1989

I completely respect her business acumen and musicianship. Some tunes are catchy and maybe this is an album you have to hear several times to love, but I don’t really get the appeal.

Why is this so hyped? It’s just generic modern pop music.

4 stars because it’s Taylor’s Version

Very divisive artist, you either love her or hate her. Im not a huge fan of this sort of pop, heavily over produced and a bit repetitive. First time listening through entirely. 2.0

I don’t want to be a Taylor Swift hater, but… It’s just BAD. Lyrically, rhythmically, vocally bad. Sorry, but not sorry.

Was actually good. I get it now. I too want to imagine the perfect life with the perfect person. Anyway this was like a 7/10 kinda generic.

I know she's still insanely popular, but this was her peak for me. I haven't really kept up with her music as much since this one. She's good at writing simple but catchy sad girl love songs.

It gets a 2 for being catchy overall, but it's dead behind the eyes, it's soulless. People point to this as her peak but really it's the end of her as a solid pop songwriter and her entry into just being an empty vessel for empty music made solely to do numbers and get to the top of the charts for as long as possible. Awful stuff.

Polished and poppy, this album is fun! Full of nostalgia feels and a sense of youthful energy. The beats are crisp, the melodies infectious, and the lyrics capture that feeling of chasing after something just out of reach.

this kind of music is just not for me but i think she must be a great songwriter because i really like the ryan adams version and miss swift wrote all the songs

No

While I won't pretend like Taylor Swift isn't talented or catchy, I do think overrated and a little derivative are fair criticisms. Hard to listen to an entire album of relationship/breakup songs without it getting a little repetitive, especially when some of the lyrics are just goofy. I also think it's hard when every song has the same basic drum beat and tempo, makes them a lot more interchangeable. Still fun to listen to the songs in small doses, but a full album is a bit much. Top tracks: Blank Space, All You Had To Do Was Stay, Clean

This album came out my freshman year of college and man does it win some nostalgia points. It is a solid pop album. Shake It Off and How You Get Girl are my only skips. I Wish You Would, Wildest Dreams, Clean, Style, I Know Places, and Blank Space are all bangers. If this were the deluxe album, it would have five stars for me (Wonderland and You Are In Love are some of my favorites of Swizzles)

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

How will poor Taylor make it from one show to the next, and also make it back in time to see TK play sportsball? And also promote that we need to decrease carbon emissions? Good thing she is one of our overlords and would never be hypocritical and has our best interests in mind, im so thankful for you TS

It annoys me.

Her country albums were waaaay better!

Det här är musik meningslöst. Fick lyssna mycket på High School Musical när ettan var liten. Skulle kunna vara ett soundtrack från Disney. Hitsen är okej men det är trist i övrigt. Har hört att Swift var en riktig bajskorv i skolan. Rik och dryg men hon kompenserar iallfall det med att ta politisk ställning idag och vi kan ju hoppas att hon uppmanar sina fans att rösta i vinter.

Superpoppigt. Vissa låtar känns dock så otroligt generiska. De låter som en låt på typ en ungdomsshow på Disney, typ Hannah Montana-esque. Det är inte en positiv kritik. How you get the girl, welcome to new york, blank space, style har den kvaliteten, mer eller mindre. Men så kommer det lite roligare pop-låtar, shake it off, bad blood, clean. Det är ju svårt att göra något om man inte diggar pop generellt, men de bra pop-låtarna blir man glad av och de poppigaste låtarna är ju inte nödvändigtvis dåliga heller (men inget jag själv någonsin skulle sätta på).

Flera låtar är tyvärr helt eller delvis generisk radiomusik/listpop, som jag verkligen är allergisk emot (exempel är Blank space och I wish you would). Det är synd eftersom Taylor uppenbarligen har talang och sjunger bra. Ska dock sägas att det finns ett par låtar som har lite mer karaktär och därmed sticker ut åt det positiva hållet. Tycker t ex Wildest dreams och Clean är okej. Även Shake it off och Bad blood är hyfsade. Att hon hyllas som en stor textförfattare är helt obegripligt, åtminstone om denna skiva är representativ. Det är till stora delar uttjatade kärleks- och relationstexter som ChatGPT skulle kunna ha skrivit. Sammanfattningsvis är det egentligen inga stora fel på hantverket i sig, men det är musik som verkligen inte väcker någonting hos mig. Förstår dock att den kan uppskattas av osofistikerade människor (läs barn), alternativt vuxna utan själ. Stark tvåa.

the good parts were good and the bad parts were horrible. thank you harry styles.

Love it. Even though …..

Hard to fault Taylor Swift to be honest - this album has everything a pop album needs executed very effectively and that's probably her best quality, being able to always do what she does and do it well.

Like a lot of pop albums it is a bit unrelentingly samey but I liked the feeling I was in a remake of a John Hughes film.

First TSwift album, I guess I'll do the original because Taylor's version is 2x as long. I've liked some of her songs but never got the rabid hype, she just isn't for me, but I respect what she's done. 3* Highlights: blank space (starbucks lovers, every time), shake it off, bad blood (maybe I'd like these more if radio didn't overplay them), this love

I've been consistently rating most "bubblegum pop icon" albums (Britney Spears, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera) 2 stars (with 1 star exceptions), finding them overproduced, vapid, and soulless. While I never listened to her much, apart from a couple of enjoyable karaoke songs, Taylor Swift doesn't fit into the same category. I'm not exactly a fan of her music. But it's easy to see that it does in fact have depth, meaning, and soul. Her popularity seems hard-earned and well-deserved. An enjoyable album, even for someone like me, who's absolutely clueless about modern pop music and has close to zero interest in it.

I was actually excited to give a Taylor Swift album a proper listen, but dear god did it dissapoint. Not only it is mediocre and repetitive, it is more than one hour long! What for? Its all the same! There are a couple of nice bangers here and there, but they definitely are not anything groundbreaking. This album is equivalent to chewing gum in nutritional value. Boring, average instrumentals to support Taylors voice, which is great, but every song is about the same thing, I stg Taylor needs a therapist ASAP. Anyway, this is nothing interesting for 2014, its like the safest, mass-consumtion-largest-target-audience PRODUCT, not art. Completely unsignificant in terms of larger artistic landscape. And its not bad, but its nothing special. NNN

Some of the songs are very nostalgic for me but after listening to this album I've come to the conclusion that it isn't for me. There are other pop singers/pop albums in modern day that I love and this just isn't that one. Still has some good bobs here and there though.

Great production, great vocals, solid band. Not unpleasant to listen to m, but a bit too much pop for my tastes. However, I listened to a Taylor Swifft album all the way through and it wasn’t bad…

It's just not good. I'm not the demographic, etc, etc. But this is just a music-style vampire record with worse versions of different genres behind lyrics shallower than a baby pool.

I won't fault this album for being pop music. It's popular, which means very appealing to a broad populace, which means you can't expect much depth or experimentation. Nevertheless, I was positively surprised by the synth wave approaches and some, albeit somewhat infantile, lyricism. There are some hits that you know even if you're not a Taylor Swift fan and where you can't help bobbing your head to. But every song on the album has only one theme, and I can't listen to any more of this ex-boyfriend crap, no matter if it's whiny or emancipated.

Well, it’s catchy. Kind of shallow, but I get why it’s popular.

Catchy. Too poppy for my taste.

Got to give it to her she's catchy. Recognised every song (probably because of Beth)

Anthemic positive dance songs. Well crafted. An overly strong belief in the lyrics that problems are being solved: e.g. "I know places" proposes the fox escapes the hunters; "Shake It Off" proposes that one can psychologically overcome the bullying and dissing of the masses with a dance song in ones head. Although the lyrics come across as a kind of confessional and biographical style --here is an event that happened to me and how I've learned to handle it--they really fall into stylized tropes and fantasies rather than any actual introspection into what went wrong or how to actually resolve issues and be strong. A good bit of "borrowed/learned" forms of lyrical phrasing and musical style that are lifted from other groups. A strong feel of having borrowed quite a bit from Lorde especially on Bad Blood and from Lana Del Rey. But without the edge that people like Lorde and Lana Del Ray seem to have.

I figured more TSwift was coming (and I'm sure there's more still to come), but it's been awhile since evermore was album #2 on here. This was the one where she decided she wasn't a country singer anymore, and it was unavoidable background noise pretty much throughout my college years. I'd say I'm somewhat indifferent about Taylor Swift overall, and her hype has only grown in the last year since I listened to evermore. I'll try to be balanced here. Starting with the positives. This album has quite a few of her most recognizable songs ("Blank Space", "Style", "Shake It Off", "Bad Blood", "Wildest Dreams"). It's a bit hard to be overly critical of an album that has so many hits (regardless of how deserving they are). She really went for the '80s-inspired synth-pop sound on this one, and I can kind of respect it. '80s synth-pop is far from my favorite genre, but she at least avoided the rap-pop thing that was huge in the early 2010s, so this at least sounds fairly timeless. It also has some pretty objectively catchy sounds, so there's that. Now the negatives. While a lot of the songs are so recognizable, I'm not convinced that many of them are really great. I think "Wildest Dreams" does a great job of showcasing her voice with a catchy pop hook, but even some of the better known songs just fall a little flat to me ("Bad Blood" was basically the soundtrack to my teaching summer, but it's honestly a little underwhelming to me, and I find "Shake It Off" a little mediocre too). There's also quite a bit of filler on this album, ranging from generic and mediocre to a bit annoying. Also, almost every song on here comes in under 4 minutes, but for some reason they consistently feel like they drag on a bit to me, in a way that makes them feel longer than they are. I don't know what to give this, it's either a 3 or a 4. On one hand I would basically never actively hit play on this while listening to music on my own. On the other hand, it's reasonably catchy and just has such a massive cultural impact, it's hard to not be a little nostalgic since it was so unavoidable for a few years. I guess I'll be nice. Favorite song: Wildest Dreams Other: Welcome To New York, Blank Space, Style, Shake It Off, Bad Blood, This Love, I Know Places 8/2/24

Better than I thought it would be.

