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.
Flyctory.com Media Reviews
Here are all CD, book and movie reviews:

Soccer Mommy – Karaoke Night EP


Rising Wings – Reach



Brent Cobb – Southern Star


Arny Margret – dinner alone EP


Manntra – War of the Heathens



Thirty Seconds To Mars – It’s The End Of The World But It’s A Beautiful Day



Dan + Shay – Bigger Houses


Arstidir – Blik


Danko Jones – Electric Sounds


The Blackwhitecolorful – Brace for Impact


Bellucci Boi – Lost in Berlin EP



Low Cut Connie – Art Dealers


Allison Russell – The Returner



Durry – Suburban Legend


The Glorious Sons – Glory



Coffey Anderson – Tailgates and Heartbreaks


The Paper Kites – At The Roadhouse


Marduk – Memento Mori


Melanie Wiegmann & Carl Carlton – Glory of Love


Gregor McEwan – Going Solo


Adam Wendler – Living the Dream


Philipp Artmann – Guten Morgen schönes Leben



Alice Cooper – Road



Morgan Wade – Psychopath



Turnpike Troubadours – A Cat In The Rain


Dadi Freyr – I Made An Album



Tim McGraw – Standing Room Only


Paerish – You’re In Both Dreams (And You’re Scared)


Sleazy – Back on Track


TracieLynn – More Than a Bad Habit EP



Bobby Rush – All My Love For You


Madsen – Hollywood



Atreyu – The Moment You Find Your Flame EP



William Fitzsimmons – Covers Vol. II



Daniel Seavey – Dancing In The Dark EP


The Hives – The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons


Mo-Torres – Heute war alles Besser



Ryan Bingham – Watch Out For The Wolf EP


Uncaved – Dogmatorraistes


Ludwig Wright – Turn of Tides or Where the Waves Come From


X-Perience – We Travel The World


Hanna Sikasa – Sequel


Bianca James – Bianca James


Skindred – Smile



Mammoth WVH – Mammoth II



Kool & the Gang – People Just Wanna Have Fun


Sasha – Toto und der Mann im Mond (music album)


Santans – Koi Boi EP


Fury in the Slaughterhouse – Hope



Justine Blazer – Joy!



Joe Lasher – Vol. 1 EP



Somnuri – Desiderium


Cygnotic – Mortal Dreamers


Later Sons – Rise Up



Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway – City of Gold



Lori McKenna – 1988


Kezia Gill – Misfit


Avec – I Feel Alone These Days EP



Michael Bolton – Spark of Light


Tom Astor – Wieder da!


Jim “Kimo” West – Of Wood and Spirit (American Guitar Stories)



Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real – Sticks and Stones


Eyelar – Mistakes & Contradictions EP



Sean Patrick McGraw – Hillbilly Hippie



1476 – In Exile


Annie Taylor – Inner Smile


Sekou – Out of Mind EP


Crown of Things – Louder Love


Sylvia Aimee – Identity EP



Lucinda Williams – Stories From A Rock N Roll Heart


Mental Cruelty – Zwielicht


Pascal Blenke – Gedankenspiele


Emma Steinbakken – Home


Green Labyrinth – Sequences


Lloyd Cole – On Pain



Ayron Jones – Chronicles Of The Kid



Hannah Aldridge – Dream of America



Son Volt – Day of the Doug


Saturnus – The Storm Within



Steve Lukather – Bridges



Deer Tick – Emotional Contracts


waterbaby – Foam EP


freekind. – Since Always and Forever


Kimberly Perry – Bloom EP


Tenhi – Valkama



Extreme – Six



Ray Alder – II


Milky Chance – Living In A Haze



Brittany Warthan – No Vacancy



Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – What If I EP


Omnium Gatherum – Slasher EP



Ron Pope – Inside Voices


Silbermond – Auf Auf


Tanya Tucker – Sweet Western Sound


Flora Falls – Hidden From You EP


Grenzenlos – AntiXtrem



Oryad – Sacred & Profane


Sören Vogelsang – Optimismus Prime


Palila – Mind My Mind



Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton – Death Wish Blues



Brandy Clark – Brandy Clark


Marathonmann – Maniac


Yes – Mirror To The Sky


Moor – Heavy Heart


Rahel – Blessed EP



Daisy Briggs – Nice Knowing You EP


Anna Demetriou – More To This



Parker Millsap – Wilderness Within You



Belinda Carlisle – Kismet EP


Indecent Behavior – Therapy In Melody


Andreas Diehlmann Band – Long Way To Go


Sebel – Der Boxer


Tino Z – Bluesman



Rodney Crowell – The Chicago Sessions



Enforced – War Remains


Philip Bradatsch – Philip Bradatsch


Storm Seeker – Nautic Force



Dave Hause – Drive It Like It’s Stolen


As Everything Unfolds – Ultraviolet


Kati von Schwerin – Welcome Back Home



Esther Rose – Safe To Run



Texas Hippie Coalition – The Name Lives On


Grand Design – Rawk



Dirty Heads – Midnight Control Sessions: Night 2 EP


Emm Gryner – Business & Pleasure



The Wood Brothers – Heart is the Hero


Musa Dagh – No Future


North West – Hamburg



Jennifer K. Austin – Cards EP


Vass / Katsionis – Cynical Silence


Zartbitter – Hier und Jetzt


Tribulation – Hamartia EP



Welshly Arms – Wasted Words & Bad Decisions



Overcoats – Winner


Beyond Frequencies – Me Megalomaniac



The Hold Steady – The Price of Progress


Wolkenfrei – Hotel Tropicana


Lordi – Screem Writers Guild


VIVA – Das ist die Wahrheit


Milow – Great To Know You EP


Black Hawk – Soulkeeper


Pat Burgener – PAT The Album


Katie Melua – Love & Money



Sophie B. Hawkins – Free Myself


Sophia – Niemals Allein


Leony – Somewhere in Between



Night Demon – Outsider



Stephen Jay – understatement



Timesbold – Not Still Here


Ailbhe Reddy – Endless Affair


Bad Bones – Hasta El Final!


Kendall Lujan – Forget Me Knots EP



John Diva & The Rockets of Love – The Big Easy



Ripe – Bright Blues


Ane Brun – Portrayals



The Nude Party – Rides On



Manchester Orchestra – The Valley of Vision EP



Brian Falduto – Gay Country


Mael & Jonas – Rocket Science



Suicide Silence – Remember… You Must Die


Wolfgang Petry – Stark wie wir


Lina – 24/1



Drayton Farley- Twenty on High


AnnenMayKantereit – Es ist Abend und wir sitzen bei mir


Helge Schneider – Torero


Endlevel – Weekend War


Antonia Kubas – Liebe und Musik EP



Steel Panther – On The Prowl


OH FYO! – Level 3: Discovery



Dierks Bentley – Gravel & Gold


Tanzwut – Silberne Hochzeit



Lucero – Should’ve Learned by Now


Drew Sycamore – Superfaith


Those Damn Crows – Inhale/Exhale



Jaimee Harris – Boomerang Town



P!nk – Trustfall


Ron Sexsmith – The Vivian Line


Malte Vief und Malte Viefs Kammer – Kammer III



Tennis – Pollen


You Me At Six – Truth Decay


The Legendary – Warlord


Simone Kopmajer – With Love



Cort Carpenter – All In



Chase Rice – I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell



Ian Fisher – Burnt Tongue


Donots – Heut ist ein guter Tag


Ricochets – Closer to the Light


The Rehats – Heart & Mind


Shania Twain – Queen of Me


Eamonn McCormack – Eamonn McCormack


Robert Forster – The Candle and the Flame


Dark Sarah – Attack of Orym


IUMA – Genug EP


Umme Block – State Of Limbo


Pristine – The Lines We Cross


Vic Allen – Some Place I’d Rather Be



Joe Henry – All The Eye Can See


Siv Jakobsen – Gardening


Laura Cox – Head Above Water


Alexander Liebe – Spielautomat


Keimzeit Akustik Quintett – Schon gar nicht Proust


Sonic Wildhearts – Get It On


Lukas Graham – 4 (The Pink Album)



Richard Lynch – Radio Friend



Black Star Riders – Wrong Side of Paradise


Ski Holiday – Ski Holadiy


Masha The Rich Man – Sheyne Ziere


Circa Waves – Never Going Under


Groenalund – #lovestorm


Joesef – Permanent Damage



Margo Price – Strays



Iggy Pop – Every Loser



Anti-Flag – Lies They Tell Our Children



Gabbie Hanna – This Time Next Year



Adam Warner – What We’re Known For


Madeline Consoer – Little Miss EP


Nicole Scholz – Nur Du


King LX – Broken Crown


Poppy Fardell – Back On My Feet


Shaam Larein – Stick En Kniv I Världen


Nevena – Nevena



Upsahl – Sagittarius EP


Sündflut – Basta! EP


Nina Hagen – Unity


Neufundland – Grind


Isafjord – Hjartsatjaki


Olly Murs – Marry Me



Myle – Sad Boy Summer EP


Amberian Dawn – Take a Chance (A Metal Tribute To ABBA)


