop music bangers. Not really my thing but the quality is undeniable

Perfectly palatable pop. Similar to La Roux or Chvrches from the same period.

Why is this even on here?

Cool

Despite all the metal and hip-hop I enjoy, I have to admit I do like Taylor Swift a lot (currently wearing my favorite T-Swift muscle shirt). And for a while, 1989 was my favorite record from her (eventually dethroned by Folklore). After a re-listen today (Taylor's version, obviously), I'd say that opinion still holds up. In fact, the entire album up through "Wildest Dreams" is pretty much some of her best work to date. "Out Of The Woods" and "All You Had To Do Was Stay" are two of my favorite TS songs ever. And the singles "Blank Space" and "Shake It Off" were worldwide hits for a good reason. On this record, it felt like Taylor found a magical balance between catchy songwriting and her signature narrative lyricism that would continue through her discography to this day. The biggest complaint I have about this album is, like most TS albums, it runs a little long. There are definitely a few tracks that could be cut from the tracklist, especially "This Love." It is far and away one of the most inane songs she's ever written. The lyrics are atrocious, the song is boring, and I skip it every time. But I bet there are a ton of fans out there who would consider it their favorite, and that's the fun thing about music.

PRE-LISTENING: This will be the second time I have listened to a Taylor Swift album. I listened to one of them a few years ago the day it came out (Google tells me it was called Midnights.) I have also heard at least some (maybe all) of Ryan Adams' version of this album. Here goes! LISTENING: Catchy, I get it, it's just not for me. My wallet and I are grateful that I basically missed this phenomenon with Maggie. Enjoyed it more than Supertramp though.

I really like a lot of this, but I have the same issue with this as most of her albums. The songs start all sounding the same and blend together. I might get to 4.5, but the engineering/producing keeps it at 4.

J - 3/5 Best Track - "Bad Blood" F - 3/5

I don't see how Taylor Swift ever became popular or how millions of people unironically like her music. The lyrics are uninspired and basically every song has the exact same music on top of her annoying, shrill voice. I completely understand why this album is on the list, being one of the most influential albums and artists of the 2010s (if not the most), but how Taylor Swift became this influential and loved is beyond me. It's deeply disappointing that nowadays there is a set formula you can follow (chord progressions, melodies, etc) to have your music noticed, and the fact that many artists follow this formula for every single song they make shows that they don't really care about making good music or new music, or authenticity, but they just want to get rich & famous as quickly as they can. It's a relief, of course, to see modern artists that don't follow the same formula for every song, and there are plenty of those, mostly towards the rap side of popular music, but back before my time, every artist would pour their heart and soul into everything they made. Taylor Swift, on the other hand, doesn't even write her own lyrics. It took a team of Hollywood writers to write all the lyrics, another team of musicologists and actual musicians to write the instrumentals and make them using a computer program, and another team of sound engineers to expertly autotune and basically curate Taylor Swift's voice, all to create a generic, boring song whose entire purpose is to get stuck in everyone's heads for a week and then be forgotten. It took one man to write Bohemian Rhapsody (and another 3 to perform it, I'll give her that), in all its complexity and grandeur, and it still survives as a well-known and well-loved song 50 years later. If you can't even make your voice sound good with autotune and a million filters, it's time to switch to playing bass.

Before you come to me and says "no i won't listen to anything you say, this IS shit", please consider my age and the environment i grow up: i am 16, grew up listening to western popular music and 1989 is, for me, the pop album of all time. there's the perfectly catchy melody and sometimes bit of complex, and very 80s flashback. and everybody here hates 80s synthpop, am i right? (it functions better when you are staying in NYC during the summer with your family members cause when "welcome to new york" hits the only thing you can do is to pray for the school year to end (i think i said before that i'm asian. and actually my finals are still a week away.) so you can take your plane ride and land in JFK ASAP.) (and for ppl who hate Bad Blood: ok so i admit the version featuring Kendrick is indeed better, but literally i had beef and has been backstabbed by one of my moots so the original version never age for me. if you don't like it just pretend you are a 16 years old who get traumatic from a very serious beef which invloves things such as willingful devotion, mistagged misandry, overly politically conscious radfems and a bunch of moot who believed in that moot's lies and helped to spread them that began a year ago and the said 16 years old never recovered from the beef. that's why it speaks for me.) 5/5.

The hits were hitting and the rest was…well, missing

I am far from a Taylor Swift hater but this is her at her most radio-friendly and unoriginal

Dá pra entende a importância da pessoa no mercado, mas não é minha vibe!

I just don't get it.

eh, I knew a swiftie once and this has soured any chance of enjoying her music Will I listen to again: 0%

Die krankzinnige aantallen 'plays' op Spotify. Die nietszeggende nummers. Ik snap het echt niet. Niks voor mij. Ik word te oud. "Shake it Off" is wel catchy, "Wildest Dreams" in de verste verte wel interessant qua productie.

Gotta long list, Starbucks lovers …

It's not too bad. I'm not really a fan. But it's not too bad. My wife and daughters really like her. I'm pretty indifferent. Hence the 3 stars. I by no means think it's bad. I just don't think it's that good either.

Eat the rich.

In my wheelhouse.... Talented singer -songwriter. Mainstream pop, but in the good sense

well it's a flaweless pop album. too bad i'm not into pop music

If this album was a spice, it would be sparkly flour

This is what a pop record should sound like. Incredibly high standards across the whole album, bona fide sing along bangers, great production.

def taylor’s best album. usually dislike her stuff but i liked/sang along to most of the tunes on this album. “wildest dreams” might be my favorite. lots of good memories associated with the songs on these album. 5/5!

You may or may not be a fan of Taylor Swift, but it is really hard to deny that this is simply a really, really good pop album. This is the first Taylor Swift album I’ve ever listened to, and honestly it won’t be the last. I may be a rock and metal head at heart, but I’ve always recognised great pop stuff, and this is totally that.

Classic

This belongs on this list way more than any of the Leonard Cohen albums. If I was a woman Id probably find this a little lore enjoyable.

4.3 - I enjoyed this more than I ever thought I would.

Peak pop Taylor Swift. Don’t overthink it, just enjoy it. On this listen I was impressed at how crisp the production is on Blank Space and Shake It Off. Style’s instrumental almost sounds like a Weeknd track. Out of the Woods and All You Had to Do Was Stay could both easily have been singles. I had forgotten how cringey it is when she says “this. sick. beat.” Bad Blood is also a bit cringey but also undeniably catchy - I actually really like the Kendrick Lamar version also. Wildest Dreams is surely a Lana Del Rey song. I can’t quite get over how every song here is so catchy - you could pretty much make any of the first 10 tracks singles, I’m surprised she didn’t milk this album more tbh. The last 3 tracks don’t add much for me, but there is just so much good pop on this album. It deserves recognition as a great record. Fave Tracks: Welcome to New York, Blank Space, Style, All You Had to Do Was Stay, Shake It Off, Bad Blood, Wildest Dreams, How You Get the Girl 4.6/5

I'm not the target demo here. I get that Taylor and the producers massively changed the pop sound for years with this album. After the fact, this album sounds like every single other pop-princess.

Not my music, but definitely some catchy tunes.

I can’t not rate this a 5. This is just an amazing album. I gave 5 stars to Lorde, and I’ll give another 5 to Swift. What can I say, I like Jack Antonoff

lol

I’m not a swift hater or anything but this all sounded super dated to the mid 2010s. Like a compilation album of songs that played in commercials for the gap.

