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; taylor swift "reputation" album review

            I've been staring at this document for at least four minutes now trying to decide how to start this, but I'm drawing a blank, so that's how I'm going to start it.

I don't know what to think or feel or say about this album, but I'm going to try to come up with something.

Apart from the four previously released tracks, this review will be based on second listen. Last night I was in an awful mood when I first heard it, and Louis' new single was just performed live so honestly everything was paling in comparison to that, so maybe Reputation just needs some fresh ears to sound better. We'll see.

So now that I have nothing more to say, on with it.

1: ...READY FOR IT? – 9/10

The first time I heard this song, I can tell you now that I was grateful it was better than "Look What You Made Me Do," albeit a little all over the place. I've since come to like it, which makes me wonder if the same thing will happen with a majority of this album, but like...that's a disappointing thought. I used to listen to a new Taylor album and maybe dislike two or three tracks after first listen, but it's the opposite this time, as you'll see by my ratings. What this song does well is incorporating certain aspects of 2017 pop music without, like...her changing her voice to do it, if that makes sense (it probably won't now, but it will once I get to "Call It What You Want"). She's doing the talk-singing, she's doing the chants ("let the games begin"), and she still sounds like herself, which is a good thing. It also brings back a little irony and sarcasm a la "Blank Space," though that song was an actual work of art that isn't topped on this album (which is fair; she set the bar high with that one). Is this a different sort of pop than 1989 was? Yeah. Was I ready for it? Apparently not. Favorite lyric: "Every love I've known in comparison is a failure / I forget their names now / I'm so very tame now / Never be the same now."

2: END GAME feat. Ed Sheeran, Future – 5.5/10

God, okay. This song. The first time I heard it, I had somewhat high hopes. I love Ed Sheeran a lot, and Future's collaboration with Ariana Grande on her Dangerous Woman album was catchy and pleasant. And then the "big reputation" chant started, and I am not lying or exaggerating when I say that I physically cringed away from my laptop. That part is a hard no; I didn't like it last night, and I still don't like it now. But I will say that after initial listen I would have rated it a 3.5. After a second listen it's gotten up to a 5.5. Ed Sheeran's verse is wonderful, and I don't mind the chorus. Future ruins the song for me entirely, I think, and I'm not a huge fan of Taylor's verse either but I can see it growing on me. Overall there's just a lot going on here, and it's probably one of my least favorites on the album. Still, it'll be a hit for everyone else, I'm sure. Might be a single. I think I wish this track was placed later in the album, because at least then I'd have had the chance to maybe enjoy some other songs before being turned off by this one, you know? I think it'd be more appropriate towards the end, maybe even as a closing track. I will say, though, I'm fascinated by a lyric in Ed's verse: "And you understand the good and bad end up in the song." Kind of wish Taylor had been the one to sing it considering she's the one who always gets heat for writing about her flings. Favorite lyric: "It's like your eyes are liquor / It's like your body is gold."

3: I DID SOMETHING BAD – 6.5/10

This song confuses me because I'm getting so many different vibes. First and foremost, it feels like she's finally redoing "Better Than Revenge" except she's throwing the guy in front of the bus rather than the girl who "stole" him from her, which I appreciate. I'm glad it took her almost a decade to grow from "Better Than Revenge" (no matter how much I love that song). But then, somebody tell me that music in the beginning didn't come directly from "Emperor's New Clothes" by Panic! at the Disco. It can also be heard during her verses. To be fair, it's weirdly apropos considering Panic!'s song has a similar sinister vibe. I do not dislike this song as much as I dislike "End Game," but I'm not a fan of the bridge when she starts talking about burning witches. Actually I'm genuinely hoping that this entire song is her way of acknowledging some of the not-so-great things she's done in the past couple years, but even if it is, I guess I wish it wasn't in this way. Kind of poor taste. But also at least it would explain some of these lyrics that are a little cringe-y ("they're burning all the witches, even if you aren't one," "they say I did something bad, but why's it feel so good?"). All that aside, at least this is sonically better than "End Game." Oh, except for that part that sounds like it came straight from "What Does the Fox Say?" after the chorus. That's another hard no. Favorite lyric: "I never trust a playboy, but they love me / so I fly 'em all around the world / and I let them think they saved me."