Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl (October 3, 2025) • Page 52

Some very cringy lines. That stood out to me most on first listen. Like, did she just say that?

But honestly, it's way closer to last two albums than I expected when I heard about Max Martin producing and from someone very much burnt out on that style, ehhh ... I'm not beating the I have Taylor fatigue accusations. I wouldn't say it's bad by any means, but that's now three albums that have me thinking: were Folklore/Evermore an aberration for me? I haven't liked anything on any of these that have come anywhere close.

And, from a bigger picture standpoint: the downbeat pop era we're in is not really working on me either. I just miss the energy. Everywhere. I don't know if this sound/album is a reaction to Sabrina's popularity, but I feel like I could make that argument.

 

Predictably, this is better when it doesn't sound like someone recorded it on their voice memos app while it was playing in the next room. (Also enjoying it more now that I've totally dispensed with the expectations that it would be a dozen straight bangers.)

 

ThanK You AIMee is definitely one of my least favorite songs from her, ever. Just not here for that kinda thing. I still haven’t heard the album yet, maybe when I get home in 5 hours.

 

Yeah, all of this. A few notes:

1) I really think the pandemic was the best thing that could have happened to her/her career. A premature end to one of her least-well-received eras, a good excuse to do something totally different, and then the chance to mount what was essentially a "comeback tour" for the ages. I really wonder what her last five years would have been if COVID hadn't happened.

2) The downbeat pop thing is so weird to me, as someone who always has loved his pop songs to be effusive and euphoric. What happened?! How did we get here?! Who chose this?!

 

Hits Different was the closest we got to 1989-cycle Taylor post 2020. Jack and Aaron made a better Max Martin song than Max Martin.

 

Even the title of the album doesn't do it any benefits in setting up the expectations of being a bolder big pop album lol, that's so funny that's it's really not in the end. Like girl what are you doing

 

I feel like the rise of Chappell, “Brat”-era Charli and Sabrina last year was a reaction to the downbeat pop era because they had so much joy and energy.

Now, I guess we’re back in it. Maybe that’s also why “House Tour” is the song that’s going viral too.

 

Wish List is cute.

 

on my second listen now (first in HQ), since i have a couple hours to kill at the airport. Ophelia and Opalite stand out a bit more than my first listen

 

I'm traveling right now and away from my typical setup so I really hope nobody sends this to my inbox

 

finally getting an HQ listen and I cannot believe how cringy the lyrics to eldest daughter are lol

 

Wood is so fun, love that vibe.

 

I can wait 7 more hours. If there's no 16-bit/44.1k minimum quality audio then I don't want to hear it.

 

luckily it's out there in that quality

 

Not a big fan of Cancelled! on first listen, a miss for me musically and lyrically.

 

Honey is ace too, this is definitely more hit than miss for me thankfully.

 

production and chorus hook on CANCELLED! is decent, but everything else does nothing for me

 

These sound like Max Martin had no effect on these songs whatsoever

 

The entire time I was listening to this I was thinking about some of the stupid shit I hear my early 40s friend say and then I remember that Taylor isn't that far off. Some of it is so cringe.

 

Well, that's 42 minutes I won't get back.

 

do they girl boss too close to the sun?

 

The title track is solid, I really love the bridge and I like the combo of the two of them but I find stomp claps hard to deal with.

 

this might be my least favorite album of hers, but it's too early to say. even Lover, an album i have a very mixed relationship with, has higher highs for me. i haven't spun her first album in a few years, but from what i remember, for how much i didn't really care for some of its songs, at least it felt a lot more honest than some of the songs on here. need more time with it. i'll still probably pick up the vinyl, but idk if i'm in a hurry to do so

 

when Sabrina sings by herself or they harmonize together, it really makes that track for me. don't really think it's that strong melodically

 

Did you listen to the new Zara Larsson yet?