How easy is it to judge the world's top artist of the last... 10 years, maybe? "The bigger the star, the bigger the target", said Michael Jackson. I'll try to be fair in my judgement as I do with all the other artists and not just drop hate on her work for no reason. In a technical aspect, the album is very simple. The songs structure is very repetitive and predictable, almost screaming "2014!". This is not exclusive to Swift, neither to the last decade, since I could say the same thing about, for example, Buddy Holly. The part that really makes me downgrade this album is the lyrical aspect, they can be unbelievably bad sometimes and sound very silly, even for early 2010s standards. What I can't deny, though, is Taylor's authenticity. I don't deny for even a minute that she really lives, believes and feels what she sings. On the other hand, that relates to another negative aspect of this album: its worldview is extremely broken and a general reflex of post-modern society's view on relationships. Everything and everyone is discardable and partners are often seen as just "players". With all of that, this album ends up not being an artistic disaster, but supports values I can't stand to. Its significance to the last decade certainly can't be denied and almost sounds like a soundtrack of that time. 5/10 (I analyse arts through a christian worldview, which, as a christian, I believe is the correct way to interpret the world.)

I refuse to listen to this woman. Worst thing to happen to music.

FIRE 🔥🔥

hard no

I liked it more when I was 15.

It was very interesting to listen to this album because even though I have only heard a few songs from it out in the world, I am really familiar with these songs because I have listened to the Ryan Adams cover version album dozens of times. So even though the instrumentation is different and Ryan made them sound like Ryan Adams songs, the lyrics are the same and the melodies are similar enough to make it feel like I have heard these songs before. I found myself tapping my feet and when I compare them I realize that these are just good, well written songs in either version. I am not a pop music kind of guy really but I have always respected Taylor Swift for being an artist who seems to really be true to her own vision and talent. I'm not likely to play this again but for what it is and the audience it is intended for, it's as good as contemporary pop music can be.

This is what the one star rating is for

I would give anything to never hear Shake it off again

First time that I've listened to a Taylor Swift album. Catchy tunes. Don't need to listen to them again, but I now understand some of the appeal.

Odds are - that when 70% of your fanbase is girls between the ages of 5-25 you are not going to appeal to old dudes raised on Jam bands, blues and old school rock and roll. This did not beat the odds. It wasn't awful but I wouldn't go as far as to call it enjoyable.

Validated my disdain

This album is worthy of study. This record transitioned T Swift into icon status. Iconic gets tossed around willy-nilly these days, but she's an icon now...Elvis, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Madonna....icons who caught the whole world's attention for a number of years. Taylor is on that list now, and this album started that movement. There isn't a cheat code to this, its a bit of magic...but ultimately you need catchy catchy catchy songs, and this album has that.

I’m not a Swiftie by any means, but I can respect the insane impact it has had on everything after this.

Not the kind of music that I usually listen! The only reason I gave it a 3 ;-) Nothing against her, nothing against her music, she's obviously a talented woman... but this music is, for me, the kind of music I compare to a gum, you chew it and you through it away when finished!

this is honestly a pretty tough album to rate. i think it’s one of the best pop albums of all time both musically and culturally. but the original release doesn’t have New Romantics on it, only being included on the deluxe. which is absolute insanity. still great though and probably my 3rd favorite taylor album

I liked this album. I've not listened to an entire album by Swift before. I like almost all of her radio singles. The non-radio singles were mostly strong, but by the end, the last three felt like just a bunch of 'Taylor Swift-isms' thrown together and they weren't as strong as the rest of the album.

I've heard some of these songs before, but not by choice. Trying to get through the album only served to reinforce my belief that everything Swift does is manufactured for wide appeal. The songs sound like they're put together by focus groups and industry execs running algorithms to determine how to sell as many copies of the album as possible. There's no soul in it. Someone knows what they're doing though, because this mediocre product does sell millions of units no matter how empty and disposable it is. Which is fine for them and Taylor, but it means nothing to me. If people like it, good for them.

The boiled, unseasoned chicken of the music industry

I will admit that I have a soft spot for Blank Space. It's a great pop song and a guilty pleasure of mine. There's a couple other tracks I didn't mind but this music is really not my bag. If there has to be a Taylor Swift album on this list, this should be it. I already listened to evergreen on the list and that one was baaaaaaaaad.

I dare you to commit suicide while listening to Shake It Off

Even if you're not a big fan of her music, it's hard to deny how impressively Taylor Swift pivoted with this album and became an incredible musical juggernaut. And it's equally hard not to enjoy all of the singles on this and subsequent albums; it almost feels like she's somehow created greatest hits albums with each new release. She's managed to combine her undeniable success with a seemingly genuine personality and very savvy business sense, and created a lasting 21st phenomenon that seems rivalled only by Beyonce (and probably only Madonna and Michael Jackson from the 20th century). I've never listened to this album in its entirety (although impossible to miss all the singles), so that was nice to experience. It's definitely not music for musicians or even songwriters, but it's certainly entertaining (and I'm confident that the numerous videos on this album are equally so, although I wasn't able to watch them).

This is a good album, not gonna lie. But listening to this fills me with rage at what an insecure fuck put together this list of 1001 albums because he clearly doesn't love the ladies. This album should be on this list. But to include this 2014 album and not include Robyn's 2010 Body Talk or even 2004 Robyn is just outrageous--pop supreme. Elsewhere, when I get yet another Bjork album I'll rail against only one Patti Smith but for now I'm gonna play tiny dancer Robyn to clarify the air.

Definitely not my favourite Taylor Swift album but I can’t NOT give this 5/5. Every song on here is at minimum good with many iconic hits. Top Tracks: This Love, Clean, Wildest Dreams, Blank Space Bonus (deluxe version): You Are In Love

Fire so many bangers

There’s a reason Taylor has the absolute reign over pop music stardom, and 1989 is proof positive. All the way through the album there’s just incredible pop hits and her lyrics are the sharpest they’ve been. It’s very easy to pile on Taylor, especially for her more recent lack of editing, but this is a certified classic album, no matter how you slice it. Only knocked it down a star for some of the more derivative songs.

This album slaps. It’s great until the last 2 songs

(возможно лучший ёё) альбом с невъебенными бангерами. Здесь нет вот этого греха поп-альбомов, типа "вот вам песня на три миллиарда прослушиваний и кучу недоделанного гавна - тадааа, альбом!" Нравилось на релизе, нравится и сейчас. Лучшая песня - Blank Space.

TOO Pop!

Literally invented pop

I never heard a Taylor Swift song that didn't sound like a shampoo commercial. Some parts are catchy, and other parts feel contrived to the point of being a turn off. A couple good songs ("Blank Space", "Style"), plenty of skips ("Welcome to New York" for SURE, "Shake it Off"). I don't think anyone cares what I really think here so I'm going to shut the fuck up.

You can’t listen to some of these songs and not feel the need to dance or just feel joy. This isn’t my favourite Taylor swift album but it is up there. Very enjoyable.

Overrated, overproduced girl pop. But it's very accessible, and at times, catchy and nostalgic. So I won't give it a 2.

Quite generic radio pop of it's time. Presumably good stuff in this category. I liked the Ryan Adams song to song version of this album way more.

I tried, I really did but couldnt really listen this

Plays like an expensive producers pop record, sounds like it's put together by a committee, produced to sound current with retro sound. This has all the ingredients I dislike in modern popular music. Ms. Swift has a pretty voice.

it can get to all feel the same sometimes but beyond that its fun

The height of 2010s pop. There are so many hits on this album, so many songs which are era defining, artist defining. Yes, the production a bit thick for me. It feels that in the final minutes of "How You Get the Girl" every sample they could find in the synthesiser is being replicated 100-fold. And perhaps this isn't an album which I really really engage with on a deep deep personal level. I think I bond more with her later works (e.g. Evermore) where she really strips it all back. But this is still absolutely phenomenal. Perhaps the best pop album of all time.

