1989 Image
1989
Taylor Swift
Big Machine Records
Release Date:
Metascore
76
Based on
29 Critics
User Score
6.8
Based on
1035 Ratings
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TOP TRACK
Blank Space
Nice to meet you, where you been? I could show you incredible things Magic, madness, heaven, sin Saw you there and I thought Oh my God, look at that...
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Summary Back to top
With producers and co-writers such as Jack Antonoff, Max Martin, Shellback, Ryan Tedder, and Noel Zancanella, the multi-Grammy-winning singer-songwriter goes for an entirely pop album on her fifth full-length studio release.
Record Label: Big Machine Records
Genre(s): Pop/Rock
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Critic Reviews Back to top
Positive:
21
Mixed:
8
Negative:
0
91
Pretty Much Amazing
Oct 27, 2014
1989 isn’t a “crossover” success. It’s the album every subsequent blockbuster must now reckon with.
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85
The Line of Best Fit
Oct 29, 2014
There's evolution with purpose in every fibre of 1989, and far from jettisoning her integrity in this drastic lunge, she's proved in her bold, risky decision that she's got courage in her convictions to pull it off and faith in her fans to accept the new direction.
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80
The Quietus
Dec 1, 2014
With 1989 she has succeeded in leveraging the most cordial and familiar of pop music outpourings to something that feels like a statement, a work of note and the sinew of some kind of emotional connective tissue–binding tastemakers, rock critics, guys I work with and my 12 year old cousin; irrevocably and unexpectedly.
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75
Consequence of Sound
Oct 30, 2014
Swift’s songwriting is as consistently razor-sharp as it’s ever been.
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70
Drowned In Sound
Oct 30, 2014
Taylor Swift may not be challenging societal norms in the same way as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and my own band CHRIST ALIVE are, but she’s relatable and that counts for a lot. I spent a surprising amount of 1989 rooting for its protagonist and sharing in her triumph.
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70
Slant Magazine
Oct 27, 2014
1989's standout tracks retain the narrative detail and clever metaphor-building that distinguished Swift's early country songs, even amid the diversions wrought by the aggressive studio production on display throughout.
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50
Los Angeles Times
Oct 27, 2014
1989 is a deeply catchy, sleekly-produced pop record with the slightly juiceless quality of an authorized biography, a would-be tell-all bleached of the detailed insight she’s trained us to expect from her.
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User Reviews Back to top
Positive:
145
Mixed:
22
Negative:
41
10
NewRomantic
May 7, 2016
1989 of Taylor Swift is a revelation. It deserved to win Album of the Year. My favorite song is New Romantics.

“New Romantics” is a1989 of Taylor Swift is a revelation. It deserved to win Album of the Year. My favorite song is New Romantics.

“New Romantics” is a satirical song discussing how “new romantics” view love and life. It addresses the nonchalant and whimsical nature of the way young adults approach love. Notably, Taylor doesn’t segregate herself from these young adults. Her constant use of personal pronouns such as “we” and “I” indicate that she has also embraced this mindset.

In past albums, Taylor approached love from very extreme stances namely:

Extremely idealistically i.e. “Love Story”
A bitter or angry reponse to breakups i.e “Picture to Burn”
An extremely heartbroken, torn apart stance i.e. “Dear John”

However, this album introduces Taylor’s new mindset and approach towards love. We see her transition through a breakup and making the discovery that love is not a fairytale, and the chances of a happy ending is very unlikely – so it’s better to live life freely and not take relationships too seriously. Notably, the album begins with “Welcome to New York,” which marks the beginning of her transition, and this song, as the last track on the deluxe edition, indicates how she will be heading into the future – free falling.… Expand
10
electricprince
Oct 27, 2014
Taylor Swift delivers in a big way with her first pure pop effort, giving listeners a taste of pure pop confection with lyrical poetry, anTaylor Swift delivers in a big way with her first pure pop effort, giving listeners a taste of pure pop confection with lyrical poetry, an oddity in pop music today. The album isn't Swift's strongest lyrically (see RED) but it certainly is, sonically.… Expand
10
valgreen
Oct 27, 2014
I absolutely loved this album. I was already expecting to be good, but not on this level. This is a pop masterpiece. She not only brings a popI absolutely loved this album. I was already expecting to be good, but not on this level. This is a pop masterpiece. She not only brings a pop original, that has nothing to do with this mainstream pop out there, she brings ferocity in her work. The lyrics for this album are good, and it gets even better when you realize that this is a pop record and it's not full of **** lyrics. And it's perfectly produced as well. Her best work ever. Album of the year.