One of my favorite albums. Definitely the best Taylor swift album

Welcome to New York 3 Blank Space 2.3 Style 3.1 Out of the Woods 2.4 All You Had to Do Was Stay 2.3 Shake It Off 3.2 I Wish You Would 2.3 Bad Blood 2.8 Wildest Dreams 2 How You Get the Girl 1.9 This Love 2.4 I Know Places 2 Clean 2.1 Score: 2.446153846

I don't like this at all. But it is a teeny-weeny star better than Adele. Like half a star better. Or a very distant star ... that has probably fizzed away by now. "He's so tall. And handsome as hell." Poetry this is not.

'Darling I'm a nightmare dressed like a Daydream'. A great songwriter? Really? I love swifts, and swallows too, but not Taylor Swift.

Was confused when I didn’t know the first song because I remember this album being massive. Bit of a slow start but then the album transitions into ‘Black Space’ which is a bit of a classic honestly - still remember the words 10 years on! I also really like the production on this song - there’s something uniquely infectious about it. There’s some other good hits on here: ‘Style’ and ‘Wildest Dreams’ to name some. But in my opinion this album is very hits reliant and I don’t come out of it thinking about the album, just the big songs. A really enjoyable listen though! Personally ‘folklore’ is my favourite Taylor Swift album, with its folk style, so I hope to see this on the list one day as I imagine Mum and Dad didn’t enjoy this album much haha. Screw it, this is getting a 4, there’s too many memorable songs.

Certified hood classic. Taylor Swift is an absolute chart hit machine - there are so many huge songs in this album and you can see why. Banger after banger. The only problem is that her music is incredibly one-dimensional. After a few tracks I was ready to score this album very highly, but by the end, the lack of development or nuance had me getting a bit bored. Nonetheless, this is a top quality pop record that still sounds fresh a decade on. So many great singalong songs. Lyrically it’s okay but she’s cracked the code of writing songs that a VAST number of people can relate to, and she writes all her own stuff. Taylor Swift does one thing and she does it well. A bit like AC/DC… bet that’s a comparison you didn’t expect to read today! Well earned 4 stars. Haters gonna hate.

Enjoyed that.

Of course I know Taylor especially in 2024, but never really liked her tbh, I don't get the hype, but she has some good songs, basically neutral about her. I've checked her newest album and it sucked really bad, this one must be a little better, I know some songs off of it, but not all of them, so I hope I won't be disappointed, but I honestly don't have high expectations, I even though don't hate her, don't like her style in general. First song, oh shit I know this beat already, must have been popular just didn't know it was from here. It's a good opening track I suppose, but I don't vibe with it. Love the beat slowly increasing it's existence in the song. Too long of a chorus already. She repeats the track line too much honestly I'm sick of it. Better have a good bridge. I like the song fully if I know I'll be able to perform it in style, this one has nothing in that fashion. Bridge is mid, good build-up, but that's it. The best part was beat and it's catchy as fuck, but lyrically it's so boring. Second song, who doesn't know this one, it has catchy lyrical delivery and I'm here for it. Chorus is as good as the verses and that's actually kind of rare in songs. The beat is nostalgic also. That one part when she starts speaking is so cunty of her tbh. Lyrically it's kinda childish in some parts, but they're delivered too well. Bridge is also perfect, because I've heard it so much I think, but still it slaps. The last part of she saying the chorus fully again is the worst part because it's kind of unnecessary. Third song, it's giving Beach vibes in a good way. Oooo this chorus is giviiiiing. I mean songs that have billion listens are usually good or good, but overheard, and this one is just good. Chorus is better than the verse, though both of them are delivered perfectly. Comparing this to what she made with the ttpd album, I'm even more disappointed with her. I forgot to recognise bridge oops. Not a classic cult, but it still pops. 4th song, what a weird way to start a song. Chorus is too repetitive, that's the point, but still. Verses are dried out, the slowness in them is exhausting, though the best behind it is kinda satisfying. The bridge was the best part in the song, really fits the vibe. There was a man singing the chorus, don't know what that was. I didn't fully enjoy this I have to say. 5th song, sounds like a song used in malls. I don't like that it's literally about her love life only, like it's too noticeable. Verses are good enough, but the chorus sucks. The way stay is sang is satisfying, but also annoying. Bridge is bad, simply bad. It has One Direction vibe in a bad way. She has hooky lines, but the choruses ruin them sometimes, especially here. 6th song, her one of the most know songs again, people laugh at this, and it does have a bad Meghan Trainor song vibe, but it's not that bad to me. It's too long, God. The way she says the song title, it's accenty and I like it. Ooh never heard a bridge before, how have I never heard of this before wow, it's bitchy in a good way. 7th song, first verse was fast-talked and I love when she does that. If the chorus wasn't so bad I'd like this one too, it's absolutely about her wishing that smn would come back and I don't like the delivery of it. Bridge is neutral, but better than the chorus definitely. Sonically Taylor has this one beat the background and some type of drums to make the song kind of dramatic, it never makes it that way, but still, she doesn't have this girl boss attitude I usually find satisfying in artists. So sonically this one is good, but Tay never tries to make it the best part. 8th song, another hit, eh. This one is trying to be bitchy, but fails in my view. Perfect verse lyrical delivery tho. The pre chorus is as good, but the chorus itself is overheard and I don't like her voice on it. Bridge is not for this song, she's like mad, but now she sings softly, what's the point then. I wish I could listen to all of these songs for the first time, because having heard them affects how good they are, thing IS I'm not a real critic and this is a safe zone. Anyway bad blood has a chaotic style in a bad bad way. 9th song, okay wtf, this is straight up Lana Del Rey style of singing, did she take inspiration, I mean she never sang like this before in the song, and idk her whole discography, I know this song too, but some of the first lines are so Lana, then not. Ohh just remembered what happens here with that breath, there's a heartbeat beat sound in the background. CHORUS IS ALSO LITERALLY LANA COME THE FUCK ON, "say you'll remember me" has a delivery of her. The bridge is too known and apparently not annoyingly. Naaah the ending is slower version of what she said before and it's even more Lana to me, I'm not a lover lover of Lana, but she's better than Taylor definitely. 10th song, beat came on, and it's the most 2014 thing. Chorus is irritating, makes me want to skip the song. She so doesn't have any vocals too, bridge proved this quite ironically. None of the songs have neither happy, sad, dancey or any kind of 100% this emotion vibe, you can only want to know the lyrics and somehow dance to it idk, but the choruses maaan they just turn me off... musically. 11th song, oh, sad. Is this her ironic way of getting back to me because of what I've said in the last song review. Fuck this, it's actually sad, not in a good way actually, since I mentioned her already, Lana would do this better, she has this voice and style of singing that makes the songs fill with depression, but also this cunty vibe. Anywayy this is painfully bad. 12th song, weird way to start a song, but what a good lyrical delivery after it. Also I know this song, it's one of the songs I personally checked and liked. Chorus is bad if it was a first listen, but now it's kinda not. Verses are superior tho. Nevermind I skipped the chorus. Bridge is fused with chorus, and I so don't like it, I think I never listened to this fully. 13th song, I remember this one having the weirdest beat, riiight it just came in, and it's gone. It's so slow and has no vibe that the album is finished. Apparently there is a deluxe version of this, if I liked her I'd listen additionally, but I got enough of her today tbh. Not an album I'd be addicted to, or would want it to play from start to finish, that wasn't her point obvi, but I love albums that are goooood from the bottom to the top. Chorus is catchy, but it's too sad and makes me dislike everything in it, actually it's trying to be sad, not that it is. Bridge kinda changed up the game, but also failed miserably. Skipped a little, can't take anymore of it. Weeell, I expected a lot worse tbh. There are many hits here and I liked most of the songs, but the album as a whole is not that good for me. Production is low and this kind of pop always sucks in maaany ways. It would've been 4 stars, if I liked her voice, style or something that no one else has, but I can only give this 3 stars. At least songs didn't sound too same as they did in ttpd. I think I can honestly say I know a lot of songs from her, and I still don't get why she's THE pop star rn.

"Shut up. That's a perfect song," Brain

best pop record since like a virgin

Definitely not my favorite swift.

Bland.

This album is a straight A student with no personality.

Fine but not really my taste. The biggest hits remind me of high school/college time which is a good memory.