This album is hard for me to rate. On one hand, this is pretty cut and dry pop music. It has some catchy tracks, some decent vocals, and some well written lyrics. On the other hand, I know it speaks volumes to a lot of people. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. A lot of Taylor Swift's music is a window into an emotional state that I personally have very little experience with. I have been extremely lucky in love, and have experienced very little heartbreak, betrayal, or any other classic themes featured heavily in Swift's song writing. I am also not a mega star, with a lot of eyes watching me all the time. I don't have "haters" but can appreciate the mantra of shaking them off. That being said, I can still objectively listen to the music. 1989 is a good pop album. I know a lot of people will give this a 1, a lot will give it a 5. I think it's clearly not a 1. It's catchy enough to at least warrant a 2. I like the music, I like the messages, I do not resonate with the emotions portrayed, which is not necessarily a bad thing, and I hate to give a point off for it. Melodically it's not too interesting, it's just 80s inspired pop. At the end of the day this is a 4/5 album, I'd be confident in saying between 7.5 and 8/10 on a 10 point scale. It's objectively good, for some people this will be fantastic, for others it'll be fine. Still for others this will be awful, and they'll rate it extremely low for no real reason aside from being closeted iconoclasts who will argue that they are not in fact iconoclasts, but "enlightened". Get a life. 4/5.

I aint a hater man but I don't think it held up very well

Lots of her hits but seems a bit hollow from a depth perspective. In the 3 side of a 3.5.

Yeah I heard someone say Taylor Swift sounds like unseasoned chicken once and I have to agree. Like how does she have such a massive following?

Really enjoyed this - reminds me of year 12!

Insanely catchy and enjoyable pop music. About 10 years late to the party, but damn 'Blank Space' is a killer track.

It's been described as a modern pop Bible - and it probably is. Almost every song could have been a single; and more than half of them actually were one. I ended up listening to Taylor's Version. Is it cheating? Probably. Do I care? No. What will you do? Fire me? Go ahead.

come on now .. this is peak modern pop

3/5 decent pop

It all started off quite pleasant and then lost its way halfway through before sort of just ending with a whimper.

Je ne suis pas une personne qui écoute beaucoup de pop, mais j'admets que j'aimais déjà plusieurs des chansons de cet album. Elles accrocheuses, addictives, diablement le fun (et difficiles) à chanter. Je comprends pourquoi Taylor Swift remporte tout ce succès.

The second most hit dense pop album ever. She's not my favorite, but her prowess is undeniable.

Good record

I tried, it didn’t stick

ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS EVER ! SLAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

Listens: 1 I do not much care for or understand the popularity of Taylor Swift, but I do recognize that she is both a cultural phenomenon and wildly popular. The subject matter of the songs on this album is not something I am interested in. The music is largely synthetic, which, while I do not inherently have any issues with (being an enjoyer of all manner of the electronica genre), I imagine she did not solely create. This may be a disingenuous criticism though, because I imagine Lorde or Lana Del Ray also fall into this category of working with producers to create melodies, and I enjoy some of their music. I may just need to listen to the album a few more times before really casting any further judgement.

I wish I could rate this with 0 stars

leichtes geträller im popkleid - schlager à l‘américaine?! die zeit geht im flug, und dann ist dann gut.

Für mich belangloser Pop, für andere das Höchste. Lässt mich etwas ratlos zurück, erklärt aber vieles.

3.5

I do not understand why is so much ado about Taylor Swift, when music presented on this album is just... an avarage pop music.

Never been a Swiftie and this did not convert me. It’s the most generic pop music.

This was actually harder to get through than I thought. I’ve heard most of these songs in isolation, but in one big lump their repetitive and over-produced nature really wore on me. I like her more recent folksy stuff far more. Standout track is: “Style”

Not much for modern pop but as the genre goes, this was a good album. At least Taylor can really sing without being breathy as compared to some of the other pop stars out there.

Having a teen girl and a pre-teen girl when this album came out means that I heard the album a LOT. And the previous albums, and the future albums. So I know the songs. But one thing that always struck me about Taylor Swift was how she stands up for herself, without becoming a terrible person. She charted her own path and has enjoyed huge success in doing so. And with each new sound, she never went off the rails as so many young female artists have. She was, and is, someone that I didn't mind my daughters listening to, singing along with, and looking up to. Granted, a lot of songs have dealt with more mature themes as she (and they) have grown up, but I'm not a total curmudgeon. One note though: Rather than this album as originally recorded, I queued up 2023's "1989 - Taylor's Version". Because fuck you, Scooter.

Álbum muito nostálgico para mim. Ele é consistente nas virtudes e nos defeitos, o maior sendo a repetitividade dos refrões, que são cansativos. Tem bons momentos.

Undeniably excellent album.

Genius

Honestly didn’t hate it

didn't get it, thought she's meant to be a pop writing genius... I didn't like anything on this

An emotionless void of an album that is saved by really good production and a few pop hits

You all already know my thoughts in detail about this

Some hits. Some duds.

Hard not to love this one, given how catchy so many of the tracks were more than a decade ago. They're still pretty good and hold up well for me. Taylor has great vocal work and the instrumentals are quite fun! 'How You Get The Girl' was my fave from this set.

sucks ass

Pretty much the only Taylor Swift album I have listened to. It has fun bops and is real reminiscent of 2014, a fun time in my life.

Sooooo many bangers wtf

I like a bit of Taylor. Harmless fun

First time listening to Taylor on purpose but I have definitely heard all the tracks before. 3.8 stars

When 1989 came out, I wanted to hate it. I remember when Taylor’s first album came out. Back when she was a teenager (so was I). Back when she was country. I was all like, “I hate country. I hate Taylor Swift.” I felt the same about the other 3 albums. But then 1989 came out. I was ready to be like “I hate country. I hate Taylor Swift.” But then I heard “Shake It Off” for the first time, and I was like 😡…🎷🌝 It’s not a perfect album, but the great songs are great and the hits hit hard. Pretty fun overall. But it’s not as good as Folklore.

This album was deserving of all awards it won!

If one wants to chart the moment Taylor Swift morphed from omnipresent country princess to omnipresent pop behemoth, look no further. 1989 was the denouement of an ongoing shift in Taylor's upward trajectory, where she reached the peak of her powers in the first decade of her career. Of course, given what has happened since, there was little and lots to know in regards to where she'd head but none of that would have been possible had she not made the full splash as opposed to dipping her toe in the water. Favorites: Welcome to New York, Blank Space, Style, Out of the Woods, I Wish You Would, Wildest Dreams, This Love.

I know more songs from this album than I want to admit.

Naja, ich werde kein Swiftie!

A lot of fun catchy pop music, that despite being about break ups a lot of the time, was pretty fun

Sorry don't agree with her manipulating fans to line her bank balance so refuse to listen

I have to hold my tounge and say it is a very well produced album songs vary a lot for being pop and tons of singles all diferent styles so that shows me versatility as an artist. Not bad Im not a swifty thibgy but have always respected he songwriting and her as an artists not my cup of tea cause I dont like pop but couldnt get away from this on the radio so kond of was fed up but as an album in order its great story telling and I have to objectively give it 4/5 as much as I would love to have given it a 1 because I heard shake it up a billion times

Standard Taylor Swift. Some bops, some not as good. Would listen to as background.

Yaaaaay I’m listening to TV tho

Been on a Taylor-break since last year’s Tortured Trash Can Debacle, and I thought maybe I just wasn’t that into her music anymore in general, but I was wrong. Just loved this album as much as I always have. HOWEVER: ‘Welcome to New York’ is still terrible and I hate it so much; I don’t understand how ‘How You Get the Girl’ made the cut, while ‘New Romantics’ didn’t; and, if for some reason you felt the need to listen to the Taylor’s Version of this instead of the original, I encourage you to stick to the original.

