So my 14yo daughter and her friend met up at our house at 5:45am to listen to the new Taylor album before school. I listened to it in the car as I worked today. Let’s just say I wasn’t expecting Taylor to sing about having a big dick, the wetness of her privates, or Travis opening her thighs with his (apparently) tree-sized manhood, but here we are.
Upon first listen, I do like it much better than Tortured Poets. I liked Opalite, Ruin the Friendship and Actually Romantic. Wood is a bit of a banger (pun not intended but ok) but it’s definitely one I don’t want my daughter singing around the house. I’m really hoping the double entendres go over her head, cuz damn Taylor, that’s a bit raunchier than you normally go.
Mrs. Odesio downloaded the album last night and went to watch Taylor’s movie today. She spent the better part of the day with earbuds firmly ensconced listening to the album while she worked. I’ve got nothing against Swift, but I’m glad I don’t have to listen to her on repeat.
My wife received her fancy copy of the album today and listened to it a few times. Her opinion went from mild disappointment to feeling like, although the lyrics weren’t as good as she wished, overall it’s a bop. Not one of Swift’s best but still a good overall album.
I had to listen to Wood because of all the hoopla. Oof. Who would have predicted that a thirtysomething Swift would penning paeans to some football player’s schlong? Musically, the song is solid pop, though. Swift reliably produces solid pop, so no surprise there. What I’ve never understood is the whole ‘great poet’ silliness. I’ve looked over a lot of her songs and nothing rises above bog standard pop banality, imho.
The song “Actually Romantic” is another well -produced pop song, but lyrically it also seems it bit beneath her. She’s arguably the most famous, most powerful and richest pop star in the world who is practically worshipped by millions, and she’s putting out a diss track targeting…checks notes…Charli XCX?!
Come on, Taylor, you’re better than this. Or maybe you’re not, but you probably should be.
I think she was a really good lyracist in previous albums, especially for her young age. And I really became a fan of hers after Folklore. She seemed to put some real effort into that and Evermore, and put some effort into changing her style a bit. This latest album feels like she’s still writing as a 20-something. I mean, a song called Wood about your boyfriend’s dick? A diss track where she’s basically saying “Hur hur, you’re gay for me?”
It’s got a few good songs lyrically, and musically a couple bangers, but if this wasn’t a Taylor Swift album, it wouldn’t be anything of note, imo. Maybe she should take some time off and live a little out of spotlight before putting out another mid album. The solitude of covid seemed to have inspired her. This existence where everyone in her orbit bows down to worship her and make her a billionaire seems to have made her uninspired.
Eta: I know George Michael got recognized for her track “Father Figure” (even though I barely hear his song in there), but how does The Jackson 5 not get credit in the song “Wood?”
You’re in for a treat. You’ll learn all about how Kelce’s redwood tree managed to split Swift’s thighs. The art of writing songs about sex is plausible deniability, and not I want your big fat cock in my hole, sha la la.
I finally got around to listening to it. I think about half the tracks I may listen to again. Some I might prefer in the “clean” version which I am told exists. I think Eldest Daughter, Honey and Opalite are just good songs despite not having groundbreaking lyrics. Cancelled is one of my favorites and The Life of Ophelia is an absolute earworm that I think is by far the best on the album. Then again, I wouldn’t be considered a Swiftie. I never actually listened to the last album and I still like the original country songs. I didn’t buy and of her re-recorded songs and I didn’t listen to all the vault tracks although I do think Nothing New is one of her best. JMNSHO.
I exaggerate, but it seemed like, starting in the 70s every other rock song on the radio was about how awful life is for a rock musician. A lot of boo hoos about the rigors of being in a working band. “Write what you know about”
Heard “the fate of Ophelia” on the radio today and its the first time a Taylor Swift song interests me enough to pay attention, rather than being simply inoffensive background noise
I became a fan with 1989, retroactively got into Red, like the underrated Lover and really liked Folklore. For her new one, I agree with a Guardian review – it’s best listened to at a distance or in the background. There are some fantastic earworms, but the lyrics don’t live up to her usual high level, and in some cases are cringe (“Wood”) or beneath her (“Actually Romantic”). I’m not sure how much play it will get.
Or how do Pixies not get credit for “Actually Romantic”??
Yeah, damn. She seems to be leaning hard on other artists/songs on this album.
And wonder how she ends up at the top of the charts for every album and keeps growing her billions: There are now a stupid number of versions of this album. And all of them count toward the official physical sales of LoaS. And lord knows, there’s a sizable chunk of her fandom that will buy every single version of the album– multiple vinyl versions with different artwork and a different poem included with each, four CD versions with exclusive acoustic content, and a Target exclusive version of the album. Good grief, woman, it’s becoming a bit obnoxious the way you milk your fans.
I mean, I still like a good chunk of her music, although I by no means consider myself a Swiftie, but she’s not really impressing me these days with either her artistic output or the money-grubbing billionaire persona she’s exuding. I’m glad my daughter, who does consider herself a Swiftie, doesn’t feel the need to buy all of these albums, as she just listens to it on a loop on Spotify.