Artiste connue de nom seulement, jamais écoutée. Son très synthétique inspiré des 80's, mais très basique et pas très créatif, avec quasiment systématiquement les 3 ou 4 mêmes accords dans tous les morceaux. Le chant ne me touche pas, j'ai entendu bien mieux. Je me suis forcé pour aller au bout des 13 morceaux de l'album standard, mais je n'ai pas eu le 'courage' d'aller plus loin. =>1/5

Although I understand the appeal of this album to her plethora of fans, this album wasn’t made for me and that’s ok. Proud of myself for making it to the end of this lol

Listened to Taylor’s Version

A good enjoyable pop album with a few bangers. Still, it did nothing to help me understand the frenzy around Taylor Swift.

Erinomaista modernia poppia. Monta aika tunnelmallista kappaletta. Tykkäsin myös monen kappaleen tuotannosta. Moni kappale tietenkin tuttuja vaikka nimi ei olisi. Parhaat: Blank Space, Style, This Love, Clean

I love this album 💜🩵💙

I felt more pressure on this than previous albums. I really haven't listened to any Taylor Swift, but as she's gotten ever bigger I've been meaning to but putting off getting to know her music. This ended up being my first real listen to anything of hers. Overall I felt it was fine. I didn't like the standard party anthem opening of Welcome to New York. I really liked Blank Space, the chorus is exactly my kind of catchy. During Blank Space, I was thinking "damn ok I'm in. If the rest of the album does this, then I totally get it" The rest of the album never really hit that mark again for me though. Out of the Woods was another standout, but not quite as much. I could take or leave the whole middle section. This Love was a good break from the driving, glitzy pop it had been up till then. I Know Places was my second favorite - I liked the darker, more melancholy sound, and the piano reminded me of Linkin Park. Clean was a good song to close on, and another that I genuinely enjoyed. I liked it more than I thought I would, and less than I wanted to. I would listen to it again, but wouldn't seek it out, save for a few songs. I'm glad to have finally given Taylor some real attention though, and will listen to more. Also it sounds VERY much of 2014 Album cover: A-. Very much matches the visual with how the album sounds.

I guess maybe I'm a swiftie? Idk I thought it was pretty good. Dragged on a bit at the end but I enjoyed most of the songs.

This album was OK, it's filled with pop jams and I see why people like it. It's not really my style. I don't really relate to any of the lyrics and I don't think they're particularly profound or interesting. I wouldn't put this on again. 4/10

75/100

This album really does slap, but let's just not tell Gen Z I said so

A classic and a great full embrace of pop by Taylor.

Mildly catchy tunes. I really like Shake it Off. Blank Spaces and All you Had to Do was Stay are also pretty good.

Plenty of bangers, but none of them really captured me beyond that jolt of recognition. I do think Taylor's music is thoroughly listenable, but I still don't really understand the hype.

7/10. It is a solid album with a lot of catchy hits. :)

This. Is. Pop. Majestic, beautiful crafted and like candy to my ears. Love it. Fun police one star-ers. Get over yourself.

Sometimes a great album can sound generic and unoriginal because of how much music since has been influenced by it. This sounded generic and unoriginal in 2014.

I’ve got a blank space baby and I’ll give you a fiver. Pop music just doesn’t get much better than this. Blank Space. Banger. Style Banger. Shake It Off. Banger. Bad Blood. Banger. Wildest Dreams. Banger. Simpsons: Yes

Taylor Swift is awesome.

Banger after banger after banger. Even listened to the deluxe version of the album

Taylor Swift is my L’il Sebastian. Blank Space, Shake it Off, I Wish You Would and Bad Blood are all good enough songs. I don’t mind a wingy album or a relationship/love album but when you mix them both together I get tired and just start thinking, “Hey, you’re the common denominator here, maybe explore that?” And the album never does. On a funny note, in Clean Taylor sings about a “Wine-stained dress”. I heard “Winestein-ed dress” which would have made for an interesting song.

In which Taylor tries to write "You're So Vain" and "You Oughta Know" as many times as she can with as little mystery as possible.

There’s two ways you can look at this project - either as a list of [possibly among] the 1001 greatest albums of all time, or as a list of 1001 albums that are historically important in the development of a wide range of popular recorded music. From the latter perspective, few albums would be more worthy of inclusion to represent the 2010s than this. This was the moment one of the biggest country artists of the aughts became the biggest pop star of the 10s, the moment the metacommentary of Taylor Swift’s celebrity and personal lives became so central to her music in a way that in part helped her become the biggest pop star of this decade, the moment Jack Antonoff began his ascent to a superstar producer, the arguable moment the 'turbopop' sound that was so popular in the 00s/early 10s made its last stand before other styles came to dominate the charts in the years to come. But is it any good? I mean, kinda: there’s four songs on here I’d consider perfect, some that are still pretty good, a few that are pretty shit. (Sorry, “Welcome to New York” may be necessary as an introduction to Taylor’s stylistic shift but wow I fucking hate it still.) The production sounds a bit tinny to me at times. But the perfect songs still tend to win out when it comes to my opinion of this album. The opinions hardly matter though. 10 years after this album out, it’s still Taylor’s world and we’re all living in it.

Her shift to pop from country fully complete, this album didn't age well and compared with other contemporaries feels a bit weak and propped up by her cult of personality more than artistic merit.

I really liked this album when it came out, was such a change for her and felt like a breath of fresh air for pop music. Hasn't aged super well and the filler tracks are boring as hell, but Blank Space still bangs.

fuck off.

🎉🎉 In this house we listen to Taylor’s Version, but we’ll make an exception for 1001 Albums. This is one of those albums that’s 1) full of bangers 2) lyrically awesome and 3) reminiscent of a very specific and important time in my life. Love it, top to bottom.

This was the album that made me a Taylor Swift fan. The album prior, Red had some songs that captured my attention but this album really hit me when it was released, and still does for that matter. It’s a perfect pop record. The 80’s nostalgia is all over this record, mainly in the synths, but also in the melody choices and even the lyrical style. These are songs about young love and a world full of possibilities. At the time of its release my wife and I just had our first child and while we were in a different phase of our life than Taylor, these themes still ran parallel to the feelings I was experiencing as a new dad. Flash forward to a few months back when we were watching The Eras Tour on Disney as a family movie night, seeing my kids sing along to those same songs with such excitement was just a full circle moment emotionally. Another parallel. My wife and I’s “first date” back in 2009 was a 3 day trip to New York in which we handed out cds promoting the band I was in at the time preparing for upcoming shows in NYC. We connected with a lot of people, saw a Friendly Fires concert, went to a Jimmy Fallon taping and went out one night with a DJ who took us to many underground bars and we had an insane time. The point being that was a huge life moment for me, new love, a city with infinite possibilities, these are the nostalgic emotions and memories that washed over me as I first listened to 1989, especially the opening track Welcome To New York. I guess maybe I was also primed with the emotions of being a new dad. Taylor enlisted some greats from the world of production on here, I was pretty excited for Jack Antonoff’s contribution since I was a fan of his work already. This album started Taylor and Jack’s ongoing working relationship, my second favorite album from her, Folklore features this team up with the addition of The National’s Aaron Dessner, I’d recommend a focused listen on that one if you like this one at all. This is an easy 5 for me.

Here I am. A 44 year old man, taking a big shit at work, and listening to a Taylor Swift album. Where did it go wrong for me? Truth is, I'll never forgive Swift for ruining muh football games!! Listen, I'll try to have an open mind. The music is cool and catchy. I guess there are like 9 producers on this thing. The lyrics aren't for me, and much of it is repetitive. That's ok. There is clearly a market for this with 97 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. Kudos to her for creating, or bringing in producers to create, music so many people enjoy. Shake It Off is catchy as hell, and that is my favorite on here. I like I Know Places as a deep cut favorite. I'll mark listening to an entire Taylor Swift album off my bucket list now.

Working at a youth residential psychiatric facility for 10 years between 2000-2010, I was often aware of what the youth was into at the time: Jonas Brothers, Twilight, Harry Potter, Fallout Boy, Captain Underpants, Pretty Ricky, and of course Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. I was impressed to hear that among all of the manufactured music out there, Taylor wrote (or co-wrote) her own songs. I even once caught the video for "You Belong To Me" and thought the storyline was pretty clever. I'd hear more and more pop songs of hers on the radio over the years, surprised she was still winning awards for country music as this was clearly not country, but it was still catchy, though not aimed at my demographic. Of all the Taylor Swift albums out there, this is one I actually have a copy of. Like Harry Potter earlier, I figured I'd dive in and see what the fuss was all about and--like Harry Potter--I have to say I was thoroughly impressed. The production is top-notch, and though her lyrics are topically distant from me, they have a way of putting you right there with her as a co-pilot to her story. We can all relate, whether we've been there recently or not; there's something more-in-the-moment and more earnest about a 20-something Taylor Swift singing about modern dating than a 30-something Ben Gibbard singing about high school prom. Just like week I finished watching the Eras tour on Disney. In the first 5 minutes, I wondered why she didn't do a Super Bowl. And then immediately after that thought and for the remainder of the three-hour show, I saw that this was better than anything she could do at a Super Bowl. She really does give back to her fans and while she's no dancer, she doesn't try to be. She also single handedly boycotted Spotify until they paid all creators a better amount of money; no one else at the time or even now could have done that. I haven't picked up anything of hers since this one album, but I'm not against it. I liked every single I've heard since, and though I've never said it out loud, I guess I'm a Swiftie. Again, it's not made for me and my demographic, but I appreciate that she writes it, it's catchy, and the younger generations have something of substance to listen to amongst so much fluff and pomp. The singles here are good too, but let's not forget the awesome changes of beat and feel of "I Wish You Would," the excitement of exploring the center of the world in "Welcome To New York," and the getting caught up in one's own imagination and world-building in "Wildest Dreams." Too many good songs to list them all. Curious if this project will pull these studio versions out in time and replace them with the Taylor's Version re-releases.

