[REVIEW] Taylor Swift - 1989

By: Nimra Khan

Taylor Swift has released her new album 1989 on October 27th into the much-anticipated hands (or iTunes libraries) of “Swifties” everywhere. Just two years since the release of her album Red, 1989 marks a complete crossover into pop music, with no sight of the country-loving girl we once knew.

I've been a Taylor Swift fan from the beginning, but I had started to lose interest since the release of Red. I found myself growing tired of the repetitive slow, sad, and broken-hearted songs that she was producing, and wanted something more. It seems 1989 was just what I needed, as it has blown me away with how catchy its songs are.

While still belting about her love life, Swift has crafted a completely new way to express her feelings through her music. Much like her single "Shake It Off," the album starts and ends as upbeat and exciting. Beginning with a dark verse before slamming into an uplifting chorus, the darkest song on this album, "I Know Places," has to be my favourite. It felt like a very personal song about what a relationship must be like while in the public spotlight.

While many of the songs are upbeat, Taylor has managed to bring back a few of the ballads she is known for. However, unlike her past works, these songs like “This Love” and “You Are In Love” don’t slow down the album, and help to balance the high-energy of all the fast-paced songs on 1989. As a welcome bonus, the album even comes included with three voice memos explaining the song writing process for three of the songs, and a pleasantly surprising set of Polaroids.

My only complaint about 1989 would be that most of the songs still revolve around the same generic love and heartbreak lyrics that Swift is known for. Still, it is honestly refreshing to see a complete change in style from Taylor Swift, as she is doing exactly what every artist shouldn't be afraid of: evolving. Even if you aren't a Taylor Swift fan, this revamped Taylor Swift album is a perfect way to open up to her for any lover of pop music.