1989 is "better" due to its stylistic consistency and clear narrative throughline, but Red is definitely my favorite.
Red takes it for sure, 1989 follows shortly after. It gets dicey after that but I’ll say that I don’t dislike any of her records
1989 broke the spell of me loving every new taylor swift record way more than the one before it. even though it's a great record, i'll always hate "bad blood" and i'll always be a little tired of "wildest dreams" and i'll always be totally baffled that "new romantics" and "you are in love" are bonus tracks
The 1989 era is when I started to really get into Taylor & when I discovered her earlier albums as well. To this day 1989 is still my favorite.
Red has the highest highs and her best songs, but has some real clunkers. 1989 is literally perfect, but I have to be in the mood to listen to it and I like to give it my full attention. Red=1989>reputation>Speak Now>Fearless>TS I'm hopeful that lover will fall in the top tier!
I honestly love Bad Blood, and the second half of Red kinda meanders for me... I always skip Stay Stay Stay, Starlight, and The Lucky One. But Treacherous, All Too Well, and Holy Ground are prob my fave Taylor songs.
How hot of a take is it to say I Knew You Were Trouble and WANGBT ruin the cohesiveness of Red? Those songs are such massive stylistic departures from the rest of the album for me. Incidentally, I don’t really like either.
I picked Red because it holds more sentimental value (first tour I ever saw her on, album that really solidified me as a full blown fan), but 1989 is an insanely close second.