I pointed out the dearth of female artists on this list so far, averaging only about 1/25. Then, as if in response, the list gave me a female artist this week! But because God has a sense of humor, it was Taylor Swift. Be careful what you wish for. I guess I'll just go ahead and get this out of my system now, for this, the first Taylor Swift album I'm encountering on this list. Because apparently there will be others. The thing about Taylor Swift as a cultural phenomenon is that she is absolutely inescapable, and her ubiquity only grew even stronger these last two years (2023-2024). Everything I know about her I know against my will. Her marketing team must be just about the best on earth, to be able to forge a legion of such parasocial followers on the back of such basic pop music. Some people lose their damn minds over Taylor Swift. I detect a social pressure to like her music, like I'm always being nudged toward it somehow. I never felt like anyone was wrong for liking her, but I somehow feel “wrong” for not being a fan. My sister, who is younger and more firmly in the millennial cohort, has a harder time. We've talked a few times about this, and we joke about it, but it's hard for her to forge female friendships without Taylor Swift being brought up at some point in the early stages, by the other gal, as a potential bonding point. And woe betide any young woman or girl, like my sister, who is less than enthusiastic about Taylor Swift. She may be viewed suspiciously or even hostilely by her peers. She may be seen as a “Pick Me,” her dedication to feminism may be called into question, she may be seen as suffering from internalized misogyny! All because she is less than enamored of some middle-of-the-road pop music seemingly designed in a Nashville lab to be as appealing as possible to as many people as possible. So Taylor Swift the cultural phenomenon sort of exhausts me, and her fans baffle me with their extreme passion over something so (imo) bland. This was the baggage I carried into this review. But since I had never sat down and listened to one of her albums, I was actually quite eager to see what it would be like. I've heard a lot of her singles, just by being out and about in the world, and they always seemed to just exist in the background, not something I could muster up love or hate for. But I feel like I genuinely came into this album listen with an open and curious mind. However, it was soon clear that I was vindicated in my initial feelings about her music. And as I continued throughout the album, my disappointment and exasperation grew. I was so hoping to be surprised and delighted by something, but it was pretty much all in the vein of the things I had already heard. Insipid. Flat. Monotone. Childish. Tweaked to perfection but lacking a soul. Undeserving of the hype. Oh, well. I love a great pop song, but there are other pop artists who can do what she is trying to do much better. The fact that there are multiple Taylor Swift albums on this list and not one Whitney Houston album, for example, is a travesty. I'm beginning to understand why Kanye, who can't always control his impulses, intercepted her award.

Well we knew it was coming. Its 2024 and I have never listened to a single solitary Taylor Swift song all the way through. I'd heard snippets here and there but just never really got what all the hype was about and never really was drawn in by anything I'd heard. Now I understand why. Taylor has a decent voice. I didn't hear prominent use of auto tune on her voice in this album so that's a plus for me. The problem is, the album is dry. Other words to describe this album.... monochromatic, repetitive, unimaginative, formulaic, manufactured. It's sounds like mainly processed predictable melodies. No dynamics. Really not trying to sound mean, but at about song number 4 or 5 I found myself wanting to turn it off. Towards the last few songs I was hoping it was near the end of the album. Think of the dynamic contrast between this and the the king of pop on the Bad album. I kept thinking that there were a host of other female artists that simply do the whole electro pop thing a lot better than what is presented in this album. Here's a list of these ladies/female fronted bands that I think present something superior and simply more interesting to Swift in this same listening space. Ladyhawke, Haim, The Start, Goldfrapp (particularly the Head First album), The Sounds, The Aces and JJamz (Z Berg was great with The Like). Taylor is apparently worth 1.3 billion and as of now I am not sure why. Maybe people are seeing something that I don't.

Bangers

A good album, Swift’s at her best in her pop song creation in this album, but it’s not an album I would listen to unless my daughter asks. 3/5!

+: Welcome to New York, I Wish You Would, This Love +-: Blank Space, Style, Out of The Woods, All You Had to Do Was Stay, Shake It Off, Bad Blood, Wildest Dreams, I Know Places -: How You Get the Girl 5,8/10

she Swift on my Taylor till I 1989

There are some good songs on here, even for a pop-swiftie hater. I’d give this a solid 7.5/10

So many bangers on this album. The Kendrick Lamar Bad Blood on the deluxe album is iconic

Fun, but I'm not sure if this counts as music, in the same way I'm not sure if MadDonalds qualifies as food.

I can't say I liked this, but it's not really made for middle aged dads either. It's just so mediocre. It's catchy, but only on the surface. The instrumentation has no soul. The lyrics are laughably bad at several points. It's just incredibly sterile pop. Compare to someone like early and mid career Madonna and you see the lack of balls. I know it's got teen girls, but it really seems to be for pre teens. Before kids understand anger, fear, oppression, horniness, really any real feelings. The adults that are in to this are the real frightening ones. Anyways, I'll give a 2 because I reserve 1s for things that I find to be so bad I'm mad it exists. This isn't that.

No doubt that these radio-friendly pop tunes are infectiously catchy. That’s not really my style, but still this album was more enjoyable than annoying. A handful of song are clear hits, but most songs are in the same vein but don’t always land as strongly. A pretty cohesive sound for an album of this sorts. Better than I expected, probably an important and strong modern pop album. It’s still probably not something I’ll revisit frequently, but may not be so quick to change the channel if Taylor Swift comes on. I may even enjoy a song or 2. She set out to make a fun, catchy album and generally achieved that, but the lyrics about tall guys with nice hair gets stale after a bit.

Great pop album. Lots o hits.

Could have been any one of a number of modern female singers as far as I'm concerned. Yes it was palletable, but nothing special. Can't really see it being worth more than 2.

Synth based pop music is not my thing. However, this is a solid pop album. Had to skip ‘Shake It Off’ and ‘Bad Blood’ as they are just too sickly sweet (and probably over played), but there’s some great songwriting and arrangements on here. A respectful 3 stars.

I've been dreading this appearing. My fears were unfounded. Its a great pop record, relatively unpretentious and life must have been good for Tay Tay at the time. This is reflected by the hate dial being turned down towards ex boyfriends. Unlike the ghastly Folklore, can't really fault it.

Great album

By no means am I a Swiftie, (is that right? That’s what the kids call it?) but this was enjoyable. She might have an army behind her that makes sure every album a certain amount of money or marketing, but it works.

I swear I'm not a hater, I just don't care. "Blank Space" is an all-timer, though.

As easy to access and enjoy as one would expect and packed with huge and famous tracks. This is much more pop-y than the album I reviewed previously. Good, but not great.

I go into all my reviews with an open mind. I'm not listening just for the sake of listening, I really want to expose myself to more music. She makes some good music - some. Not all, but some. Blank Space and Shake it Off are fine. Welcome to New York is not - bad blood was alright. Just not for me but im not her demo. It's fine

1989 is an excellent album. It continued her shift from her country roots to pop music in its broadest sense. And she did it with tremendous success.

The last album before she started pumping out endless over-manufactured pop drivel. Still upset this album won AOTY over Kendrick Lamar's second album To Pimp a Butterfly

a lot of hits but she is so money hungry i cant enjoy it

STANDOUTS: Blank Space Style Out of the Woods All You Had To Do Was Stay I Wish You Would Wildest Dreams How You Get The Girl This Love Clean New Romantics Is It Over Now? OVERALL 5/5—my first 5!

This is a hard one for me. Having gone to high school with Taylor and her not saying the nicest things about our high school, along with I’m sure a healthy dose of jealousy, has made me an anti-swiftie. But, objectively this is a great pop album. I’m a Jack a Todd fan and his fingers are all over this. It kills me, but this is a 4 star record.

So this is basically a synthwave record with a few mediocre singles put into the mix… I enjoy the synthwave part though, and I now finally understand the hype: Taylor Swift exposes people that have no interest in music to her version of great pop music styles. Sadly, quite a few of this people are music critics.

From the constant fawning over her and her music from the media and Swifties, you would think you are in for a musical revolution upon listening. What you get is 48 minutes of generic pop music with lyrics that sound like they came from a middle school diary. Shake if off was pretty good.

This is Taylor Swift's first non country album. It has Blank Space and Shake it Off on it. Those are both bangers. Oddly enough, this album is solid. For teeny Bop pop that is. Better than I expected for sure. Favourite songs: Shake it Off, Blank Space, Style, All You Had to Do Was Stay, Welcome to New York, Clean Least favourite songs: Bad Blood 4/5

Good album. Great production. Style is actually my favourite song of 2013. Taylor sucks though lol

I guess I'm still not a Swifty

song reco: style, wildest dreams, clean ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1989 is my favorite Taylor Swift album. One of her best albums.

Not bad, but also not great. So far nothing on this album has given me a "wow" factor. The track, "Style," is solid though; the opening track, "Welcome To New York," however, seems to be poorly written. It made my facial expression cringe upon listening.

