@1583313496472571905

First listen thoughts:

 

Lavender Haze - bop, I think he knows vibes. 9/10

Maroon - love the chorus, verses need to crow. 8/10

Anti-hero - this is great, feels quite melodrama-like. 9.5/10

Snow on the beach - this is lovely and I’d probs rate this higher if it weren’t a collab, for my dream collab I can barely even hear Lana on this 😭 9/10

You’re on your own, kid - yeah love this on first listen, I’m kind of getting the archer vibes. 9.5/10

Midnight rain - twas not expecting that start. Those male processed vocals are a no, the rest of the song are cute. 8/10

Question… - v. Cute bop that I feel I’ll be obsessed with soon. 8.5/10

Vigilante shit - yeah this is quite Billie and def very new for Taylor, I cannot tell if I love it or idk, I feel this will def be top 3 or bottom 3 on the album for me by next weekend 😂 8.5/10

Bejeweled - it’s solid. 8/10

Labyrinth - more solidness. 8/10

Karma - after seeing the lyrics leak a couple days ago I thought this would be my least fave. After listening, it’s the opposite! Instant love. 10/10

Sweet nothing - cute, serving peace/hoax getting towards the end of the album, but on a weaker album. 8.5/10

Mastermind - this is pretty good, idk if it works as a closer tho, I feel this would’ve worked better like half way through the album and probs sweet nothing closing. 9/10

 

Yeah a lil disappointing on first listen but was kind of expecting it after all the reactions. Nothing immediately hit me on first listen (bar karma, but still not as much as songs on Tay albums usually do) which is so rare for a Taylor album, I hope everything grows quick (gonna be interesting to see how it goes, the Taylor songs with these kind of sound are never instant for me and either become all time Taylor faves like delicate, or fan faves I still do not get the hype around like false god). Tho it’s still a great album, nothing I dislike, and still probs album of the year.

 

Also doesn’t help I’m shattered and need to be up in 4 hours fml. Expecting to wake up to a tour announcement!

 

Ranking:

Karma

You’re on your own kid

Anti hero

Snow on the beach

Lavender haze

Mastermind

Question…

Vigilante shit

Sweet nothing

Maroon

Bejeweled

Midnight rain

Labyrinth

Am I the only one that is not disappointed?

This is INCREDIBLE!! The production is stunning. It's perfection, simple as.

 

Going to do a review later but it's like a mix of everything that's great about Taylor with some modern production that she has never used. Anti-hero will be a classic.

It’s lacking a bit of what made Taylor’s other albums special for me in the lyrics and melodies but there are a few stand outs at this point for me. I love Maroon and Bejeweled.

Not Taylor dropping another 7 songs on the 3am version..

Not Taylor dropping another 7 songs on the 3am version..

My 754546 copy of Midnights! :lol:

She is mad. so mad. but i love her for it. AHHHHHHHHHH

 

These new songs are literally everything I want from her.

Haven’t got time to read everyone’s comments yet but can’t wait to later … Okay, so overall I’m really pleased with this album! I think lowering my expectations certainly helped going in for my first lesson! It’s certainly got its highlights (& only some lowlights for me). I’ll need more time to explore it deeper but I’ve enjoyed the first listen and glad we are back to more of a pop sound - however much I loved a trip into folk land. Can’t wait to finish work today and binge listen.

 

My first listen:

 

Lavender Haze - okay (think it’s a grower - love her voice) not a great start to the album though!

Maroon - love

Anti - Hero - like (lyrics are great)

Snow of the beach - beautiful - like

You’re on your own kid - love

Midnight Rain - no thanks (at risk of having a play count of 1)

Question…? - love - (probably one of my favourites on first listen with Maroon & You’re on your own kid)

Vigilante Shit - bottom end of okay (quite disappointed with this actually) - hoping it will grow

Bejeweled - love - so cool

Labyrinth - like - she sounds gorgeous (think this will be a grower for me)

Karma - like - I get the comment made previously about the lyrics but I think the lyrics are meant to be tongue in cheek - this is giving me some early 200s vibes!

Sweet nothing - like a lot (another grower for sure) loving her voice

Mastermind - like this too - enjoying the idea of this (often thought about this in my deeper sliding doors moments)

My favorites are Maroon, Anti-Hero, and Karma.

 

Haven’t got time to read everyone’s comments yet but can’t wait to later … Okay, so overall I’m really pleased with this album!

Good, you got to listen! :cheer:

Oh god Anti Hero on the second listen giving me life :cheer:

 

Good, you got to listen! :cheer:

 

:wub:

Labyrinth ❤️

The Great War ❤️

High Infidelity ❤️

 

Really glad we got some Dessner tracks on the 3am version, always love his production work and as much as I really liked the standard album on first listen, I missed his touch a bit. I wasn’t really sure what to expect on first listen and I was ready to be disappointed, but I was pleasantly surprised. Always love her subdued, synthy songs so I think I’ll be going back to this a lot. I don’t think anything will touch folklore and evermore for me, but it’s great to hear her back with bigger production.

Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve may be her best song ever for me.

I'm going to save all the songs that aren't on the standard version for Sunday, I want more to look forward to.

I really enjoyed the album. Lavender Haze, Anti-Hero and Karma were the standouts after the first listen. (Also wasn’t expecting to hear my birthday getting a shoutout in High Infidelity lol)

Would've, Could've, Should've is INSANELY GOOD. What a song. And the lyrics too, heartbreaking.

 

(Also, two of my UK store orders have now been processed but not my main one with all the vinyl... :rolleyes: )

Edited October 21, 20222 yr by GraceAJX

NME only giving this 4/5 stars is a mess, the album is perfect. Jack has done an amazing job with the production. Thankfully most have given it 5 stars, this will surely be her most critically acclaimed album.

 

Some people not enjoying it, give it time. It may not have the melodies of other Taylor albums but I genuinely think this was needed for her. And no Me or any awful songs.

Edited October 21, 20222 yr by Sean.

Wait. What?? There’s a 3am version?! 7 more songs hahahahah.

I’ll try and listen to those in the next few hours

 

I love so many songs on this album. Second and third listens are making it so much better too.

How does she keep churning out such amazing songs with real diversity?? :wub:

I like this, very Lorde (Solar Power)