Oh man can you imagine a parallel timeline where the verses in Look What You Made Me do weren't so fucking cringey? Song would be GOAT-tier. It's still a banger but the cringe is strong with this one.
i think there are prob good melodic ideas floating around in "dancing with our hands tied" but they are pummeled to death by that synth
"feeling so gatsby for that whole year" just ruins "this is why we can't have nice things" for me can't begin to explain why that bothers me so much and the kennedy nostalgia of "starlight" is my fuckin jam (what a marvelous tune!)
I think the album's good. It's not great, but I've only been a casual fan of her career and definitely don't like the old albums like some people do. This feels like a nice addition and follow-up to 1989. Some good stuff, some skippable songs, but I see no reason why it'll be a "flop" or anywhere near the worst album I've heard this year (still The Used).
How did I not realize Ed was going to be rapping on "End Game"? This is horrifying. EDIT: Oh god, she rapping too. No Taylor no.
I mean, it's definitely not going to be a flop and it's definitely not the worst album I've heard this year. Second half is way, way better than the first. But I think it's overproduced and underwritten pretty much across the board, and it's definitely the least I've liked a Swift record on first listen. "New Year's Day" really makes me wish they had shown a little more restraint with the production/arrangements throughout.
I'd argue the opposite, it's perfectly produced for what the intention of the songs are. There's so many cool little things going on ("Don't Blame" is a great example). I love dark synth layers, so I'm right in the wheelhouse for stuff like that.