Bad Blood is the Taylor Swift song I've ever really liked, I generally don't get the appeal.

Not into it, really did try.

I was enjoying myself far too much for my liking. The imaginary scenarios were flying by the end of this, on a train ride full of newly colourful June flowers :)) I'll easily admit that the main reason I groan at Taylor Swift's name isn't because I hate her or her music - I feel fine about her. It's just that with her now astronomical reach, maybe only real lovers can keep up the enthusiasm. The same happened to me back with Ed Sheeran and One Direction already. But these are all classics. I never understood those who were mad at her leaving country behind. This is pop, and she does it well. Musically and lyrically not much for me to think about, but it still works irresistably. Probably my least favourite of the slew of songs named 'Bad Blood' from this time though - she really rhymed 'blood' with 'cut'?

All killer no filler

Modern-day pop classic

So commercial.

T-Swift’s best album, IMO. The album that made me a fan.

It’s testament to great songwriting, that great songs transcend genres. So credit to plucky Taylor Swift for re-interpreting Ryan Adams’ alt-country classic ‘1989’ and presenting his songs as synth pop masterpieces. 5/5

I feel like I'd like Taylor Swift's music a whole lot more if I couldn't understand what she was saying. Swift has a tendency to reduce situations into superficial tableaus that I find deeply unsatisfying. She writes about what dress she had on, or that she's wearing cherry red lipstick, and we end up knowing nothing about the situation except that Taylor thinks she looked hot in it. However, it may be a deliberate songwriting choice intended to evoke nostalgia and our tendencies to sand off all the edges of romantic memories - the album cover is a Polaroid, after all - or to display the emptiness she feels when reminiscing about past loves. I'm unfamiliar with Swift's wider catalogue and whether she writes in character, or if her albums often explore a key concept or theme. But judging it on its own merits, the songwriting was infuriatingly shallow and unrelatable to me. However, Shake It Off is a banger, the production is great, and the booming 80s synth sounds that permeate the album (especially on Blank Space) was very much my cup of tea. 3.5

If you live your life near a switched-on radio, one that plays some level of pop music, it is more than likely you have heard Taylor Swift's music. I am definitely familiar with her music, but I have never actually listened to a full album. I'm sure, to understand the importance of 1989, you would have to be familiar with her previous work - I can think of songs like "Love Story" for example - and this album seems to document her journey into a more processed approach to her music. That is not necessarily a bad thing, every song on this album could be a hit, all under the lens of modern music. Catchy track after catchy track this album really is an ear-worm. A masterpiece? Perhaps. I can see why fans of pop music love this album, If upbeat pop that iant quite bubblegum is your thing, '1989' is a must-listen.

This is rather derivative, or perhaps, everyone else is sounding like her these days. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's bad, but it feels like the mass market fast food of female led modern pop.

- all you had to do was stay - clean

Boring, repetitive simplistic

me supreendi positivamente com ela

Good music from Taylor. Just not a big fan of her stuff

Only really got the synth-pop vibe on a couple of songs, was hoping for more. Pretty catchy album but don't think I'm converted to a "swiftie" just yet.

Pretty good album. I think I get the whole Taylor Swift thing. I probably wouldn't revisit it, it's just not really for me.

Stabilt popalbum. Lite svårt att förstå hypen, åtminstone baserad på detta album. Inget extraordinärt.

Solid album

As impossible as it may be, I'm going to try and separate this album from all the white noise and clamor around Swift that's reached a fever pitch in recent years. It's a great, finely-crafted pop album. She has better albums, but many of her best singles are here. "Style" is a perfect pop song. I do detest "Bad Blood", an underwritten, inert low-point on an otherwise vibrant album. I'm still mystified by it being a number-one hit almost 10 years later. "Shake It Off" has a great hook but I can't say that I like it. Taylor's Version has improved vocals and some songs have gotten a sonic facelift ("Out of the Woods" TV sounds fantastic, for example), but I have to concede that there is something about the youthful strain in her still-developing voice on the original, and that some of the TV tracks have lost some punch in the production. I need to stop writing about 1989. It's a great pop record and I wish the constant discourse around Swift would go away. It's exhausting. I'm tired. You're tired. We are all tired. Highlights: Blank Space, Style, Out of the Woods, Wildest Dreams, This Love, Clean

Hooooh boy... I'm scared to say something about this album. Taylor Swift is arguably the biggest music artist of the past 10 years. Because of this, she has developed something of an... interesting fanbase. A lot of people treat her like the greatest musician to ever live. I remember in my high school weights class the students would ask for Taylor Swift to play, which led to various days of deadlifting to nothing but her music for 40 minutes at a time. I hated those days, but I know realize that they prepared me for this, the inevitable Taylor Swift album listen. Here we have her 2014 album, 1989. In my opinion, this album... is alright. It's not really my thing personally, but I can see the talent and I respect the album. I can see why this is popular. The production behind the sound is pretty good when it comes to the beats and stuff. It's definitely modern but there's a little 80s influence that aids in making the album decent. I will say, for as long as I've thought that Taylor Swift was overrated, I've always been able to recognize that she's a good singer. The writing is a bit mixed for me. Some songs are pretty solid. Of the big hugely popular songs I've heard before, I think "Blank Space" and "Style" are pretty alright. I don't know if this is an unpopular opinion or something, but I think "Shake It Off" and "Bad Blood" are probably the worst songs on the album. Maybe I'm biased from how overplayed those songs are. I don't know. Overall, this is a perfectly fine pop album. Again, it's not really my thing. But I don't dislike it. It's solid. I still think she's overrated though. 3/5.

So, I understand that a lot of people like to hate on Taylor Swift, but I actually enjoyed this album. Will it be my go-to? Probably not, but there are a lot of catchy songs there.

Welcome to New York is the most soulless pop song I’ve ever heard. It’s pointless and adds nothing. I hope to never hear it again. The beat on Style goes hard and some of these song’s production outshines Taylor. Blank Space is unique and original while also remaining very Taylor, though Shake It Off and Bad Blood are exhausting and, frankly, cringey. Wildest Dreams and clean are nice. All the songs have a very urgent feeling including production and lyrics, but fails to make me want to actually do anything, such as excite me. Some of her songs have a timeless feeling while this whole album felt dated almost immediately after it came out. I can enjoy, maybe, one? two? songs on the is album. 3/5

Some good hits, though most musics are in short of identity.

Such a great album - varied enough to stay interesting despite being on the longer side, and loads of hits mixed throughout

Простите, но я не женщина (я долбаеб) 4/10

A ton of catchy megahits, but the deep tracks are utterly indistinguishable from each other

pretty quintessential pop. Easy to listen to, and obviously recognize a lot of the singles. Not my favorite thing to listen to regularly, but see the appeal.

I just don't get it.

I'm no swiftie, but this is music that I can listen to in the background.

I don't see what makes this album so highly regarded. I can definitely admit that it is well made, written and produced. But it just seems like the rest of the polished, mass produced pop music of the 2010s.

The album is a banger, 4/5. But im gonna remove a point because Taylor seems to be a horrible person.

it's a new soundtrack i could dance to this beat pop in the 00's was missing a zeitgeist-defining figure like taylor swift (or, funnily, 2010's kanye). some of the comparison is ridiculous (her attention to visual aesthetic and choregraphy is no where near michael jackson's) but she genuinely is the michael jackson of her time. i dont mind calling it now, blank space and style will be remembered as two of the best pop songs of the entire century, they certainly already were of their decade. i may have hated shake it off in high school but a decade later there is something to be said that it is one of the most (the most?) recognizable songs of its decade. the production on it is really enjoyable, i somehow never noticed all the brass on it. the bridge to out of the woods is amongst her most powerful, and we're at a point where she is delivering career-best moments in songwriting. there is a lot to love about the albums that came before 1989 but they all suffer from studio meddling at times. 1989 doesnt have the lyrical depth that taylor swift would hit on her late 10's/early 20's albums but it is her most consistent and concentrated pop album. it makes me want to speak in superlatives and romanticize everything i say. the biggest knock on this album is that the lyrics are often cliche-ridden. as smart as the songwriting is and as tight as the tracklist is, it can't make up for often vapid lyrics that can feel madlibbed together at times. i dont think 1989 is exceptional but it is incredibly listenable and its opening 4 track run is amongst the best in her career.

Shoutout to my Taylor girlies

This album is pure joy by the best in the business. Obviously I listened to Taylor's Version and hope others do as well. The hits are known enough that I don't feel inclined to comment, but seriously do not miss Out of the Woods and I Wish You Would for a lesser played gems.

Don't believe the hype.

Better than I thought it would be

I've never listened to this before, but of course you know some tunes. Genuinely solid pop. 3.5

Sorry, not sorry but I love Taylor. It took this album to convert me back in 2014. I couldn’t stand her and refused to believe the hype but then she dropped Blank Space and fuck me, that song hooked me like nothing else. Love her or hate her, this is a top pop album. It’s one of my most listened to albums of all time and one of her best in my opinion!

Refused to listen.

Taylor Swift is unbearable, but this album has a few ‘tolerable’ nostalgic bangers.

