So I bought Taylor Swift's "1989" album

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 11-01-2015, 05:12 PM

Some random musings ...

This is not normally the kind of album I would buy, but I was really curious what all the buzz was about, so about a week ago I shelled out $16 and bought it, almost on a whim.

I'd read a couple interviews with her, out of curiosity, and an article or two about her. She's definitely very ambitious and seems to have a strong sense of what she wants, and how to get it. I also learned last year she's a Beach Boys fan, so I figured she can't be all that bad.

Anyway, I've given the album a few listens by now and, well, it's kinda what you would expect from a Top 40 star, I suppose. I'd put her on about the same level as a Madonna or Cyndi Lauper. At least on this album, it's sorta similar music to those two Stars of Yore (yes I know she's been a country-pop crossover artist before this album). In fact, listening to this album, it's amazing how little Top 40 music has changed in the past 30 years!

I get the sense she could be a better/more daring and creative songwriter if she really wanted to, but perhaps she's mostly interested in creating big, commercial successes. In that case, an album like this is about the best we might expect. There's 2 definite good songs on the album (Blank Space and Style), plus a couple nice ballads in This Love and Places, but we're not talking about major creative breakthroughs, just nice pop tunes. Another ~3 songs have potential but fall short, and the rest is fill. The ~3 songs that have potential can be a bit frustrating to listen to at times, because there are parts of the song where you sense she could have done certain things to make the song more interesting, but instead she opts for the most predictable path.

Anyway, it'll be interesting watching her career progress. What'll be most interesting will be too see if she stays on the Top 40 path, or if she gets bored with that after a while and does something more daring, even if it's not as commercial.

/random musing

The Batlord · 11-01-2015, 05:14 PM

Stop thinking so hard and just listen to the pop album like it's a pop album. Sheesh.

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 11-01-2015, 05:15 PM

Sorry I can't help myself!

The Batlord · 11-01-2015, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriveYourCarDownToTheSea

Sorry I can't help myself!

Listen to this ten times in a row and your brain will have become sufficiently liquefied to enjoy pop music properly.

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 11-01-2015, 05:47 PM

^
I think I coulda written that song when I was 14. Or even 12.

The Batlord · 11-01-2015, 05:51 PM

If you could've then you'd be a millionaire ATM. But you can't, so you're not.

**Frownland** · 11-01-2015, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriveYourCarDownToTheSea

^
I think I coulda written that song when I was 14. Or even 12.

So? By 14 I had 6 years of guitar playing under my belt and was composing classical music...

The question is, did you enjoy it? You're allowed to, we won't make fun of you (or at least not to your face).

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 11-01-2015, 05:54 PM

It was ... OK.

The Batlord · 11-01-2015, 06:24 PM

And just to **** with your head... Ke$ha and Iggy Pop.

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 11-01-2015, 06:45 PM

I couldn't finish that one.

11-01-2015, 05:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,178	So I bought Taylor Swift's "1989" album Some random musings ... This is not normally the kind of album I would buy, but I was really curious what all the buzz was about, so about a week ago I shelled out $16 and bought it, almost on a whim. I'd read a couple interviews with her, out of curiosity, and an article or two about her. She's definitely very ambitious and seems to have a strong sense of what she wants, and how to get it. I also learned last year she's a Beach Boys fan, so I figured she can't be all that bad. Anyway, I've given the album a few listens by now and, well, it's kinda what you would expect from a Top 40 star, I suppose. I'd put her on about the same level as a Madonna or Cyndi Lauper. At least on this album, it's sorta similar music to those two Stars of Yore (yes I know she's been a country-pop crossover artist before this album). In fact, listening to this album, it's amazing how little Top 40 music has changed in the past 30 years! I get the sense she could be a better/more daring and creative songwriter if she really wanted to, but perhaps she's mostly interested in creating big, commercial successes. In that case, an album like this is about the best we might expect. There's 2 definite good songs on the album (Blank Space and Style), plus a couple nice ballads in This Love and Places, but we're not talking about major creative breakthroughs, just nice pop tunes. Another ~3 songs have potential but fall short, and the rest is fill. The ~3 songs that have potential can be a bit frustrating to listen to at times, because there are parts of the song where you sense she could have done certain things to make the song more interesting, but instead she opts for the most predictable path. Anyway, it'll be interesting watching her career progress. What'll be most interesting will be too see if she stays on the Top 40 path, or if she gets bored with that after a while and does something more daring, even if it's not as commercial. /random musing __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

11-01-2015, 05:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,178	Sorry I can't help myself! __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

11-01-2015, 05:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,178	^ I think I coulda written that song when I was 14. Or even 12. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

11-01-2015, 05:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,178	It was ... OK. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

11-01-2015, 06:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,178	I couldn't finish that one. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here