Before I knew what I know about her I loved this album.

Listened once to Taylor's version, listened once to the original. Sorry, Taylor. Not exactly my speed, but I still enjoy this. Wildest Dreams, Style, Blank Space are my favourites (the latter two I knew before this listen). I am giving everything here a fair chance! When this was coming out (2014) I was graduating from high school. Some friends were driving to Edmonton to see her. They invited me, but I turned it down because the tickets were too expensive at $80. Knowing what I know now, I wish I had gone.

3.5

2.5

There are three songs I really liked on this album, "Style", the self penned "This Love", and the Imogen Heap produced "Clean". There were a couple songs where the chorus would catch my ear while the rest of it just felt like uninspired pop ("Blank Space", "All You Had To Do Was Stay"). The rest is really the kind of Max Martin pop I really stay away from. Then there's the egregious errors a) the fkg cheerleader beat on "Shake It Off" (I just don't like that particular brand of pop whether it's Taylor, Avril, Gwen, Chappell or even Toni Basil)... b)"areweoutofthewoodsareweoutofthewoodsareweoutofthewoodsareweoutofthewoods areweintheclearyetareweintheclearyetareweintheclearyetareweintheclearyet" gave me a fkg headache... and c) "Bad Blood" which everytime Taylor acts like a bad ass, it just comes off like high school drama. Ultimately I don't like this album, but it's not horrendous. Just the hype around it makes it feel like it is. (5.85) ★★½

Not bad. I just feel indifference towards it. 2.5 stars

3.5/5

I'm not the biggest pop fan, but I unironically think this is a really good album. A lot of pop music for me is sort of style over substance, and while I don't always find Taylor's lyrics that relatable, I think she's a solid songwriter with a knack for crafting catchy melodies. I think the first 9 tracks on this are all good songs, and think there's quite a few highlights, including "Blank Space", "Style", "Out of the Woods", and "I Wish You Would". I think it kind of fizzles out at the end though. 4 stars.

4.5

Absolutely perfect indie crossover for Tay Tay. Not country like her earlier stuff, nor tacky and cringe like Reputation or totally snoozy like her Folksnore albums or as bad as her most recent stuff. Just the perfect Tay Tay Goldilocks zone. (although she does come close to matching it with a certain album called 1989 Taylor’s Version). You have a clutch of songs that feel completely sensational. From the widescreen allure of Welcome To New York, pop juggernauts of Blank Space and Shake It Off plus Style which totally smokes in a neon lit 80s way. It’s not too long at 13 songs and 48 minutes but the weaker half definitely pales massively to all the best stuff. But the best songs and overall production and vibes are so good and the vocals so vivaceous. A 2010s Thriller with some filler.

Some shrill moments, but classic moments as well. Anthemic boldness make it a good listen

This is the one Taylor Swift album I know. Times were different in a weird way then as I know the Ryan Adam’s version the most so hearing this was interesting as the songs took on such a different, but layered and satisfying turn that I hadn’t realized before. I could also have been high.

Flawless 21st century pop. The perfect balance of excited high energy and introspective low energy, of earnestness and snark, of wide eyed innocence and winking experience. This is Taylor Swift announcing to the world that she’s coming for the top spot.

My era

I was ready to shit all over this album, as I'm fully Taylor-saturated by now. But as much as I try, I can't dislike almost anything on here. It's poppy and a somewhat guilty pleasure for me, but a real pleasure at that. Peak Taylor right here.

pls don't bring me back to the feeling of being in a forever 21 in 2014 ever again

Honest to god I've been deliberating this for a week and to the surprise of everyone but especially me, I've decided to challenge my prejudices and be positive even if I find this album slightly to moderately annoying, shallow, overproduced, american etc, the girl can make a catchy tune dammit. Also I've been under constant attack by extremely mid albums recently which in turn has caused my average rating to fall and make me look like a hater. Which I am, but shhh don't tell anyone!

2.5/5

Sometimes, I roll my eyes at Taylor Swift's music because there are certain things about it that annoy me: her muddled metaphors, the cliché turns of phrase, the way she overemphasizes her cheesiest lines. All of these things are on "1989," but her strengths are more honed than ever too: her ability to write hooks that stay in your head for years, her soaring vocals, the way she takes vulnerable feelings and amplifies them into stadium-sized emotions. I can't help but get swept up in it. And the things I roll my eyes at on other albums of hers kind of become charming quirks when the songs are this good. The production takes cues from 80s pop, but gets pumped up with big, Max Martin drums. The music is bubblegum pop one moment, sweeping melodrama the next, and Taylor Swift carries it all with confidence. An irresistible album for me.

I've been wanting to hear this one from start to finish for a while now so I'm glad to see it pop up. "Shake It Off" is a really great piece of pop music. It had its time in the spotlight but since then I've heard it randomly and I've had this thought linger that this song is so good for what it is. It's not some deep lyrical piece, but it's an incredibly catch song with a lot of quality elements and one of the better pristine poppy tracks of at least that decade. The pop-hip hop groove is great, the melodies are impressively catchy, that brass part is so infectious, those little laugh faux adlibs are adorable, and it doesn't take itself too seriously. It sounds like she's having fun sitting there in the studio and it is so glaringly more genuine than a lot of her other tunes. This is a side of Taylor Swift that I desperately want more of. Even if she made more tracks outside of this style but took the authenticity of this track and approached her other songs in this manner, I would be way more into her stuff. Unfortunately, many of the other songs are hard for me to get through. The intro "Welcome To New York" sounds like a fake song that some Gen Z'er made to make fun of "millenial music". It tries to be expansive with huge synths at 00:44, I guess to show this big grandiose version of the city? The production doesn't do it any favors; the kicks don't kick you, the snares don't snap, and the claps are the most perfectly aligned "keyboard drumset" nonsense you can imagine. It's so vanilla. The lyrics are her usual bland variety: "It's a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat, beat forevermore The lights are so bright, but they never blind me, me Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you" What was the purpose of this track? I don't think it came from a great set of lyrics, I don't think it came from a great melody either, as the melody sounds more like it was bolted on rather than baked in. It sounds like it was made to check the box of having a "club song" on her record. Or rather a "song that girls will play before they go out to the club". This is my least favorite reasoning to write a song- album playlist pragmatism. I'm surprisingly annoyed by the chorus in "Out of the Woods", as this soft-pop style doesn't really ever present musical elements that are annoying to me but that chorus is kind of grating to hear over and over and over. And it's not even that catchy of a phrase that it could be played on repeat a few times and then everyone on earth will be humming it for weeks. At the end where we get a full like 32(?) measures of it from 3:07 to 3:50 is particularly annoying. "areweoutofthewoodsyetareweoutofthewoodsyetareweoutofthewoodsyetareweoutofthewoodsyetareweoutofthewoodsyetareweoutofthewoodsyet". I really don't want to dislike Taylor Swift. She's a polarizing figure in my friend groups, and honestly I don't ever really let that influence me too much; I can enjoy acts that none of my friends like, and I can dislike acts that all of my friends like, and yet every time I go to give Taylor Swift some time I always get let down. She has a great voice, she has all the producers she could ever want to work it, and hell she is a pop star who writes her own songs (or at least has some effort in it? I remember this being a thing years ago and I don't know if she still writes as much). That should be enough to churn out great tunes over and over forever and evermore, and yet that's not what happens. "Shake It Off" is a truly great song, and there are some other hits on here that people love- like "Blank Space", "Bad Blood", "Style", that I feel like are inflated by her fan base and are just OK pop tracks. The repetitive and formulaic choruses just frustrate me to rate this any higher than a 3.