Not sure if I'm cheating by listening to 1989 TV but whatever. This isn't my favourite Taylor album (I'm a Reputation girlie) but this is still good. Yes, Taylor's music is really basic and formulaic but whatever. I still enjoy listening to all these tracks.

About what I expected. No nice suprises.

Candy sweet and squeaky clean. Like, almost too clean. I think a big part of most pop music today is that it doesn’t have to adhere to such tight production and mass-appeal standards (harry styles and a few others are exceptions though). Pulls from what was working in 2014 but doesn’t lean into it too hard. Hooks for days, but as with every pop album, it’s front-loaded.

3.4/5 listened 2x. high energy and nice beat but not really my thing

I have never listened to Taylor Swift before, but this album wasn't too bad. I doubt it will ever make my top 20 albums, but it is worth another listen

There is no bad blood with this album. it has style. So shake off that negativity and I wish you would take that blank space and fill in 5 stars!

I tried to listen to this with an open mind. I do agree, given the change in artistic direction and cultural impact it had, that this album deserves to be on this list. That said, the 80s synth music is anodyne and the lyrics milquetoast. Anodyne because others have done it much, much better and milquetoast because the change in artistic direction didn't extend to the lyrics. It's the same "boyfriend who didn't measure up to my expectations" schtick that made Taylor a meme in the first place. I'd give this one star if it wasn't so impactful on the cultural zeitgeist for some reason.

Taylor Swift is legit. No denying she can’t write absolute bangers. However, as I listen to more of her… some of her lyrics don’t seem all that great. For her to be heralded as this amazing songwriter and writes her own stuff is fine… but it kinda doesn’t hold up when you hear something like “he’s so tall and handsome as hell” Shout out to Shake it Off, Bad Blood, Blank Space for being anthems in college. Welcome to New York is also a banger.

Love my girl t swift - album was mid as hell. Probs her most famous but these songs are giving solely radio except for my favourite song ofc: wildest dreams which is violently upping my ranking. As a newly formed swiftie I was happy.

Quintessential 2014 pop. Some of Taylor's most iconic tracks on here but it's really not my favourite of her albums. Incredible number of singles on it tho. Also I literally always forget "how you get the girl" is actually on this album and not just in the deluxe edition. Also sidenote, I have hated "welcome to New York" since day fckn 1. Highlights for this listen: Style, clean, out of the woods, and as always I KNOW PLACES

It's not my favorite Taylor Swift album but it holds up really well.

I don't fucking think so

Very nostalgic. Loved this album when it came out. Although every song on this album now drives me nuts because I’ve heard it for what it feels like everyday for the past 10 years, I need to be fair. When this came out, I loved it, WE ALL LOVED IT.

solid pop offering

Guilty pleasure for blank space, the rest is so boring

Honestly, pretty solid pop songs. It's not for me, but I get why pre-teen girls go nuts for it

Read the reviews - funny, it's either all 5* or 1*. I'm a 5*er. One of the greatest pop albums ever produced (and with an extra *, if you listened - like I did - to "Taylor's Version")

This is more proof of what I've always said. It's a pretty solid pop album, but why do people treat it like it's the most transcendent and influential musical album ever? It's pretty good.

Very good.

Pretty good

NOTE: I listened to Taylor's version. Fuck. I didn't think this "era" would be my thing, but fuck, it's really good.

Mostly too generic-pop-y for me. I also don't like the production on Taylor's Version as much as the originals :(

Come on, you don't have to be all negative and spiteful just because TS is wildly successful. As a record, this is a brilliant production full of excellent tracks. To say otherwise is just daft.

Power pop princess with a lot of big hits. Album has a modern candy pop feeling, up beat and catchy. Commercial success obviously, with all the successful singles, but there were a couple annoying tracks I couldn’t listen to like Welcone to New York and Out of the Woods. Had to skip through as a bit one dimensional and repetitively annoying. Glad she’s comfortable with evolving and see her transform from a country singer to pop diva but maybe some of her authenticity is lost?

Sorry………

At one point this was my favourite Taylor album. I’ve since come to like her more folk/country-tinged music but I am still quite fond of her pure pop turns. I love a lot of the storytelling and songwriting in this though I’ve grown a bit more cold on the instrumentation and production of this then I used to be.

Hate the album art, pastiche music. Really boring

https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNjUyMDlhcjNldWV6NjNneDVkODJ2Nnc2Y3F2YzE1Y3d2czRxNXNjMyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/oiJ0Yf3sLucp2/giphy.gif There are some real earworms on this album, but as a whole it felt like a bunch of computer-generated filler. Really shallow lyrics, a race to get to the hook in every song, some really cringey 15-year-old ideas about romance. Honestly, this sounds like a more polished Rebecca Black. I have no idea how this album is held in such high regard--it feels like this was assembled in a corporate boardroom.

Meh, enige reden dat het drie sterren krijgt is omdat 10-jarige ik hier wild op ging. Ze is TE hetero voor mij, sorry not sorry.

I’m just gonna say that I’m not the biggest pop fan, so I went in with an open mind. Eh, it wasn’t terrible. It’s has a cool synth-pop sound and there’s a few good pop tunes and lyrics here and there. But to be honest, while it is probably THE pop record of the 2010s, most of this is too sappy for me. Most of it didn’t really do anything to me. It’s not my thing, but I can see why other people like it.

Great album.

Clearly catchy tunes but just some vapid, low self esteem, and degrading lyrical content

Bonus star because it's my daughters favourite album

Would I listen to it again: no Is it a no-skip album: no Favorite song: - Least favorite song: - Do I like it: no

Too long. Would be 5 stars without some filler songs.

Fun and made me appreciate her style more

I dont care for Taylor Swift one bit, but its easy to see why she's such a pop powerhouse. Several hits and a huge legacy and she's still going strong. Still like her country music better though.

Really solid pop album. Wildest Dreams is a great song!

Mid music for mid fans

Great Album! 4 stars

No thanks.

First time I’d listened to a Taylor Swift album. Not sure if this is considered her best one or not but overall I thought it was a pretty serviceable pop album. I can see where she gets the reputation as being disingenuous, the overall theme of the album seems to be “I’m a relatable hot mess” from the most prolific and successful pop star of her generation. Shake it off had me turn the volume up as always.

3.2 So does this mean I'm a Swiftie now?

Lots of catchy, well-known songs. I am no Swiftie but the woman can write ear worms!

This is alright. Not offensive. Although (apart from the classics over played on the radio) nothing really stands out…

2,5

Childhood bias but it’s lit

Honestly better than I thought it would be. I can definitely see why so many people enjoy her music. Great singing voice and some solid production. Not every song hits for me, but some do.

I really enjoyed this album when it came out

I listened to this album recently. I don't like Taylor Swift. But, for this, I tried to be impartial and tried to separate “art from artist” and try to listen to this. The album, really, started to kick off from the second track and I like its Pop sound and the beats were good! Her singing sounded good too. I enjoyed it musically. But, I was left to yearn lyrically, it just contained the same buzz words, “ex love, red lips, dress, being free, being happy” etc. It felt like listening to the same song over and over again lyrically, but, musically, they were distinct and good. So, I enjoyed the beats and production of this album and also, Taylor's singing and voice. So it's a good 2/5. Had it been for more diversity in lyrics, I would rate it 3/5.

taylor mid

I LOVE TAY TAY!!!!!!11!!!

I just couldn't listen to it, just too over produced and poppy

Was hoping to dislike it. But it is actually quite alright

Hesitant to like this album, due to the worlds obsession with Swift. Its crazy how economies can be affected by a a Taylor Swift concert. With that said, i really like this album, probably one of my favorite so far. Easy to listen to and very good production. Going to be honest and say that i didnt really pay attention to the lyrics, but did not hear anything that made me not wanna listen.

Had never heard of this artist but hope she makes more of a name for herself soon. There were a couple I’d revisit and a few more that I wouldn’t

an uninspired classic

Hit after hit, not sure how well the album goes together but every song is a banger can't argue 9/14 downloaded 5*s

Its a great album. Does it deserve to be on this list? Not sure. Personally I think Red was a better album. I like Taylor, and this album sold well, but I think it is too soon to call this album one of the best albums in the world...

Pop is definitely still alive and vibrant.

I find it impossible not think about how calculated this all is, like, 'ok we need a song that's going to go on a million treadmill workout jams playlists, we need a song to hit the 27-36 tequila & kombucha cousin demo, we need to perfectly tread the line of being racy enough to get tweens excited but tame enough their moms don't mind' - but that's just mega pop production, so its hard to begrudge her specifically for it, it's just annoying to realize you're in the '34-43 working on the computer rock uncle demo' and that they successfully hit you with a few. And she did! Some of these songs are catchy as hell and have some amazing anthemic hooks. There's some really cool atmospheric textural stuff and kind of euphoric blissful spacey production I really enjoyed. It's upbeat and energizing without being obnoxious, propulsive beats and plenty of changes. It's not meant to challenge the listener at all and doesn't, but just delivers pure pop straight to the veins. It's meant to be a throwback to 80s synth pop, but it sounds like she was just stealing all the drum machines and keyboards and producers from the 2008-2013 indie synth scene, the whole vibe of people LCD Soundsystem imitations - the best of that stuff is pretty good, and it's not a bad idea to rip it off to make yourself zeitgeisty and one of the era's biggest stars.

