The hearts of Taylor Swift fans everywhere leapt in synchronization Oct. 27 as her fifth album “1989,” was released. I don’t know about you (and no, I am not trying to make a “22” reference), but I’m a bit unclear on how I feel about the album as a whole.
“1989” greatly deviates from the pop country sound Swift has become famous for and instead embraces the rhythmically manufactured vibe of many of the Top-40 pop hits that we hear on a daily basis.
I have a very strange relationship with today’s pop music because most of it’s pretty bad. At the same time, however, I kind of enjoy it. Honestly, that’s probably the best way I can describe my opinion of the album: I didn’t exactly like it, but I didn’t dislike it either.
The track listing features an array of catchy but sometimes overly repetitive songs like “Style,” “Welcome to New York,” “Out of the Woods” and, of course, “Shake It Off.” Excluding the latter, most of the tracks aren’t as anthemic and fun as many of Swift’s past offerings. They just sound like typical, run-of-the-mill pop songs, which I understand is the type of album she wanted to make. The problem is, it just doesn’t sound like a Taylor Swift album, which could be concerning to her loyal fanbase.
Even though I’m not a T-Swift fan, I feel that “1989” is still worth a listen, despite my indifference toward the sound and content. There are a few bright spots: “Style” is probably going to be my new song to sing in the shower, and “Clean,” the last track on the listing, is the strongest song of the album, as it boasts poetic lyrics and top notch production (thanks to an Imogen Heap assist).
Many of Swift’s fans might be disappointed, or even upset that she decided to alter her style. The majority, however, probably won’t mind the new sound, as the album is expected to reach one million sales by the end of the week. I guess we’re all just going to have to shake it off and embrace the change.