1989 is Taylor Swift's fifth studio album, and the work that marked her transition from folk/country to more synth-based pop. The album was incredibly successful, both in its original release, and in the (Taylor's Version) re-release. In 2016, it won the Grammy for Album of the Year and for Best Pop Vocal Album. Swift writes great, uplifting pop songs, and she has become an international superstar because of it.

I get why she’s super popular, but her stuff isn’t for me. Some is cringe. Some is good that’s all I can say.

1989 is full of melodic pop bangers, it can’t be denied. Having two 9 year daughters, I’ve been over exposed to her, so listening to it today didn’t really hit. But she is the undeniable Queen of Pop. She’s not The Beatles, but she might be Michael Jackson 8.6/10

I am pleasantly surprised! I was totally prepared to give this two stars but it refused to allow me to hate it.

I just had 2 five star albums in a row so I was expecting something bad to come next. Unfortunately for me, it happened to be an "album" with everything I hate about my generation's music taste (so worse than I expected). After listening to the album I do think I was slightly over exaggerating but I still didn't enjoy. To me it feels pretty corporate and unimpressed. It also isn't very relatable but that is probably because I'm not the target audience. Still, I had to listen to this on the radio for years so my brain is programmed to hating it. Would be a 1.5 but since it's overplayed to hell and back I'm giving it a 1.

genuine struggle listen

Jag tycker TS är grymt överskattad och det här är ett av hennes sämre album enligt mig, tråkig, förutsägbar pop. 1 av 5

I will preface this review by stating that I was expecting much worse. In reality, there are many cool pop hits with solid hooks. The lyrics are not something to write home about, but of all of the Taylor Swift records, I was glad to get this one.

I gave Led Zeppelin IV 5 stars because recognized most songs as hits, and by that logic TS also deserves a 5

This album will never be anything less than a five to me because of the countless number of times that my daughter and I have belted these tracks out together over the years.

good pop

I'm neither a Swiftie nor a hater, so I have a hard time getting excited about this album either way. It was probably the first Taylor Swift album I listened to all the way through when it was released, and I enjoyed a few of the singles. At the same time, while it's decent enough pop music, it's also very typical Max Martin/Jack Antonoff/Ryan Tedder fodder, and all of the songs blend together after a while (which is how I feel about most of Taylor's music — the same two or three melodies over and over). I think Taylor deserves to be on a list like this, but more so for her impact/influence than her actual music. I think she's a competent songwriter, and I appreciate the vulnerable singer-songwriter lyrics. I can also appreciate how she's played with genre and her image over the years. For whatever reason though, I've never really connected with her songs the same way I have with other artists (or the way so many fans have with her). Even if not many of her songs have resonated with me personally, it's hard to deny the impact she's had on the music world. She has obviously influenced an entire generation of artists (for better or worse) given the endless copycats you can hear now. But I think her real strength is in her business acumen. She and Beyonce are probably the closest thing to a Madonna or a Michael Jackson we'll see in the 21st century. As for the album itself, it's fine. It's perfectly serviceable pop music. It marks a turning point in her music where she starts to shift from teen star into a more mature artist. And a few songs have decent staying power (and meme power — Starbucks lovers, etc.). When comparing the original album to the "Taylor's version" re-recording it's clear that her voice has improved over the years, though she'll never be a powerhouse singer. But this album is also really long and repetitive. Besides the singles, there's not a ton that stands out for me. After listening to it a couple times when it first came out, I haven't had any desire to listen to it again, and I had zero memory of the non-single tracks after putting it on for this listen. 3/5 — decent but not amazing

Blank Space Style Out of the Woods Shake It Off

The Queen of Im14andthisisdeep. Like come on the lyrics on bad blood are abysmal. But pretty good for an eighth grader! Rating: 1.4

While her type of music isn’t my thing, I do think Taylor Swift is a talented musician and songwriter. This album, though, is just formulaic pop at its worst and when it’s at its best it just seems like outtakes from CHVRCHES’ The Bones of What You Believe.

Brilliant slice of pop.

I guess I am the only one who doesn't get it. The songwriting isn't great, the musical arrangement isn't mindblowing, and these songs are not particularly catchy. I understand that sometime we all feel like a little girl in a big girl's body, but sometime after your early 20's you have to move on. I got 50 year old dudes telling me that Taylor Swift is the new Bruce Springsteen (who I also don't quite get, but that is a different story for a different time). As with any artistic endeavour, music is subjective...I guess I just prefer to turn to Sara Bareilles, Tori Amos, Fiona, or Tegan and Sara when I need my angsty girl pop fix.

Wildest dream is a banger but rest of the album did scratch the itch

Very nostalgic, I remember being a kid listening to this. Not as big on pop now, and I barely listen to her. Still solid. I wasn't planning on ranking this so high but I can't help it. So many catchy hits that I somehow remember every word to even though its been years since I heard them. Highlights: Blank Space Shake It Off Bad Blood

I know you would probably expect me to be very hard on 1989 considering that the person who made it has one of the worst fanbases ever but i don't really think i can since i don't hate this album all too much. Don't get me wrong, its not perfect but i was expecting quite a bit worse. The music, while not something out of the ordinary for contemporary pop, is serviceable and has enough variety. Taylor's vocals were also pretty good as well but the lyrics have a certain cringeiness to them and they cause the songs to feel like they are in a weird order. Its by no means an amazing album but it has enough good elements for it to get a pass from me. Best Song: Style Worst Song: Clean

I suppose it had to happen eventually. Whenever I talk about this "1 album a day" project with a friend he always asks, "any Taylor Swift yet?". I have never knowingly heard her before. How is that possible? I don't listed to broadcast music. My listening is normally "limited" to within the 3,200 hours of my own collection. "Expanding my musical horizons" (in the scope of "modern music") is why I am listening to recommendations from this site. So onto this, "1989" and Taylor Swift. Her voice is good, although it seems a bit over-processed. It is being manipulated electronically to a degree I find irritating. A shame as I suspect her voice doesn't need it. The tunes are catchy. I suppose that's good. But it's all a bit fluffy, even dare I say it, "Disney". I'd probably categorise it as "relentless, formulaic synth pop". It isn't that we're "not at home to Mr. Emotional Engagement", he isn't knocking at the door, in fact he may not even be in the same postal code. Is this the best she can do? I hope not, otherwise I am struggling to understand all the hype about this artist. Timeline... I've now got as far as track 6, "Shake it off" and my patience is wearing thin. The whole listening experience is starting to grate. A bit of variety would be welcome. 2/5. Unimaginative, over-produced, fluff. Decent vocal talent wasted. I'm sure it sold very well, but there's no depth.

Love me some T Swift but I hear it so much she doesn’t get my 5.

Lovely stuff

Epic

I freaking love this album, it's my 2nd favourite by Taylor. "Welcome to New York" is a great intro, and then? "Blank space", "Style", "Out of the woods", "AYHTDWS", "Shake it off", "I wish you would", "Bad blood" - bangers. "Wildest dreams"? One of the most beautiful pop ballads. "How you get the girl"? Amazing. "This love", "You are in love" and "Clean" are a bit slower, but stole my heart. "I know places" and "Wonderland" are wonderful. "New romantics" is my favourite song from this album. Vault tracks are so beautiful, "Is it over now?" made me fall in love with Taylor. I give it 10/10

People will hate Taylor Swift and 1989 on principle and while I went in with said stance I will concede that the album is completely fine. This is tightly designed pop music that is showing its age 10 years on. Ultimately the album references for me a time in popular music which I am not positively nostalgic of. 1989 targets a young audience and leaves a saccharine impression but at the end of it all you cannot completely deny the sweet tooth for catchy, massive choruses. Rating: 3.5

I sat on this one for over a month after it was generated, because I suspected I was going to hate the listening experience, but have successfully isolated myself from pop music for so long that I wasn't certain. There's also a certain reluctance to contaminate my music recommendation algorithms, you know? Anyway. Thirty three days later, I finally sucked it up and gave Taylor Swift a listen. Shallow. Hollow. Overproduced. Prepackaged and sanitized for popular consumption. I know I haven't quite made it through 10% of the albums on this project yet, and a few of my all time favorites are still in the future - so I'm going to go clean my ears by listening to one of those. Todd Rundgren, save me!