Man, this takes me back to college. You couldn't escape anything from this album back in late 2014. (Honestly, has anything changed in that regard nearly 10 years later?) This is when Taylor Swift fully embraced pop (but let's be honest, she's always been a pop artist) and I think it's safe to say that "1989" has Swift's largest hit per album ratio. The synth sounds are really noticeable all throughout, taking obvious influence from most of 80's pop. Very clean from a production standpoint too, but that's always a given with any T-Swift album nowadays. Among the best in the contemporary pop-sphere. Breakup and lovelorn-inspired pop music does get kind of tiring to hear on the radio as it's mostly overdone, but Swift sells it well (I think she knows a thing or two too). Most of the songs on "1989" are wistful and musing, rather than teetering on the edge of mopey or even vengeful (which is funny in this context considering her next album's theme after this one). As a result, everything just sounds...good. It's simply a fun and catchy listening experience and that's what you should expect from pop music, right?

It is what we all know it is. Some really influential tracks amidst it all. I know it doesn’t include the vault tracks. But maybe it should 😬

Probably my favorite of Taylor Swift's records. Not a masterclass of songwriting, but a certified pop megasmash for a reason.

Not a Swiftie, but it is got a lot of well written songs.

Conheço as mais famosas mas o álbum inteiro é bem legal.

Lots of catchy songs

Extremely solid album with a bunch of huge hits. 4.

Just a great pop record

first time listening to one of her albums in full. This one has a lot of songs I recognize. Not bad overall. Just not super into pop songs.

Melody and themes aren’t personally inspiring.

#4 Best: Wildest Dreams Worst: This Love

toxic and awful. Never again

Love Taylor and this album is great!

Note: I listened to the original version rather than Taylor's version. Turned this thing on and I think it started strong. 'Welcome to New York' is good followed by 'Blank Space' which slaps, followed by 'Style' which slaps again. The album coasts and then you get to 'Shake it Off'. I don't care for 'shake it off' If Taylor Swift is music for 12 year olds, 'Shake it off' is made for the sensibilities of an 8 year old. Maybe if I were listening to it for the first time I could like it. Then the next hit, Bad Blood comes on, which might be my actual least favorite TS song. I'm not sure what producer told Taylor that she needs a song with booming beats, but it doesn't compliment her voice at all and has what might be the worst hook/ chorus of any of her songs. It's undanceable which rides on a garage band bassline that can't even be salvaged by Kendrick Lamar, awful song, Failed experiment and I don't think we've seen Taylor try something like that again. Next song, Wildest Dreams, awesome, great song love it. How you get the girl and I know places are also good as the album closes. This album has some of my favorite and least favorite Swift Songs, If I liked Bad Blood and Shake it Off it would probably be a 4/5 star album, relatively consistent with pop hits sprinkled in. As it sits with me, it feels like Taylor was trying a lot of things on this album, some stuck and some didn't. I will say I think that this is the first album of hers that shows influence from Lana Del Rey which she definitely taps into more on Folklore and Evermore which I think is a good direction for her to go. As it stands, this project may have been important for Taylor's career but as a musical statement it's a bit of pop guff.

I listened to Taylor's Version of this. I respect the anger to re-record so people you hate get screwed over.

I can’t say this album is bad because it’s decidedly not. The beats are infectious, the singing is clean and takes center stage, the production value is sky high and there is a decent amount of variation of moods throughout the album. I’ve heard so many of these songs so many times (my wife was a big fan the year this album came out, went to stadium shows and everything) but they’re still all listenable and fun for the most part. I can’t relate to most of the lyrical content as a middle aged man, but I’m obviously not the target audience. Of the songs I hadn’t heard before, I enjoyed “Clean” the most. You can hear Imogen Heap’s influence in it which is nice as I like a lot her work. The radio singles we’ve all heard a trillion times and they’re solid pop tunes. Taylor Swift also deserves a ton of respect for writing her own music. This particular genre is full of ghostwriters and committees and it’s cool that she wrote nearly all of this on her own. Biggest gripe is the “you could’ve been getting down to this sick beat” line followed by a very normal 8 measure 4/4 drum break. It’s not sick at all!

Sometimes I’d start to think “oh this track sounds pretty good” then she’d start singing. Really weak vocals imo One of the best TS albums and singles and this is all it is + The Screaming Females cover of Shake it Off is so much better it was shocking to hear the original again Homeschooled weirdo energy

Taylor Swift has poetic strengths of a highschool sophomore broken up with before the big dance mixed with the showmanship of an MLM spokesperson. You can't listen to the album without understanding why it resonates with young white women everywhere. My favorite track was Wonderland and I loved the high pitched bendy synth in How You Get the Girl.

Taylor Swift’s music is not for me, but she is the best of the best of her milieu. Love her or hate her, she is iconic in the pop sphere. I actually knew a couple songs on this album (Blank Space, Shake it Off, Bad Blood) and they aren’t bad, the ones I wasn’t familiar with were pretty forgettable as I wasn’t really willing to do a repeat listen.

No thanks

4 / 10 Pop petardo de la novia de EEUU. No entiendo cómo pueden aguantar un disco entero.

I’m going to be reckless and give this a 5. I am unashamedly a fan of good pop music. And I even like her lyrics. I’ve listened to this at least 5 times since it popped up so that says something

I remember this album being released, and suddenly becoming aware of what a huge pop culture phenomenon Taylor Swift had become. The fact that it has now been ten years and she's sustained the same level of interest is quite incredible - since becoming aware that Taylor Swift was 'a thing', I don't think there's ever been a time that she hadn't been part of the Zeitgeist (at least in my circles, as a millennial elder). Ultimately, I just don't like listening to these songs. But there are a handful of stand out tracks (Blank Space, Style and Wildest Dreams), and the songwriting talent is clear. I'll never be a Swiftie, but I can respect it.

Brilliantly crafted pop music with heart and depth, Taylor Swift is head and shoulders above her peers and this album took her stratospheric. About as good as mainstream music gets.

Over produced and repetitive

Ok

Please Swifties don’t hurt me

The lyrics are just so annoying. Production is decent

Tried and failed to get through the vault tracks

Objectively good music that I subjectively don’t like

A glorious album by the other queen of pop. Enjoyable all the way through, and with enough variation to keep it interesting

The quintessential pop album of the 2010s. Swift has crafted a pure, nostalgia tinged mood with this record that perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the decade. There are no filler tracks on the album, all great hits that can be listened to again again. Definitely my favorite Taylor Swift album

Liked it more than I thought, get less planes though Taylor.

Replace the singles with the bonus tracks and this is an easy 5

The state of Pop in 2014. And pretty much today still. Well-produced, some catchy tunes, some forgettable ones, some decent lyrics, some cringey ones. At the end of the day... A bit forgettable despite the hits.

Electrifying.

Listen. Taylor’s my favorite artist & as much as I wanna just blast 1989 (TV) I can’t bring myself to take TTPD off repeat.

I think I’d be fine if I never heard shake it off ever again, but the rest is really good.

Didn't have too many preconceptions; I've heard a few radio hits of course but never listened to a full Taylor Swift album before. Blimey, it's actually really great! Good to know that the hype and exposure is backed up by serious talent.

Avoided a moral dilemma with this by listening to the original version on vinyl. My wife is way more of a Swiftie than I am, but this is a damn good album.

Good album. I can see what the buzz is all about. No skips.

An ok album

theres a few nice songs here like shake it off and wildest dreams but the trash like bad blood and how you get the girl along with the mediocrity like i know places drag this down to a 5/10. still a bit better than i was expecting though

pop de baixíssima qualidade musical. Nada de novo. Completamente descartável. Sem graça de tudo.

Ret vildt hvor mange pop perler som er på det her album. Kan godt forstå hypen omkring hende idag. Det er virkelig godt. Bedste pop album jeg har hørt indtil nu.

Jeg kendte flere sange end jeg troede. Det viser måske hvor svært det er at undgå det kæmpe popfænomen Ms. Swift er blevet. Jeg kan godt lide Taylor vokal. Så da musikken på dette album var trælst 80er synthet, hoppede jeg direkte til hendes Folklore album efter 1. gennemlytning af 1989.

Best Tswift album

Taylor Swift’s star is very well deserved. This was a great album for the setting at which I listened to it. She’s going for something, and she just doesn’t nail it, she writes the book on it.

This was my favourite album for most of my teenage years, enough said. Favourite tracks: I Wish You Would and Wildest Dreams (They are both top tier music for me and need to be acknowledged).

This album has a lot of nostalgic value because almost all the tracks were hits when I was a child. I was never super into Taylor Swift then and I most definitely am not now. I liked Shake it Off and Style though but I can quickly become sick of it because of how overplayed they are. Won’t listen again at will.

Enjoyed it. She is a good song writer!

This was always going to be an interesting review for myself. I am a fan of Taylor Swift but I wouldn't consider this one of my favorites of hers. I also listened to Taylor's Version but did not take the vault songs into consideration. I think this album will ultimately be remembered as an influential pop album and one of the definitive albums of the 2010's. Prior to this album Swift was mostly known as a country artist who would sing about her ex lovers. This album definitely featured songs about ex lovers but was a drastic shift in her music to pop. And it really works for most of the album. "Welcome To New York" is an absolute Banger and great way to start the album. The first 10 songs are all incredibly strong songs. The back end of the album doesn't reach the heights of the first half but ends strongly with New Romantics. Some of these songs were definitely over played on the radio when they first were released but that doesn't mean they aren't still good songs. I already know I will come back to this album and will continue listening to Swift. My last thing, we got this album the same day she released The Tortured Poets Department and I'm not sure if that was a coincidence or not. The vault also has some slappers like "Now That We Don't Talk" and "Is It Over Now."

