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Taylor Swift – Lover

Florian Buechting Media Review No Comments

4.1

Rating

 4.1/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Significant improvement to previous album
  • Even a touch of country

Flyctory.com Cons

  • A bit too lengthy / boring

Taylor Swift is back! On 23rd August 2019, the music superstar with country roots released her seventh album, Lover. As she fulfilled her past record deal, she stated that she was much more independent in doing her music now under a new label. Interesting to see whether how this will reflect her music. Here is an album review.

 

Taylor Swift – About the Artist

Does one really need to introduce Taylor Swift? She is one of the music superstars nowadays. The more, it may be surprising to some Blank Space listeners that Taylor Swift’s roots are bloody country music ones. Especialy her 2012 album Red is named by many country artists as one of their favorite longplayers. The album topped six major markets, USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand. It was Taylor Swift’s fourth album. Only her self-titled debut album in 2005 did not top the US charts and “just” became fifth placed. The two pop albums 1989 and Reputation boosted her worldwide career even more. Thereby, 1989 sold over ten million units. Here is one of her country music success songs – you know that latest ones anyway. You belong with me was played nearly one billion times (!!!!) on YouTube.

 

Taylor Swift – Lover – Track by Track

The album lasts 61 minute. It covers amazing 18 songs. Taylor herself posted about it on social media

This album is very much a celebration of love, in all its complexity, coziness, and chaos. It’s the first album of mine that I’ve ever owned, and I couldn’t be more proud.

 

1. I Forgot That You Existed

I forgot that you existed
And I thought that it would kill me, but it didn’t
And it was so nice
So peaceful and quiet

The first song on Lover has a quite light arrangement and an interesting mix of having more like a speech song and singing parts. I just cannot argue against that it is catchy. In some parts of the song, Taylor is even giggling – something she is doing in several ones of this album.

2. Cruel Summer

Cruel Summer is much more melodic than the first track. The track title, by the way, is (likely) a reference to a compilation album of Kayne West, who dated Taylor Swift in the past.

3. Lover

When this track has been released a couple of days before the album, the critics were overwhelming – and I have to give in, the title track is a hot candidate for the song of the year 2019. Great songwriting! I chose Lover for the initial Flyctory.com Country Music Playlist selection of songs.

4. The Man

I’m so sick of running as fast as I can
Wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man
And I’m so sick of them coming at me again
‘Cause if I was a man, then I’d be the man
I’d be the man

This track is quite uptempo again, very pop-alike. Honestly, it is one of the weaker tracks of the album to me. Which still means it is quite a bit above average.

5. The Archer

Quite a dramatic track which starts very slowly, but then has quite a lot of power.

6.  I Think He Knows

Radio pop. Full stop. Nicely produced – below average lyrics for a Taylor Swift song (who typically has excellent lyrics). Still a good song. But there are much better ones on Lover.

7. Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince

Honestly, I cannot really get a grip on that one, which feels to have a lot of references to previous albums, her not commenting politics and other topics. Sorry!

8. Paper Rings

I like shiny things, but I’d marry you with paper rings
Uh huh, that’s right
Darling, you’re the one I want, and
I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this
Uh huh, that’s right
Darling, you’re the one I want
In paper rings in picture frames in dirty dreams
Oh, you’re the one I want

To me, this fast number is one of the best ones regarding the lyrics and songwriting. I just prefer when Taylor is singing and not doing this speech singing too much. But definitely a memorable one.

9. Cornelia Street

And I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends
I’d never walk Cornelia Street again
That’s the kinda heartbreak time could never mend
I’d never walk Cornelia Street again
And baby, I get mystified by how this city screams your name
And baby, I’m so terrified of if you ever walk away
I’d never walk Cornelia Street again

Taylor temporarily lived at Cornelia Street, New York. Obviously, there are are some bad memories about this time. Quite impressive song

10. Death By a Thousand Cuts

Another broken love song, with a quite dramatic imaginary language:

Saying goodbye is death by a thousand cuts
Flashbacks waking me up
I get drunk, but it’s not enough
‘Cause the morning comes and you’re not my baby

Again, Taylor impresses with the language used as well as the versatile production of this rather slow song.

11. London Boy

You know I love a London boy
I enjoy walking Camden Market in the afternoon
He likes my American smile, like a child when our eyes meet
Darling, I fancy you
Took me back to Highgate, met all of his best mates
So I guess all the rumors are true
You know I love a London boy
Boy, I fancy you

A musical love letter to London and Taylor’s boyfriend at the time of releasing the song, British actor Joe Alwyn.

12. Soon You’ll Get Better (feat. Dixie Chicks)

Taylor and the Dixie Chicks – sounds like county music? It IS country music. A lovely ballad, which gives a nice contrast to all the pop music stuff.

13. False God

Another song about Taylor Swift’s current relationship. This track is rather slow, but still more of a pop song than a real ballad.

14. You Need to Calm Down

This song pre-released as single is very cheerful. Like it, makes good mood though the topic is not all happy.

15. Afterglow

Swifties may admire that song, but his is another one, which does not touch me too much. There feels to be some sort of Taylor-overkill to me. Melodically, it is not that special and feels like other songs on the record.

16. ME! (feat. Brendon Urie)

One of the songs released before the album. This duet with Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco is finest pop-songwriting and arrangement. Nice one.

17. It’s Nice to Have a Friend

A very thoughtful, slow, intense track. Its arrangement is staying out in Lover.

18. Daylight

Honestly, the last tracks were too much for me. I like the lyrics, but the stories become monotonous, the sound is catchy, but overall, it does not feel like something too new happening.

 

Taylor Swift – Lover – Spotify

In order to allow you a full first impression of the album or just listen to it, here is the Spotify widget for Lover:

 

Taylor Swift – Lover – My View

Lover is definitely an amazing pop production. I feel the album is much better than Reputation, at least from my perspective. Nice to hear some country music sounds in her songs again. While the melodies and the arrangement feels to be a bit more mature again, the lyrics are sometimes still teenager songs. On the other hand, some songs are very similar in their melody. Nevertheless, it is a good album, much better than the last one.

 

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