Taylor Swift gets a lot of hate and I get it but some of these songs are pretty damn catchy. It’s not the music I like but I can see the appeal

Can’t deny she’s a hitmaker

Sorry Kyle, it's good

Robotic production I hate jack antonoff

Never listened to this album before but turned out I knew most of the songs already. It's pop for pre-teens so not really my thing, but a pleasant enough listen anyway.

Hell to the no

Njen najbolji album

First listen to this entire album. Was only familiar with "Shake It Off" which is an enjoyable tune. Leading up to that track, I was not moved much by any of the first five tunes. "Blank Space" was okay. After "Shake It Off" not much moved me. Sounds like computer generated music. The album simply did not move me. I do not believe I will listen to this again. Just not my cup of tea. That is what is great about music, there is something for everyone. This is not for me.

Only heard two most recent Taylor albums in full but never this one except for the singles. The title of the album is so funny considering how 2014 it sounds (and looks when it comes to the album cover). This particular brand of pop music is not something I like, it just sounds so juvenile. I don't want it to look like I hate the album just because it's Taylor (hell, I thought Midnights was an OK album) but she really just doesn't make music that appeals to me in any way 1/5

After just listening to Frank Sinatra this is very much of the same vein. Pop music designed to sell that's sort of out of step with pop culture but so produced and slick it doesn't matter. I can't imagine how she goes about picking a single when any one of these songs are completely interchangeable. But of course that's the point and what makes her a genius. When everything is at the exact same caliber she can't go wrong.

I'm not trying to be a hater for the sake of hating Swifties but this album, even (taylor's version) doesn't feel written so much as engineered. The electric drum kits boom boom bat us through focus-grouped pop bangers. There's a ton of hits on this album, but they all just sound flat.

heard

Didn’t disappoint. Many enjoyable tracks, really liked her musicality and the lyrics. Whilst I appreciate her candid approach to write about experiences of love and breakups, juxtaposing all her songs together just felt cringe. ‘Oh what are you up to now, girl?’ On their own they are catchy and I would listen to them on repeat, but collectively they are less than their sum. Is a TS concert going to be like a coaster ride of her love stories?

Great pop album

Comin in hot with my first review (hi everyone) to say I love this album. It’s by far her best imo (although folklore is up there). Very good nostalgic, emotional boops. No skips, no notes

Look, the woman writes bops. Been doing it since 2008, since Love Story. The people have spoken and I’m here for the radio singles: Blank Space .. and Style … and Shake It Off … and (the bridge into the chorus of) Bad Blood … and Wildest Dreams. I acknowledge the rest of the slate was AI-generated generic—though excellent house remix fodder! Anyway, keep it up, Tay-Tay! (I still will be rooting for the Eagles 🦅)

Not my favorite Taylor Swift album and maybe a few fillers here, but overall, 1989 really demonstrates what Taylor Swift does best. Her songwriting that transports you to a specific moment in time, with all the textures and people and places. Her mastery of creating a bridge that stays in your head and shapes the trajectory of the entire song. Her NGAF dorkiness that just makes you want to let your freak flag and cheesiness come out (cue: Shake It Off). Giving this a 4. No haters allowed.

I guess this is good if you like bland 2010s pop, which I do not.

It's too cloying for my taste, but these songs are just undeniably great

The pop bangers on this album are all-time incredible—Blank Space, Shake it Off, Bad Blood. Rediscovered All You Had To Do Was Stay. A couple duds there snuck in at the end but not enough to kill the vibe.

love that this list keeps surprising me with artists I’ve never come across before

More of a 2.5. It was fine? A bit of a slog after Bad Blood and I was glad it was over.

No matter how much I have tried, I just can't muster up any significant respect for Swift beyond being able to collaborate to create pop hits. I don't find any artistic significance to her work, and even trying to listen to her as pop music, I find her version unchallenging and bland. The best two songs off this album sound like Lana Del Rey rip-offs. I like plenty of pop music, but there is a way to do pop music in a way that isn't so entirely predictable and surface-level.

The thing I like about TS is that when she's derivative (maybe always) she puts her whole self into it. It's literally not for me, but the people it is for get all of it.

Can't stand her shit music

Taylor Swift is definitely one of the most hateable figures in modern pop music, both her music and her personality. But as much as it's cool and trendy to hate on her music, I stand by that while inconsistent, her discography does have some genuinely great stuff. However, this album is not that. This is the side of her that while inoffensive, is super generic and the lyrics are often really cringy.

I've never listened to a Taylor Swift album which is surprising considering many of my most respected colleagues are obsessed with her music. I've always felt I was not the target audience I suppose. I do appreciate that she was one of a few billionaires not sitting on stage during the inauguration. I most enjoyed the first track of the album. The 80s style synth was well done. It reminded me a lot of Stranger Things soundtrack artist Michael Stein who makes modern music that sounds more 80s than actual 80s music. The rest of the album didn't really resonate with me. It's certainly something I would be happy to dance to when just the right amount of drunk. Ex: Say I start drinking at 4pm. I would love this album from like 4:45 to 5:30. I've also never been disappointed, hurt or angry enough with another person to really connect with these lyrics. Considering the insane sales and devoted following, she's obviously doing something right. But the same can be said of Fireball whiskey.

Never having actually sat down and listened to more than the occasional Tswift song, I really had no idea what to expect here. 1) I would much rather listen to 1989 than literally any Metallica album. There's some catchy stuff in 1989, it's really not that bad. 2) I feel like I could write some (any?) of these songs. There's a complete lack of depth to everything on this album. It's hard to explain, but it just sounds like ultra produced sound effects behind a simple (albeit catchy) melody, every, single, track. Simple doesn't always lack depth (Sufjan Steven's anyone?), so that's not the problem. It's just boring and extremely predictable pop music. 3) I most definitely did not hear anything to inspire the widespread and creepy devotion of Swifties. It's just slightly better Katy perry and/or Pink. All in all, it's not bad. But that's as good as it gets. 🤷‍♂️ Chappell Roan, Tegan and Sarah, and Lana Del Ray all do it 10x better. We don't NEED Taylor Swift to be great, so I'm still confused after having listened to this album. It's a niche that is already filled by many others who have managed to make badass, fun pop music. Whatever, I tried. See you at the super bowl, Taylor.

I would never have listened to this album except that Ryan Adams released an entire cover album of it when it came out. I'm glad he did because I would have missed out on some really masterfully written pop songs. This is not the kind of music I would normally listen to. But I can't deny it's good. The pedigree of producers is top notch. The synthy 80s style maximalist pop and vocals are really fun. And it's catchy as hell. I'm not a Swiftie by any stretch of the imagination, but I will defend this album.

Taylor Swift could write catchy songs for any milieu from Music Row to Madison Avenue. (Welcome to New York, for one, sounds like it was written for a chamber of commerce.) She churns out hooks and hits, and this album is full of both. Style and Wildest Dreams shimmer despite some weird phrasings (I blame the Swedes), but most of the hits are a bit goofy. She needed a few more tries to make an album with no overtly embarrassing moments. Two of the better tunes are relegated to the “deluxe edition” (capitalism!): You Are in Love, which evokes Secret Garden-era Bruce (complimentary), and New Romantics, which unbelievably was never used in an episode of Girls (lol).

