A NOTE FROM A&E EDITOR MATTHEW SALZANO: Before assigning this weekâs issue, I had requests from many of my Mast writers to be assigned the eagerly anticipated â1989â review. I decided it was in everyoneâs best interest to show you not just one review, but five. These five writers each took almost 49 minutes out of their busy lives to listen and tell you how Swift did in her fifth album so you can decide if itâs one to skip.
Allie Reynolds
Mast TV General Manager
Taylor Swift has grown into her own person. Sheâs not here to please anyone but herself and she couldnât hear you if she wanted to over the sound of her seven Grammys. Sheâs still a lyrical genius and her transformation into a pop queen should scare superstars like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. Swiftâs new sound is refreshing, whimsical and downright catchy. Sorry, housemates, but this album will be on repeat for at least a month.
Michael Diambri
A&E Writer
People may say she goes âon too many datesâ and has ânothing in her brain,â but clearly Taylor Swift is doing something right with â1989.â Having an older sister has exposed me, and millions of other brothers, to the complete discography of the queen of crossover. I believe â1989â might be one of her best pieces of work so far. Though many Swift fans may miss her classic ballads such as âWhite Horseâ and âBack to December,â fans of the seven-time Grammy Award winner should find â1989â irresistible. I think those who arenât Swift fans will enjoy the nice change of pace she takes in the album. Anyone should be able to find at least one song they enjoy â or just canât get out of their heads.
Samantha Lund
News Editor
Taylor Swiftâs album was expected to be new and amazing once âShake it Offâ hit the top of the charts and every girl â and her boyfriend â knew and loved the song. However, after listening to the rest of â1989, I am disappointed her single is the only innovative and fun new song. The rest of the tracks followed Swiftâs usual boy-crazy equation â minus a guitar. In a time where pop music seems to be limitless, Swift takes a step back and plays it safe. A fun night of dancing it out with Swift has to be put on hold while you listen to several slow-jam-head-nodding tracks about love. Sorry, Swift, I wish you were feeling 22 again. At least then you were a bit of fun.
David Mair
Staff Writer
Taylor Swift has pushed the envelope to find a new sound that redefines her in her new album â and it totally worked. The album cover is crazy cool. My favorite songs off the album are âYou Are in Love,â a classic Swift song about what it is to be in love, and âStyle,â a positive anthem of how who we are will never go out of style. â1989â has a great feel: both heartfelt and creative.
Brooke Thames
A&E Writer
For those who have been excitedly awaiting the former country starâs first officially documented pop album, â1989â doesnât disappoint. Swift hits the essence of the 1980s with an array of punchy beats and synthesized rhythms, while managing to stay within the relevance of the 21st century. Songs like âWelcome To New Yorkâ and âStyleâ sound like they couldâve definitely been anthems of the late 1980s, while tracks such as âAll You Had To Do Was Stayâ and âHow You Get The Girlâ fit in beautifully with todayâs top pop hits. The unusual musical composition of âI Know Placesâ and the slow, sultry sound of âWildest Dreamsâ resemble tracks of beloved pop artists such as Lorde and Lana Del Rey, who have gained praise for their unique â and almost strange â musical styles. Critics of this new pop album may state that the songs sound too generic or that the new direction is uncharacteristic of Swift, given her country roots. Those whoâve been anxious to revel in Swiftâs pop transformation, however, will be appreciative of the mature and artistic route that Swift has taken in this new album era.
