Album Rating: 3.5

Thanks nightbringer! I like Swift as an artist and still think there are few pop stars, if any at all, who can craft a hook as immediately memorable as she can. And she does it on a consistent basis song in and song out. It's pretty remarkable. I was borderline on giving this album a 4 despite the lyrics; it's that catchy.



1989 will always be her best pop album in my eyes. When that came out, I feel like it changed the music industry. Reputation is also wonderful and gets a little too much criticism. I'm not sure where this stands against Midnights or Lover, two of my least favorites of hers, but with the lyrics on those running laps around this, I'd guess they'll end up with more staying power even though this album is musically a lot more fun, upbeat, and infectious.

Album Rating: 1.0 | Sound Off

WELL WELL WELL WELL WELL WELL WELL https://twitter.com/pjmnfenty/status/1975242879518798074

Album Rating: 1.5

This album is dire and while I'm usually a fan of Sowing's very kind rating system, a 3.5 from Sputnik Staff on this record really misses the mark.



Taylor trades her indie-feminist swagger for a gilded handmaid’s uniform and excessively vapid songwriting. This record is culture in decay. Excited for the goose-stepping football players in her next video.

No, you don’t get it. It’s like the Shakespeare play. You have to read it before you can understand this album.

Album Rating: 1.0

Strange thread. But the thing is, I don’t think the hooks on this are any good or memorable at all.



Taylor continues her problem with not being able to write decent bridges too. So sad!

Album Rating: 1.5

Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT?’

Album Rating: 1.5

Fate of Ophelia - outside of Taylor having never read Hamlet and misunderstanding Ophelia in the most ironic way possible - is quite the tune.

I think Eldest Daughter is fucking hysterical. I can't wait to perform it at karaoke.

Some people like Opalite. I don't. Some people do.



That's all the positive notes I have for this bizarre trad-wife soft-MAGA propaganda.



The production is a wreck.

The songwriting is confused.

Any coherent identity is replaced by surrender and complacency. Spectacle over substance. Safety in grandeur. Submission in sequins. Can one even be an artist and a billionaire at the same time? This is basically a deepfake version of art.

And it's on track to be the greatest selling record of all time.



It's not genocides and Trump, but holy shit things be bleak right now.

This record is not a light in the darkness. This record is the darkness spreading.



Maybe my 1.5 is a little too high.

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

I think ruin the friendship is pretty good

Album Rating: 4.0

Soft-MAGA propaganda??

this record really is the culmination of everything I despise about modern consumption culture. you guys see the "track-by-track version" she just puked out? all it does is introduce each track, I guess for people who are too lazy to look at their car's head unit for two seconds.

"Soft-MAGA propaganda??"

no yeah that's right.

Album Rating: 4.0

In what way?

Lmao it's not.

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

who cares though tbh

feels like a product of the three-month window where everyone was convinced Woke Is Dead and we'd entered a cultural burgerreich because nobody wanted to vote for Kamala.

Album Rating: 4.0

Most people on Sput are so cynical towards Taylor that they can't actually listen to her in a meaningful way.

lol

Travis Kelce alt?

Jimmy what are you talking about

Album Rating: 4.0

Allow me to provoke further ridicule by earnestly elaborating my point on sputnikmusic dot com!



I think it's independently plausible that the attitude you bring to an album affects your experience of it. Coming into an album already being highly cynical of the artist and their output is likely to make the flaws of that music stick out, and the positive traits more easily overlooked. It's a negativity filter that increases the likelihood of a negative judgement of the album.



It's pretty clear that a large portion of Sput's user base is extremely cynical and dismissive of Taylor, even prior to this release. So it's highly likely that this release will be heard through a negativity filter.



I don't think either of the two claims above ought to be contentious. 1) Cynicism creates a negativity filter. 2) Sput is very cynical towards Taylor. Therefore, Sput is listening to this album through a negativity filter.