I didn't mean to buy Taylor Swifts album on ITunes. I fully intended on waiting until it was available on Spotify and saving the 13.99 that Apple was charging for the highly anticipated album. I was a hardcore Taylor Swift fan during her "Red Era" but my obsession died as more and more drama started to surround the star and I felt unable to keep up. When "Look What You Made Me Do" came out I rolled my eyes at the not-so-subtle digs at Kim and Kanye. I expected the entire album to be Taylor's lame attempt at being mature and "edgy", but I was wrong. Once again, the country turned pop star released a beautiful and cohesive collection of songs that reminded me why I fell in love with the "Our Song" singer.
1)...Ready For It?
I don't love this song. I wish it wasn't the first song on the album so I could kick things off with a rave review. Taylor raps in it. I've heard rumors that it's about her new boyfriend, Joe Alwyn. It's a fun song and the beat is really...loud. I'm sorry I don't have anything else to say about it.
Rating: 5/10
2) End Game (feat. Ed Sheeran and Future)
When I heard Taylor Swift and Future were making a song together I 100% assumed it was a joke. It made as much sense to me as Selena Gomez and Lil Wayne putting out a single. The song is one of the more popular on the album. The first minute is my favorite where Taylor talks about her and her new love interest having big reputations, scary enemies, and causing a lot of conversation. Ed Sheeran sounds adorable and Irish as per usual, and Future knocks it out of the park, but what else is new?
Rate: 7.5/10
3) I Did Something Bad
If this song doesn't make you want to strut down a runway then there's something seriously wrong with you. Taylor Swift has been called out for a lot of things. Most notably, she's known for "playing the victim". In this song, she's ready to fight back. I Did Something Bad draws attention to the men who may or may not have used Swift to gain notoriety. She lets her enemies know that she's sick and tired of being a door-mat.
Rate: 9/10
4) Don't Blame Me
Taylor uses this song to combat the media opinion of her. She talks about being perceived as boy crazy, but also poses the question shouldn't love make you crazy? Her voice is really low in this song and the beginning is a little creepy. It's not my favorite, but it definitely has its moments.
Rate: 6.5/10
5) Delicate
This. Is. The. Best. Song. On. The. Album. The whole song is about how accepting and loving her current relationship is. She notes "my reputations never been worse so he must like me for me" and it's really freaking cute. The songs a little sad to listen to because you realize how hyper-aware Swift is of her reputation and perception.
Rate: 11/10
6) Look What You Made Me Do
I'm not going to talk about this one very much. It's meaning and intricate music video have already been analyzed by people who are a lot more talented than I am. It's a fun song and I definitely recommend it if you're going through a breakup or feuding with an enemy. Would I play it on repeat during a long car ride? Probably not.
Rate:6/10
7. So It Goes...
This song has one of the better choruses on the album. The verses aren't my cup of tea, but it's still an interesting song nonetheless. I listened to the album in order and by the time I got to this song I realized that Taylor will probably never go back to country music, which is fine with me.
Rate: 7/10
8. Gorgeous
This is the song you play on repeat in the car with your friends. It's girly, upbeat, and the most "old Taylor" song on the album. While it's super cute and sweet sounding, it's also a reminder that Taylor is attempting to be edgy. Lyrics like "Got drunk and made fun of the way you talk" and "I got a boyfriend, he's older than us" remind us that Swift isn't a little girl anymore, and she's determined to prove it.
Rate:8.5/10
9. Getaway Car
I tried to figure out who this song was about for 2 hours. I'm pretty sure it's about Taylor breaking up with Calvin Harris so that she could be with Joe Alwyn. I'm probably wrong. The song itself is really catchy. I listened to it on my way to class and I was still humming it on my way home. It reminds me a lot of her song "Red" for some reason. It's weird listening to these songs and knowing that Swift always writes from personal experience because I truly don't know anyone else with this much going on.
Rate: 6/10
10. King of My Heart.
Another really cute song. Taylor made a really big deal about being wild and different on this album, so I'm surprised that there are so many sweet love songs on it. I'm not complaining though because this is one of my favorite tracks. Taylor uses the whole song to talk about how she thought being alone would be good for her, but then she met Joe. It's a little possessive if you think about it, but still adorable.
Rate:8/10
11. Dancing With Our Hands Tied
It took me so long to actually listen to this track in full. The beginning just didn't wow me and I found myself skipping over it for other songs. Now that I've listened to it fully, it's one of my least favorite. It's really sweet and reminds me a lot of her 1998 album. I still don't get why their hands are tied together. If you understand then please contact me.
Rate:5/10
12. Dress
This song is Taylor Swift letting you know that she is in fact an adult, namely an adult that is fully comfortable with her sexuality. As an old school T-Swift fan, I can assure you that this is the first time I have ever heard her even hint at the idea of sex. It's cool and a little edgier than the rest. I like it because it's the most honest and open she's been in a long time, which is pretty brave considering the public opinion of her.
Rate: 7.5/10
13. This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things
This track, Look What You Made Me Do, and ...Ready For it? are the holy trinity of Taylor Swift being very... very pissed off. The song is about Kanye. If you want to argue with me, don't. I'm right. "Friends don't try to trick you, get you on the phone and mind twist you". Are we really going to pretend this isn't referencing the infamous phone call between Swift and Kanye? It's fairly upbeat even though Taylor is so angry. The best part of the song is when she thanks her boyfriend, her best friends, and her mom for standing by her no matter what.
Rate: 9/10
14. Call It What You Want
This is a really pretty song. I would buy an instrumental version of this song and listen to it daily because I think it's that pretty. With that being said, the lyrics are brutal. She's calling people drama queens, clowns, liars, all while sounding like a really dainty ballerina. I'm here for it.
Rate: 9/10
15. New Years Day
Taylor Swift throws amazing parties. If her Instagram didn't convince you of that, the first verse of this song should. There's glitter and polaroids and girls carrying their shoes, it sounds bomb. The song is the only ballad on the album which is a suprising move for Taylor. She's cleaning up after a big party and her new man is helping her. To me, the song is her saying goodbye to her old life and hello to the new one. It's really sad and I wouldn't recommend listening to it if you aren't big on nostalgia.
Rate: 10/10
