Taylor Swift released a new album at the end of summer called “Lover.” Photo from Billboard.com
Taylor Swift’s latest album “Lover” was released on Aug. 23, and it’s shaping up to be one of the hottest releases of the entire year. Here’s a track-by-track review.
Track 1: “I Forgot That You Existed,” 6.5/10
I’d describe this song as a more mellowed-out version of “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” from her last album, “Reputation.” However, what made “Nice Things” a standout of that album was how outwardly passive-aggressive it was, and her refuge in audacity in the lyrics. This song is a lot kinder to whatever enemy Swift’s singing to, and backed up by some light and happy piano chords.
Best Lyric: “It isn’t love, it isn’t hate, it’s just indifference…Soooo, yeah.”
Track 2: “Cruel Summer,” 7/10
This song, with the same title as “Bananarama’s” hit, is electronic and snappy, and sounds like the end-credits song of your favorite rom-com. Maybe it’s because the beat and melody are similar to Charli XCX’s hit “Boom Clap” from the movie “The Fault in our Stars.” The snappy techno beat layers over her lyrics about struggling to open up to a summer fling.
Best Lyric: “If I bleed, you’ll be the last to know.”
Track 3: “Lover,” 6.5/10
This track is about Swift’s love for Joe Alwyn, her boyfriend of three years. The instrumentation and beat sounds like an old love song you’d slow dance to at homecoming. Kind of like “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. Swift’s airy, light falsetto in the chorus reminds me of Black Belt Eagle Scout’s high voice (check her out if you like indie/folk music!). Although the musical backing is nice and mellow, the lyrics are pretty standard and generic for a love song. It’s good to listen to if you just want to relax for a few minutes though.
Best Lyric: “And at every table I’ll save you a seat, lover.”
Track 4: “The Man,” 7.5/10
This song tackles the sexism Swift’s experienced while working in the music industry. Both the music and lyrics here are strong and biting, calling out lots of double standards for women versus men. Some have said that Swift is “playing the field” with her many relationships, but Swift points out that male stars like Leo DiCaprio also jump from relationship to relationship without much judgement (and most of Leo’s girlfriends are a lot younger than him….). Some say that Swift acts “bossy,” but Swift sings that an assertive male would be “a fearless leader / an alpha type.” Another lyric in this song is “When everyone believes ya, what’s that like?” which sadly could reference her 2017 lawsuit against someone who groped her at a concert.
Best Lyric: “I’m so sick of running fast as I can / Wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man.”
Track 5: “The Archer,” 5/10
This song just doesn’t do it for me. Neither the music nor the lyrics are memorable enough to want to listen to again and again. It’s very repetitive and the lyrics of this love song are just very generic Swift stuff.
Best Lyric: “All of my enemies started out friends.”
Track 6: “I Think He Knows,” 7/10
If “Cruel Summer” plays during the end credits of a rom-com, this song plays during its “falling in love montage.” The lyrics express Swift falling head over heels for a new crush, and the beat is peppy and very easy to dance to. Although there are a few cheap rhymes here. I mean, “He got that boyish look that I like in a man / I am an architect, I’m drawing up the plans”?? What does that even mean??
Best Lyric: See above. It’s so bad that it’s good, okay?
Track 7: “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince,” 8/10
Easily the best song on the album. The all-American-high-school metaphor for the modern political scene, plus the melancholy tone, make it sound like Lana Del Rey wrote a song for High School Musical. Scattered throughout are call-and-response bits of Swift versus a separate recording of herself as a cheerleader, which is extra clever.
Best Lyric: “And I don’t want you to (GO!) / I don’t really wanna (FIGHT!) / ‘Cause nobody’s gonna (WIN!)”
Track 8: “Paper Rings,” 5/10
The concept behind it is cute, but the country rock backing and sugary lyrics just comes off as
really sappy. This could’ve been executed better.
Best Lyric: “I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this.”
Track 9: “Cornelia Street,” 6.5/10
This song embodies the quote “I wish there was a way to know when you were in the good old days before you left them.” Here, Swift reflects on a house on this street where she lives with her lover. Their relationship becomes stronger the longer they stay there, so she hopes that she doesn’t lose him — if she does, she’d “never walk Cornelia Street again.”
Best Lyric: “Back when we were card sharks, playing games / I thought you were leading me on… / But then you called, showed your hand / I turned around before I hit the tunnel.”
Track 10: “Death By A Thousand Cuts,” 8/10
Okay, I know what I said earlier about “Americana,” but this comes as a close second. This is easily the most clever song on the album, with very thought-provoking lyrics about having trouble moving on from a rough breakup. The song starts off with a chorus singing “my, my, my, my,” and then that exact riff comes back in the second verse when she sings “my time, my wine, my spirit, my trust.” Also, the first verse really reminds me of “It’s Quiet Uptown” from Hamilton. I mean, “I dress to kill my time, I take the long way home…”
Best Lyric: “And what once was ours is no one’s now.”
Track 11: “London Boy,” 7/10
Another cute song about Alwyn, Swift’s British boyfriend. The rhyme scheme is clever and the melody of the verses is very nice.
Best Lyric: “Babes, don’t threaten me with a good time.”
Track 12: “Soon You’ll Get Better,” 7.5/10
A very raw, open song about Swift’s mom being diagnosed with cancer.
Best Lyric: “Holy orange bottles, each night I pray to you.”
Track 13: “False God,” 7.5/10
A very soulful song about two people trying their best to make a long-distance relationship work. Swift does some really nice riffs and vocal sliding here, and the saxophone bits make it even more of a slow jam.
Best Lyric: “You’re staring out the window like I’m not your favorite town.”
Track 14: “You Need To Calm Down,” 6.5/10
Even though the music video for this Pride anthem features lots of openly transgender and gay celebrities, and Swift is passionate about the passing of the Equality Act to protect LGBT rights, the song itself has gained a lot of controversy within LGBT activist groups. They believe that her releasing this single during Pride Month was just a performative way for her to gain money off her LGBT fanbase. (Please note that I myself am not gay or trans, this is just what I’ve read about why this song actually does more harm than good.)
Best Lyric: “You’re taking shots at me like it’s Patron, and I’m just like damn. It’s 7 A.M.”
Track 15: “Afterglow,” 7/10
A very open song about trying to repair a relationship after sabotaging it yourself. The music and lyrics are very raw and straightforward.
Best Lyric: “It’s chemistry ‘till it blows up, ‘till there’s no us.”
Track 16: “ME!,” 7/10
A very, very catchy song with a guest verse by rock singer Brandon Urie. A great choice for her to have as a radio single. It’s very light and poppy, without a lot of meaning to it, but still fun to listen to.
Best Lyric: “Hey kids, spelling is fun!”
Track 17: “It’s Nice To Have A Friend”
A cute song about two people going from being childhood friends to lovers. The steel drums in the background really add to the dreamy quality of the song.
Best Lyric: “Rice on the ground looks like snow.”
Track 18: “Daylight,” 6.5/10
Another very calm, mellow song about falling in love. The vocal riffs in the bridge are pretty cool, but other than that, there’s nothing really memorable about this song. But it’s a nice soft way to end the album.
Best Lyric: “I don’t wanna think of anything else now that I thought of you.”
Well, here you go. Overall, this album is light and breezy to listen to, but there’s not much substance to it. (Reputation is still my favorite album by her.) If you don’t want to listen to the entire album, the individual songs I’d recommend are “Miss Americana,” “False God,” “Soon You’ll Get Better,” and “Thousand Cuts.”