Reputation (studio album) by Taylor Swift

From HoldenM 06/21/2023 20:05

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.

The most underrated album

From DeusExMackia 10/29/2021 10:28

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

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.

Light 6

From Boltzmann 02/04/2020 12:16

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

From VictorVale 07/03/2019 11:39

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

I feel this is underrated by a lot of people. It remains my favourite album of 2017 and I've listened to it a lot. Yeah, I get that it's not cutting edge pop music but the songwriting is excellent overall and the slight goofiness is part of the charm really. Swift manages to mix fun and emotional engagement and the tunes are pretty effortless. I think she really understands pop, but she has more in common with 80s artists than the current crop (which I really mean as a compliment).

Just my humble opinion folks, but please try to keep an open mind before slating Taylor : )

An unremarkable electropop record with some real clunkers (LWYMMD, that one with the atrocious ed sheeran) but you know, it's not entirely awful.