Taylor Swift's Reputation
Taylor Swift is if anything if not controversial. In the past three years, since her transformation into Pop Queen with 1989, has there been very little good PR for her. Her infamous breakup with Calvin Harris, and her coiling herself around Kanye West has provided non-stop articles. This has resulted in what is known as "Reputation." Swift's most personal album yet, which is quite ironic considering she usually sings about love songs, a very personal topic in itself. However, her music usually never wanders from songs where one can insert themselves in it. Sure, she may talk who the song is about during interviews, but she only ever hints of it subtly through the lyrics. The only song that even addressed her public persona is the lead single from "1989" called "Shake It Off," in which she tackles how the she is perceived by her inability to stay with a man. That single was a massive success. "Reputation" is addressing contemporary issues, almost the entire album. After all . . .the old Taylor is dead . . .or is she?
The album starts out, guns blazing with the Taylor rapping on ". . . Ready for It?," an immediate counter-balance as to how one leaves off 1989's "Clean." The sound is something Taylor has never done before. Long gone is the cutesy pop-country that made her a start and here is the "matured" Swift who ultimately fulfills her transformation into the "bad girl," she is claimed to be. This sound is the primary basis for this album, a mid-2000's overtone, that seems to almost pay homage to Britney Spears. After all, it has been a decade since Spear's infamous breakdown, which was also a detriment to her reputation. Taylor address this head on with both mocking Kanye to mimicking his use of auto-tune. She embraces who the public see's her as on "Look What You Made Me Do," making a parody of how she is viewed. However, one can note that not every song is like this.
The album is not exactly divided in it's sound. Around six of the songs seem as if they are from another album entirely, those being "Gorgeous," "Getaway Car," "Dancing With Our Hands Tied," Dress," "Call It What You Want," and "New Years Day." The last song actually ends the album, which seems to hint that this was just a temporary noise, that Taylor will be back eventually, but the question on everyone's mind is . . .what is she going to do next?
The album is not her best, but certainly not her worst. The choruses are fun and catchy, and it is nice to see her try and evolve as both an artist and as a person. In my opinion, as I said originally, it seems we are finally get a peek behind the curtain of who Taylor actually is. For myself, it ranks #3 in her discography, behind Fearless and 1989. I give it a 84%, which as of this moment puts it at #5 for my end-year list. My favorites included: "I Did Something Bad," "Don't Blame Me," "Look What You Made Me Do," "Dancing With Our Hand Tied," "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things," and "New Year's Day."