Boppin’ B – Saxbomb


David Gramberg – Where Have You Gone EP


Induction – Born from Fire


Tanzos – Win Fight Dream Lose EP


Karo Lynn – A Line in My Skin


Samuel Rösch – Für den Augenblick EP


Bad Temper Joe – Glitter & Blues



Melissa Carper – Ramblin’ Soul



Billy Strings – Me/And/Dad


Hanne Mjoen – Fall in Love/Apart EP


Nickelback – Get Rollin’


Sarah Connor – Not So Silent Night


Jonathan E. Blake – Old Souls


Tina Tandler – Songs for Saxophone



L.S. Dunes – Past Lives


Dave Helgi Johan – Drumheller



Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver (Various Artists)


Rook Road – Rook Road


DJ BoBo – Evolut30n



Seth Avett – Seth Avett Sings Greg Brown


Superläuche – Superläuche



Stephanie Quayle – On The Edge



The Moon City Masters – The Famous Moon City Masters



Tiffany Johnson – Over Emotional EP



Emily Nenni – On The Ranch



Russell Dickerson – Russell Dickerson



Trampled by Turtles – Alpenglow


Fireside – Bin Juice



Lainey Wilson – Bell Bottom Country


Hostage – Memento Mori



The Backseat Lovers – Waiting To Spill


Massive Wagons – Triggered!


Wally – Alles halb so wild


PG Roxette – Pop-Up Dynamo!


Börni – Two Truths


Chez Kane – Powerzone


Arny Margret – they only talk about the weather



Kenny Foster – Somewhere in Middle America


Avantasia – A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society



Debbie Gibson – Winterlicious


Simple Minds – Direction of the Heart



Taylor Swift – Midnights



Alex Williams – Waging Peace



Alter Bridge – Pawns And Kings



Logan Mize – Prairie Tapes, Vol. 1 EP


Orianthi – Rock Candy


Atlas Bird – Atlas Bird


Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen (Various Artists)



Callista Clark – Real To Me: The Way I Feel



Backstreet Boys – A Very Backstreet Christmas


SLIXS – Quer Bach 3


Sleeping Romance – We All Are Shadows


Allee der Diktatoren – Dieses kleine bisschen Wut


Alvvays – Blue Rev



Avery Anna – Mood Swings EP


Magical Heart – Heartsonic


Jim Kroft – The Isolation Diaries Vol. 3 EP


Monster Truck – Warriors


Melissa Naschenweng – Glück



Slipknot – The End, So Far



Ashley McBryde – Lindeville


Arina – A+ (EP)



Richard Marx – Songwriter



Dr. John – Things Happen That Way


Kill Strings – Limbo



Sunny Sweeney – Married Alone


5 Seconds of Summer – 5SOS5



Kelsea Ballerini – Subject To Change


Billy Idol – The Cage EP



Nikki Lane – Denim & Diamonds


Silent Knight – Full Force



Starcrawler – She Said


Eloy de Jong – Lass das Leben Musik sein



LeAnn Rimes – God’s Work



The Afghan Whigs – How Do You Burn?


U96 – 20,000 Meilen unter dem Meer



Kane Brown – Different Man



I Am – Eternal Steel



Charley Crockett – The Man From Waco


Hannah – Kuhrios


Blind Guardian – The God Machine


Roland Kaiser – Perspektiven


Jolina Carl – Hallo, ich bin Jolina Carl


Fire Horse – Out of the Ashes



Jon Pardi – Mr. Saturday Night



Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… and The Dead!


Moncrieff – Warm EP


Lugnet – Tales From The Great Beyond


Louisa Specht – Karussell EP


Bad Baron – Ace of Hearts



Ingrid Andress – Good Person



Bandaid Brigade – Sex is Terrifying


Heather Nova – Other Shores


Drei Meter Feldweg – Durak


Adam Wendler – Motions



David Paich – Forgotten Toys


Mani Orrason – The World Is Big and You Will Never Find Me



Watkins Family Hour – Vol. 2


Luna Klee – Mein Kopf, mein Bauch, mein Herz


Thundermother – Black And Gold


Giovanni Zarrella – Per sempre


Wooden Empire – Ghosts



Jeremy Black – Part of Me EP


Sykamore – Pinto


Vanessa Mai – Metamorphose



Kelsey Waldon – No Regular Dog


Versus Goliath – Liebe & Chaos


HAVET – Mamas Lullaby EP



Wade Bowen – Somewhere Between The Secret and The Truth


Vin Deca – Chineke


Marie Reim – Bist Du dafür bereit?