Not my favorite Taylor but still a good pop album.

An album loaded up with well-produced pop bang-hers, most of which I am not particularly moved by. Welcome To New York and Style are pretty good. She does have better albums later on so I will be giving this one a…

Ugh. I guess I have to listen to an entire TSweezy record finally? This is the worst kind of disposable pop music. Produced by committee, enjoyed by masses of drooling children. Engineered to the lowest common denominator. The beats are catchy of course. They’re perfectly calibrated to sound good over the speakers in a Starbucks or in a VW ad or some fucking place. This isn’t music. It’s a commercial project to turn people into millionaires and millionaires into billionaires.

Never thought I would say this about a Taylor Swift album but... I liked it, it was enjoyable.

Super nostalgic. Love blank space

some really awesome timeless songs. hits on hits. i see the o rod and taylor swift comparisons here and all I'll say is o rod has the better voice soz

Fine. Catchy, poppy, polished, and Shake It Off is a great song. But listening to this makes feel like I’m in a store where I’m not the target demographic.

Don’t rush to color me Swiftie, but I do admit she’s pretty good. I can see why so many people love her stuff. Some of these songs are a little overplayed, but catchy nonetheless.

I’ve tried to get into Taylor Swift in the past. I’ve listened to most of her albums and will put it on when comes out. I’m not sure I like her music? But this has some great songs on it, and I have nothing against her or people who like her music. Giving this another listen, I’d say it is actually really good. The hit songs are hits for a reason. The other songs are also good, but the last few songs lose me. Not a 5 album, and I still don’t think this music is my thing, but I can’t deny it good. The songs are well written, produced, and performed.

Surprisingly good, appreciate all the fuss a little...

It was fun, but long

I will never understand the appeal of Taylor Swift, who generally makes average music. I don't hate it because there's nothing interesting enough about it to hate; I just don't understand why she is thought of as an amazing artist. SOMEONE, PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME!!!!

It is an undeniably fun album. Listen to both the original and Taylor's version. I am not musically inclined enough to articulate the difference, but I did like Taylor's Version better as long as you limited to the original track list.

Not much of a pop fan, but I admire TS as a successful musician and strong woman who has charted her own path and serves as a great role model for her fans. This is well-done pop that mostly avoids the genre's predilection for bombast and overproduction (with the possible exception of 'I Wish You Would"). "Shake It Off" and "Bad Blood" are genuine bangers, while the anthemic "I Know Places" is infused with doomed romance. Listening to the "Taylor's Version" of this release now as my Gen X curiosity has been piqued.

Fantastic album with plenty of feel good tracks. Shake It Off obviously being the standout hit, but plenty of other decent songs like Wildest Dreams and How You Get the Girl. A bop of an album

Went with Taylor’s Version so there’s more tracks to rate… And it’s “ Poptastic Mate, not half!”

Not sure what all the fuss is about, but I’m not her target audience. Tunes are catchy ear-worms, vocals are ordinary, and lyrics are boilerplate pop. But she clearly resonates with her audience, which I sort of respect.

Bubblegum pop for the new generation. Like its predecessor, it makes you feel good and is easy to sing along to. The crescendo to every song creates endorphins, but it is as formulaic as those simple 50s/60s tunes.

Taylor Swift writes catchy tunes, I'll give her that. I don't deny happily singing along to several of these, but I got bored with the album after a while. Given her immense popularity and success it's hard to say she's not talented. She certainly gives her audience what they want and that seems to be a lot of the same sound and content.

Taylor Swift’s 1989 is her first non-country album and is a testament to her remarkable talent, dedication, and ability to create anthems that resonate with millions. 1989 has a few catchy quintessential Swift songs with hooks that we won't forget any time soon. While some critics call it formulaic, it’s clear that Swift is more than just a pop star; she’s an artist who knows how to connect with her audience in a way few can. Dismissing her fans as ‘sheep’ is another way to invalidate the opinions of teenage girls who see something real in her music. The extra half-star is for her influence on modern music history and how she’s shaped the pop landscape.

Competent, inoffensive, polished, corporate pop. It's fine.

Chris’ favorite

Taylor Swift just doesn’t seem to do much for me—the vocals sound tinny and overprocessed and it all ends up sounding like New Look changing room or utility company phone line holding music. I tend to tune it out rather than pay attention to the lyrics which I understand are her strength… No songs have really stood out either. Inoffensive.

no taylor swift

An enjoyable pop album.

I don't want to listen to or hear this album again.

Favorite!

This album usually comes with the idea that those who don't like it, hate it and those who like it, love it. But for me it was a very lukewarm experience. It constantly swings between saccharine but catchy guilty pleasures and unbearable slop that could interpreted as a reflection of the stale state of pop music at the time (more than 10 years ago). If this album were released today, it would be forgettable. Taylor Swift has better records.

With minor exceptions, top 40 pop isn't my thing, so I didn't really expect this to blow me away either. It's funny, though, that despite never hearing this album before and not listening to the radio or other stuff, I recognized Blank Space IMMEDIATELY. Some pretty solid tracks out of the ones I didn't recognize, and I don't dislike any of the singles (Shake It Off comes close just because it's been played to death and then some) so I'd say this one was pretty decent.

Better than I remembered.

Had heard songs on this before but never the whole thing, it's such a banger of a pop album. Enjoyed every track but maybe Bad Blood and Clean.

I'm reviewing the original version of 1989 (not Taylor's rerecording), since that was the work that was listed here. But I would recommend that people purchase and stream the latter—at the end of the day, artists are more important than labels (even extremely wealthy artists). It's hard, without multiple decades of perspective, to review an album that generated multiple singles which received near-constant airplay. When you're old, pop music is the background music of the most mundane moments in your life. As a man in middle age, I can't hear these songs without imagining specific interactions that I had in the grocery store or at the gym (I set what is certain to stand as my lifetime deadlift PR to "Blank Space"). But when you're young? It's a totally different game! I can't imagine how people born between, say, 1994 and 2002 must feel about this record; even if you hate it, a record this big becomes a part of your life. Frankly, I wish more people understood this about their own taste in music (I'm looking at you, Boomers). So here's a four star rating that should be taken with a tablespoon of salt. To my ear, Carly Rae Jepsen's Emotion is the more interesting mid-teens pop record, but that album wouldn't have come to be if not for Swift's work. Let's see how people talk about it in ten years.

Better than I thought it would be but not my thing.

I forgot how great of a catchy pop song 'Shake It Off' is. Taylor deserves her success. She's good.

Today, Donald Trump weasled his way into his second term. If receiving this album was not an attempt by the apps creator to ruffle some MAGA feathers, then this is quite a funny coincidence. Imagine being so famous, that a good portion of conservatives get upset when you break the silence of your political convictions. They get so upset that a portion of those conservatives make up a ton of obvious lies about you, like oh, you know, being a puppet of Joe Biden, eventually give birth to the anti-Christ, and start World War III. I wish I was making this stuff up... Now, onto the album. I'll admit, this is not typically my thing, but honestly, this is a solid album. It's bubblegum with a capital B, and maybe the lyrical content doesn't seem very deep, but Taylor is a good songwriter and can write a hook. I also got oddly emotional with 'This Love'. This is a sleek and well executed album delivered by a strong, independent woman. And that is what scares the MAGA cult.

I mean. Whatever. Really more interesting as a cultural touchstone, probably her last album before everything around her became so tense and weirdly organized, both from defenders and attackers. Like looking back on a simpler time. It's still quite simply her most "pop" album. No pop rock or pop country to make it go down a little easier. For the most part it's pretty forgettable but no bad per se

Sorry but I’m not going to listen to this one. I don’t do Taylor Swift. I did used to quite like this album when it came out because we used to dance to Shake It Off at the Zumba class my friend ran. I can’t deny there’s some super catchy pop tunes here. But I don’t want to pay it a revisit in the slightest.