The hits on this album have always been a tour de force of 2010's pop and still hold up after all these years. It's impossible to not sing along to blank space or bad blood. The sound is very grand on this album, even on the softer tracks. I think it really adds a nice feel. The production is great, but on some of the tracks on the back half feels a bit cookie cutter. I think after the highs of the first 2/3 the end of the album didn't hit me the same way and bored me a bit. Definitely one of the best pop albums of the 2010's. I don't listen to Taylor Swift outside of the radio but this is definitely one I'll come back to!

This album isn't for me because it isn't for me. I am not a rich white woman that bounces through relationships. Her trials are real, but I can't relate and the saccharine music doesn't help me relate.

By coincidence, I was served this album the same day as Taylor Swift released her album "The Tortured Poets Department." She seems to many to be at the apex of her fame at the moment: her blockbuster Eras Tour, her chart-topping albums, her concert film, her political relevancy; even her boyfriend just won the Superbowl. It's hard to imagine anyone flying much higher than this. 1989 is a great example of how she reached these heights. These tracks were (and are) ubiquitous: I have never gone out of my way to listen to one of Swift's albums before, but I knew each song on this one. Far from the "Tortured Poets" she is currently invoking, this album displays her simple, often hollow lyrics and saccharine melodies. There's not a lot of substance here but dang it, it's still pretty fun. Favorite track: "Out of the Woods," just because I haven't heard it three thousand times on the radio.

Probably the TSwift album I align with the most. The New York song is annoying. The Style guitar line sounds like the opening riff from Eminence Front by The Who. Shake It Off is great (except for that weird rap break). Overall this album is great.

I don't get Swift haters. The songs on this album are impeccably produced, catchy as fuck, and on top of that Taylor is hot. This album is a banger and a hell of a lot better than some of the classic rock shit on this list.

I was listening this on Spotify and got a message from my best buddy: "Why the fuck are you listening an entire Taylor Swift album" and now I feel embarrassed. Thanks a lot.

Even men with steel hearts give this a 3 star minimum

Welcome to New York is truly awful. What a way to open an album. The musical is honestly so vapid. Great H&M, or whatever box store you like, shopping music. Shake it Off is fun tho.

Я никогда не слушал альбомы с поп нвправленностью и эта запись меня удивила. Несмотря на то, что инструменты занимают явно не лидирующее положение на пластинке, это не мешает практически каждой песне быть интересной и довольно многогранной, так как чудесный вокал выступает лучше любого инструмента. Я думаю, что в некоторое время поищу еще интересную музыку в жанре поп, так как хочу разнообразить свое погружение в музыку и понимать множество ее направлений. Больше всего мне понравились эти песни: "Welome to the New York", "Blank Space", "How You Get the Girl", "Style", "Wildest Dreams". Кстати, сегодня, вместо "Охоты", под музыку я пил "Эссу". Мне показалось, что она идеально подходит под пение Тейлор Свифт)

Contains some of the highs and lows of TSwift’s discography imo. Maybe I’m a hater or maybe I have a sertraline prescription but I prefer her sadder less poppy stuff.

A really strong album that solidified Swift as one of the biggest pop stars in the world. A couple of songs are kind of cringe (Bad Blood and about half of Shake It Off) but Blank Space, Welcome to New York, Style, Out of the Woods and Wildest Dreams are all killer

I was not expecting this for some reason. I have never listened to TS before and it was very strange. I put on Taylor’s version because why not. Nothing against the woman, but this music doesn’t strike me as particularly good. It’s just well-engineered to appeal to a particular type of listener/fan. And in that respect it is very successful.

What can I say about Taylor Swift that hasn't already been said. She's good at what she does and unlike many artist who perform the same genres of music, she has only gotten progressively better as her career has gone on. 1989 is a great pop album. The tracks when from new to iconic on a dime and several of them are going to be in the popular consciousness for years.

I'm convinced that men who dislike Taylor Swift either have no music taste or are trying to overcompensate for something. Swift is indisputably a phenomenal singer, songwriter, and performer and while her music might not be everyone's favorite it's hard to deny the sheer number of bangers on this album. Out of curiosity I ran some numbers, and compared to The Beatles' own Abbey Road - the highest rated album on this website, Swift's 1989 pulls over FOUR BILLION more impressions (yes with a B). That is almost two and a half times the number of listens as Abbey Road, with five less songs, and an average 550 *million* listens per song. Hell, the least listened to song, This Love, has more impressions than 70% of Abbey Road. I like the Beatles. I would say I like them more than T Swift on a regular day. That being said, this album is still a 5 due to the sheer number of bangers that permeate today's modern culture. tl;dr Swift is good. She might not be your favorite, but you can't deny the good vibes.

Great album: My favorite part was the hearing the great tunes that I was least familiar with. “Style” “Out of the woods” “I wish you would” Are all perfect pop songs. Blank space and shake it off I’ve heard a thousand times but they are still great. Least favorite: Bad blood New York Overall I’d say it’s a 5 album

This is like a 4.6 for me. I wish you would is my fav. Style and stay are also bops. I think this could be a perfect album if shake it off weren’t on it. I think that song is stupid and kind of out of place on an otherwise great album.

I think this album has the best vocal production. My fave is I wish you would

it’s fine

Jag överdriver inte. Jag trodde inte att det skulle vara så dåligt. Detta bidrog nog till början av The downfall of pop. Vissa låtar funkar bara av den anledningen att jag hört dem på radion när jag var mindre. Annars hade det varit skit rakt igenom.

Not hating on Taylor, I understand why it’s so popular. Just not my thing.

Jag försöker lyssna med öppet sinne men det är inte särskilt bra. Hört många låtar då radiokanaler inte har någon variation. Tycker synd om ungdomar som inte får ha en egen smak utan blir påtvingade detta genom olika medier och då inte förstår hur mycket annan bra musik som finns.

Gear: Focal Clear Mix: gar nicht so scheiße Musik: ganz schön scheiße Wertung: 📸(📸)/5

I'm probably the last Millennial to hear this album. It was pretty good. I don't quite understand the level of hype for Taylor, but I acknowledge the songs are fun, poppy, and have a lot of replay value. Most tracks feel iconic and most fit into a nice movie soundtrack. Glad to have heard it. I'm not quite a Swifty but will add a couple to the playlist for sure. Favorite track "Blank Space"

good

Thoughts before listening: Taylor Swift has taken over my household. My wife is obsessed and Taylor is her go to when picking music. I like it for the most part, but I would never choose to listen since its just not the type of music I tend to gravitate to. However, as far as pop stars go Taylor is about as good as it gets. My favorite by her is the Folklore album, but 1984 has a ton of huge pop hits and is overall a very good album. I also love how much Taylor melts the worst people so she gets bonus points for that as well. Review: Yeah this is good. Its hard to deny just how catchy this album is. "Blank Space" and "Bad Blood" are my favorites hits with "Welcome to New York" and "Wish You Would" as my favorite deeper cuts. This is a 4-star album.

Enjoyed TSwift way more than I thought I would. Good album.

Such a relatable album (with the exception of Shake it off which is probably the most over played T Swift song)

Muy piola siftie me copo. Ni sabia que shake it era de ella.

To have another artist such as Ryan Adams making, instead of a cover of a song, a cover of the entire album, speaks greatly of this album. Without a doubt, it has marked a generation, and will live rent free in a lot of gen-z’s and millennials as well. I don’t consider personally a 5 star album, but I do recognize its influence and beautiful melodies.

Seems like everyone's giving this either a 1 or a 5. I'll go 4. It's a good listen.

Was determined to stay open minded and pleasant about this one after all pop music is harmless and I am an old fart. I couldn’t even remember whether Taylor Swift made golf clubs or luxury motor yachts. That didn’t last long. This is powdered milk in musical form. Homogeneous Music Product has been generated for you. Guaranteed to contain no deadly viruses or sharp objects at a proven 0% musical nutrient level. What has “my queen” got against interesting progressions, or light and shade and especially bridges. Haters gonna hate my lack of middle eights. How to write a Taylor Swift vocal melody: pick a note then stay on that note and do this rhythm: duh duh duh duh duh duhh duhh. Forever. Her voice sounds like a helium AI impression of Christina Aguilera but without the shouting or raunchiness. The whole thing is so empty and sexless. Apparently the world wants bland and by gum this delivers. Taylor Swift is living proof that entertainment is not about refining the perfect response to public approval. Oh unless you want to be the biggest selling artist of the age in which case well done, the share holders are delighted and nobody had to experience anything.

I love how polarised people are towards this album and Tay Tay in general. You either think she's the queen of pop or think she's the reaper of happiness and artistic talent. Well guess what? This album is neither amazing, nor shit. It's fun, it's catchy, it's danceable. But it doesn't do much more. Fav songs: - Blank Space - Style - Out of the Woods - Shake it Off - All You Had to Do Was Stay

Fire