Manntra – Kreatura



Lauv – All 4 Nothing


Amon Amarth – The Great Heathen Army


Pete Wolf Band – Crosswalk To Nowhere EP


H.E.A.T. – Force Majeure


Broken Forest – Wild At Heart EP


Zeitflug – Echte Freunde



Amanda Shires – Take It Like A Man


LustfingeR – LustfingeR



Brooke Eden – Choosing You EP



Whiskey Myers – Tornillo



She & Him – Melt Away: A Tribute To Brian Wilson



Dawes – Misadventures Of Doomscroller


She Bites – Super Hero


Heischneida – Heischneida II



Kaylee Rose – Hot Minute EP


Will Linley – Kill All My Feelings EP


Philipp Eisenblätter – Das Jahr, das sich um eins verschiebt



Confirmation – Survive EP



The Local Honeys – The Local Honeys


Bryde – Still


More Than Words – Today (Make Today Be the Best Day of Your Life)


Alan Parsons – From the New World


Markus – Das Leben liebt mich … und ich liebe das Leben


Sophie Fellner – Brown Eyes EP


Berries – How We Function


The Faim – Talk Talk


Blind Channel – Lifestyles of the Sick & Dangerous



Kimberly Kelly – I’ll Tell You What’s Gonna Happen



Journey – Freedom


Traitor – Exiled To The Surface



Jonny Houlihan – Coffee and Jesus



Grey Daze – The Phoenix


Ewan Mainwood – Broken EP



Kylie Morgan – P.S. EP


Breathe Your Last – Apocalypse


Leepa – Brain Freeze EP


RXPTRS – Living Without Death’s Permission


Chris Colter – Nice To Be Back To Be Back Nice



G. Love & Special Sauce – Philadelphia Mississippi



Luke Combs – Growin’ Up


Charly Klauser – Mehr


The Cumberland River Project – A Smell of Gravy



Rachel LaRen – Cowboys Don’t Change EP


April Art – P.O.K.E.R.F.A.C.E.



Hank Williams Jr. – Rich White Honky Blues



Brett Eldredge – Songs About You


Clara Louise – Enough Is Enough


Kasalla – Rudeldiere



Motionless In White – Scoring The End Of The World



Carrie Underwood – Denim & Rhinestones


Mary Keey – Digital Me



Kyle Daniel – Following the Rain



Jillian Jacqueline – Honestly


George Ezra – Gold Rush Kid


Fräulein Frey – Ein Wagnis


Christa Fartek – Nashville and Me


Dan O’ Clock – Seelenhippie EP


Monotrone – 1 (One)


Junipa Gold – Something Divine EP


MARBL – The Sunsets and Dawns of Everything EP


Def Leppard – Diamond Star Halos


Karaboom – Follow Your Heart


Wucan – Heretic Tongues


Like Mint – I Wish I Was Awake EP



Craig Finn – A Legacy Of Rentals



Avi Kaplan – Floating On A Dream


Shameless – So Good, You Should….


VoixxBradler – Blast



mxmtoon – rising


Marius Müller-Westernhagen – Das eine Leben


Milow – Nice To Meet You


Famyne – II: The Ground Below


Harper Grae – Confessions of a Good Southern Lady EP


J.B.O. – Planet Pink



49 Winchester – Fortune Favors The Bold


Dr. Umwuchts Tanzpalast – Im Zentrum der Wirklichkeit


Mina Richman – Jaywalker EP


Julian Reim – In meinem Kopf


Leo Rojas – Colours of Nature


Suki Waterhouse – I Can’t Let Go



Aaron Raitiere – Single Wide Dreamer


Ryan Sheridan – Americana


Patrick Noe – Ich



Midland – The Last Resort: Greetings From


Tino Z – Highwayman



Dana Fuchs – Borrowed Time


Amber Run – The Start (Act II) EP


Silver Dust – Lullabies



Stephen Jay – Vita Beata


Mira & Adam – Prolog


Cold Years – Goodbye To Misery



Charley Crockett – Lil’ G.L. Presents: Jukebox Charley


Tenille Townes – Masquerades EP


Hatchie – Giving The World Away



Old Crow Medicine Show – Paint This Town



Joshua Hedley – Neon Blue


Geschwister David – Verrückt es nicht zu tun



Sophia Bel – Anxious Avoidant


Chayce Beckham – Doin’ It Right EP


Lyn Lapid – The Outsider EP


Carson – The Wilful Pursuit of Ignorance


Axel Rudi Pell – Lost XXIII


DeVicious – Black Heart



Cole Swindell – Stereotype