I'm not a huge Taylor Swift fan, by this has always been my favourite album of hers. Smooth poppy tunes, fun choruses and great lyrics to sing along to.

I went into this with an open mind and an open heart, but no. It just doesn't seem to be that good. There are some bangers, sure, but much of the album is generic and forgettable. Well, deservedly so, this is my first two-star rating (and the 50th album project milestone as well).

Good album, culturally significant. Not my cup of tea.

Might be the most uninteresting thing I've heard

One of my fav pop albums

Really, it's 2.5 stars. Not for me but a few of these songs at least sound like a blander version of CHVRCHES.

Starts strong with 'Welcome to New York' and 'Blank space' but loses steam. Still a nice listen.

Other than the singles that I’ve heard on the radio and have enjoyed, the rest of the album I wasn’t wild about. It was decent

had a valuable place in my childhood. i just despise miss T Swizzle

A lot of hits that I knew on this one

I haven’t listened to but my daughter (of course) would give it 100 stars.

There are definitely a few duds on this tracklist, but there's also multiple best-song-ever-mades on here. I really can't go any lower and still be true to myself.

whew so much that I could say about this one...the production is crisp as hell, the songs are catchy, this is basically the textbook example of how to write a great pop album in the 21st century. HOWEVER, i think this album tends to get a similar treatment to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, in that it is generally seen by mainstream music criticism to be her best work even though I don't think the entire album as a unit is her strongest work. still, it's impossible to deny its lasting cultural impact, and this was the album that brought Swift into a whole new level of stardom. people may gripe about my comparison of Swift to the Beatles, but when you speak about cultural impact and influence on pop music and culture at large...there really is no one else on that same level. Taylor Swift is the millennial Paul McCartney. that's not me speaking as a fan of either Taylor or Paul, that's just an observable fact. it's also interesting to remember things like the whole streaming debate and to compare that to the Beatles also not being on streaming services for many years. of course, it's irrelevant at this point in time (money wins out always sadly) but it also shows you how much has changed in the music industry and landscape over the past 10 years.

It was ok, made better as I knew some songs on it.

Love this one. Avery’s favorite album

Great song writing. Great Melodies. Great voice. Lots of musical styles. There is a reason she has lots of followers. Great album.

Merely looking at this album cover gives me a flurry of memories and emotions. This is my favourite Taylor Swift album - it was originally released at such a pivotal time in my life, and I can't understate how much I love this album. Also, the original version is vastly superior to the Taylor's Version, so that's what I listened to (and will continue to listen to). Favourite tracks: Style, New Romantics (yeah, it's a deluxe track, whatever, it should've been on the main album)

I think its one of Ms swift's better albums.

Ehh not for me

pop

out of all albums? i mean... sure, why not, i guess. i'm not skipping any in this collection, and if i have to listen to taylor swift, i guess i have to listen to taylor swift. if there's one thing i can say about this album after more than a decade of it being out, i never noticed the synthpop influences. however, even with synths and mixing techniques inspired from the 1980s, it can't save her songwriting. it's definitely not the worst album that she has ever put out, but literally half of these songs are top 40 hits that give me vietnam flashbacks. hey guys, ever had a boyfriend? ever had relationship troubles?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

All her non-hits sound the same to me, but overall this was a fun pop album, though quite cringe at times. Stand-out: Style

This album in my generation is revered and i can see why. The first three songs are such a dramatic and well done introduction to Swift as a pop music icon. I love Welcome to New York for how punchy it is, it cuts through whatever moment your in. Blank Space and Style are pop writing 101. They do it so well, there’s nothing but catchy melody's and well structured bridges. Infact Blank Space is my favourite Swift bridge, it’s just so good. The next two songs are great but they feel a bit further from her, and i’m aware i’m saying that as someone who doesn’t know her at all. I didn’t like either of them completely but it wasn't hard to listen to them. Then we hit Shake It Off, and as much as I want to say I hate it, I don’t. Yes, it has been overplayed to death, but does everyone still sing a long?! of course we do. I Wish is one I enjoyed the writing the most, over the melody. Then you hit another two absolutely brilliant pop anthems, Bad Blood and Wildest dreams. Simply put they are masterpieces of pop for sure, not overall genius, maybe close though. How You Get is a great storytelling piece, what she does best. This Love and I Know Places are slightly forgettable to me, but not bad. Clean I again love the narrative, lovely poetic way to end an album of bangers.

I'd forgotten how good Taylor Swift's lyrics are. I really enjoyed this while album. Some of her best are on it.

eyy no way, an album I actually have as a CD in front of me as my sister was gifted it by my aunt like a decade ago :) interesting because I don't know if I've ever listened it from front to back but I do know multiple songs. Plus for me Taylor Swift embodies artists that stick around well into the 2020s including Bruno Mars, Miley Cyrus, etc. from what I remember I liked the songs, so probably like a 7/10 this is so catchy sheesh, but also feels firmly in the 2010, which I don't mind! I just realized we are halfway through the 2020s 😭 very sweet and wholesome but also cheesy pop at times lol I have heard I Know Places and another track though Benjamin, idk which one anymore though... I like the beat to Clean and Style! still a 6/10 or 7/10 for me i think

Solid enough for a bunch of catchy pop tunes. Happy to listen to it once. 2.5

pop

not taylors version.... good though

Även om hon är duktig på att sjunga känns musiken otroligt simpel, bara baserat på detta album är jag lite förvånad över hur stor hon blivit

..

2.4, not as so bad as I thought

One of her best

Im gonna let you finish but im a swifty now

Now how I remember 1989.

Sensationally bland, I just don’t understand why she’s the global superstar that she is.

Really glad I got to sit down and listen to this album. Without it I don't think I'd have been able to get over the heartbreak I felt seeing Chad kissing that skank Brittany over by the bleachers. Well, loser- the jokes on you, because this album has helped me realise that I never needed you, your weirdly right angled mandible, or your bent cock. Plus everybody already knows Brittany has already caught herpes, after she tried noshing Bryce off at that drive-in movie. You know, the one where she coughed and ended up jamming a popcorn kernel in his japs eye. Anyway enought reviewing. I need to head out, treat myself right by making some reckless, drunken mistakes.. and see if can get that foreign exchange hunk with the ridiculous quiff and outrageous V neck to spit in my mouth and call me a bad girl.. or at the very least subscribe to my OnlyFans. Fuck you Chad.

Guilty pleasure. Honestly she’s brilliant. I don’t care how cliché it all is. It’s massively popular for a reason and I can’t help but the let the little girl in me have an absolute ball of a time whenever I listen to Taylor Swift, this is one of her albums that has very few songs I got bored of. Out of the woods and I Wish You Would get abit repetitive. But it’s not the end of the world is it, especially when you rack up bangers like Blank Space, Shake It Off, Bad Blood. Nonsense typical formulaic pop music. 9/10

See, now, should I be listening to the version of the album this website is directing me to? Or should I listen to Taylor's version? I'm sure there's some sort of moral quandary there that I can't be bothered to research. In any event, I'm going to record my own version of this album, Sean's Version if you will, where I take two ordinary carrier bags, and in one quick yelp, scream the words to all the songs into the first bag, tie it up and throw it into the ocean for a kindred spirit to find one day, or for a guppy to become fatally entangled with. Then I'll defecate into the second bag and ask a Big Machine Records executive to fasten it over my head until I suffocate in pooey carbon dioxide. I'll record all of this bag action and ask my executors to upload the results to all good streaming platforms.