Reputation
by Taylor Swift

From HoldenM 06/21/2023 20:05 | #297716

I have to agree with the sentiment that this is underrated. And look, if I had listened to this at the time of its release, I probably would have poopooed it. It would have been too hard to feel sorry for Taylor Swift when she is one of, if not the most dominant music artist of the last 17 years. Looking at this album in hindsight, specifically within the narrative that is Taylor Swift's career and public persona, it's easier to appreciate when not taking all of the histrionics at face value--although, it can also be hard to gauge Swift's own self-awareness.

As a concept about airing out dirty laundry for the world to see, about fighting back when everyone wants to have a say about you and your identity, and about finding solace in the most intimate and affectionate of connections, it's rock solid. She pushes the synth pop of 1989 into territory with darker songwriting and production, and gets a far more distinctive and consistent sound out of it as a result. This Taylor Swift is unrecognizable from the teenager who wrote songs like "Tim McGraw" and "15," with only her knack for effortless storytelling to give her away.

And sure, this isn't a perfect album, but I don't know. I kinda love it. The more other Swift albums have sat with me, the less I'm enamored by them. But this one is sticking. Sure, something like "Look What You Made Me Do" is and has always been tacky and over-the-top, but I appreciate the silliness even in that goofy ass song. The wrost I can say about this album is that there are a couple songs that I find somewhat boring--mostly on the Jack Antinoff-driven back half. But beyond that, it's as sharp as anything Swift has done.

From DeusExMackia 10/29/2021 10:28 | #275505

One of the few albums I wish could unhear. Swift takes on a persona that insults its listener in dressing up an appropriation of trap influences in faux-bad ass energy. Something about this makes it so isolated, as though she's shouting at a wall for the whole record. Nothing about the anger is convincing or compelling; the whole album is forced and doesn't justify why you should sit through its slog of kidz bop punk cuts.

great album

From Vatsal 11/08/2020 16:27 | #260373

This is her best album along with Folklore. I am honestly not trolling, if you can see past the public image of this album, and just see it for the music and concept and songwriting involved, it really is Taylor Swift's best album. And it goes on to show that Taylor makes her best music when she is not concerned about the commercial success of her music.

And for the ones who agree, you guys are the realest and I shall trust you with my life.

From Boltzmann 02/04/2020 12:16 | #247483

She shouldn't try so hard. Her best music was when she made teen pop.

From VictorVale 07/03/2019 11:39 | #238849

Decepcionante e sem qualquer porção de identidade, tanto nas produções, quanto nas líricas.

Her worst album since her debut. Overproduced with below average lyrics and vocals. Hope we get another 1989 or Speak Now esque album from her.

Her worst album. Lame lyrics, overproduced, imature and noisy. She's just trying to be more and more popular and lost what made her special. Only Getaway Car is good but not great.

I was expecting to give this album a 2.5/10, but was surprised I could give it a 4/10. This album is not a masterpiece, nor are any of the songs masterpieces, but it is all tolerable (maybe even just a step down from good), all in my opinion. Pop typically doesn't grow on me at all, so this could all change in time with more listens.

I consider myself someone with fairly decent tastes in music, although I do shamelessly enjoy some pop princesses. If you look at my overall chart, Speak Now is my #2 of all time (though there's no way it would be if I made that list today, so I need to do a big update at some point). However I have been disappointed in the way Taylor's music had been going in the last few years. I was expecting to tear this apart as a generic pop album. Upon listening to it, I was extremely pleasantly surprised. This is a very strong concept album. It's an unapologetic ode to owning one's reputation and accepting it; while not necessarily liking it. My favorite songs are I Did Something Bad and This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things.