Best ones: Style, Bad Blood, I Know Places, This Love, You Are In Love and New Romantics.… Expand
9
sameoldlove
Oct 16, 2015
"1989" is probably the greatest record in Taylor's career. Pop perfection, lyrically incredible. The production is flawless. 1989 is fresh, it"1989" is probably the greatest record in Taylor's career. Pop perfection, lyrically incredible. The production is flawless. 1989 is fresh, it proves that Taylor Swift literally is a musical genius and no one comes close to her. This album makes her THE FEMALE MICHAEL JACKSON!
Starting with "Welcome to New York" Taylor has a great, yet lowkey annoying album opener. The production is cute, but it's definetly not one of the better songs on the album. Number 1 smash hit single "Blank Space" follows, which is definetly one of the greatest tracks on the record. The song is incredibly catchy and well written. It proofs why Taylor is the new queen of pop. The best song on the record, the third single "Style" follows. It has the most flawless production on the album, flirty dark Lana Del Rey like lyrics make the song THE standout track of the album and maybe even the best song in her career. Other highlights of the album include "All You Had to Do Was Stay", "Wildest Dreams", "How You Get the Girl" and "New Romantics". The only song that makes me rate the album with 9/10 are "Shake It Off" which is literally a disgrace, also songs like "This Love", "Clean" and "You are in Love" which are definetly cute and really good still can't hold the greatness of the other tracks. All in all the album is incredible and one of Swift's best work. I suggest to buy it.… Expand
7
asjklasjklas
Oct 27, 2014
It's her "first documented, official pop album" and although the many, many Max Martin and Shellback-tailored hooks and synths suggest itIt's her "first documented, official pop album" and although the many, many Max Martin and Shellback-tailored hooks and synths suggest it contrasts that noughties Nashville country girl with teardrops on her guitar and celebrity ex-boyfriends out in the dog house, it's still Taylor to the core: hanging up on exes and then calling them back to tell them she, well, regrets hanging up on them. It's disguised in contemporary synthpop melodies. But it's sure as hell still there though.

After scoring her very first number-one on the U.S. Hot 100 with 2012's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", it's no surprise that Max Martin and Shellback make an appearance on her anticipated successor--seven times, actually. And as far as contemporary top 40 tunes go, 1989 hardly comes up short. The playfully self-aware "Blank Space" has Swift stirring up her haters' comments about her multitude of alleged celebrity exes and turning them into a whirlwind of irresistibly catchy pick-up lines ("I want the players/And you love the game") and self-confessionals ("'Cause darling, I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream"). "Style" immediately latches onto the current trend of faux-disco made popular again by French duo Daft Punk and it'll surely land itself onto the profiles of over one million girls on Tumblr with it's instantly quotable chorus ("You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye/I got that red lip classic thing that you like").

But with any Taylor Swift record, her longest, more vulnerable numbers are her highlights. Though she never quite reaches--or tries to reach--the melodrama found in her previous songs like "Enchanted" or "All Too Well", her collaboration with her longtime co-producer Nathan Chapman on "This Love" comes the closest: electronically manipulated yet twangy guitars backing up Swift's soothing voice singing about "silent screams" and what not. And finally, her hotly anticipated collaboration with English singer-songstress Imogen Heap clocks in at 4-and-a-half minutes of a toy box-esque instrumental and Heap's harmonic backing vocals and sighs decorated with lyrics like "You're still all over me like a wine stained dress I can't wear anymore".

Her accomplishments of achieving a thoroughly pop album come at a cost though and her weakest links are the filler moments that are squeezed into an overall memorable moment of mainstream music in 2014. The introductory ode to NYC has well-intention lines like "You can want who you want/Boys and boys, and girls and girls", however, safe-pop producer Ryan Tedder's far-too-familiar melodies and almost insultingly impersonal lyricism turns it into one of Swift's most disappointing promotional singles to date. And although anyone on planet earth can tell you over and over again how infectious "Shake It Off" is, that saxophone left in Max Martin's studio from his previous session recording Ariana Grande's "Problem" has become a bit less charismatic this time around.

1989 is the work of a woman who has already molded herself into pop culture "like a wine stained dress". It's not made to be universally acclaimed. It's experimental. And that's just exactly what an artist does, especially one at the caliber of Swift. Her fans are going to be disappointed in the shortage of her signature vulnerability and her detractors are going to snarl at her tongue-in-cheek continuation of boy-obsessed lyricism. But at the end of the day, there's a song or three you're going to jam to in your car with your friends and there'll be another one or two for the nights you'll spend snuggled up in your teardrop-stained sheets thinking of an ex.… Expand
5
Adrian14502
Apr 14, 2017
Swift presenta un quinto trabajo discográfico totalmente alejado (o casi) de su característico country, y quizá no es el mejor camino que pudoSwift presenta un quinto trabajo discográfico totalmente alejado (o casi) de su característico country, y quizá no es el mejor camino que pudo tomar. 1989 es un álbum en su totalidad pop con muestras o influencias de subgéneros del mismo, como synthpop o teen pop; líricamente no va más allá que los típicos temas clichés del pop, como las relaciones amorosas o divertirse con amigos, y en algunos casos las letras son repetitivas o poco convencionales. Algunas canciones se sienten realmente vacías. Swift no se luce vocalmente en el álbum, no presenta grandes melodías, pero sí un montón de ganchos pegadizos. Lo que hace al álbum uno más del montón es el uso excesivo de clichés y sonidos teen pop, su producción es poco elaborada y está conformada por melodías simples. Temas como ''Bad Blood'' se sienten insípidos, mientras otros como ''Shake It Off'' son un poco irritantes. Y es que el álbum en su mayoría suena igual. Por otro lado temas como ''Clean'' o ''Style'' brillan completamente, muestran una Swift más segura y original. 1989 no es uno de los mejores álbumes del año, pero tampoco de los peores, Swift puede hacer algo mejor, y quizá incursionar en el mundo pop le haga perder la gracia y originalidad que tiene.

Mejor track: Clean
Peor track: Bad Blood… Expand
0
minimaldead
Jan 17, 2017
Taylor was inspired by the 80´s music, but she did an album that isn´t good, just an american trash product of 2014, "EMOTION" by Carly RaeTaylor was inspired by the 80´s music, but she did an album that isn´t good, just an american trash product of 2014, "EMOTION" by Carly Rae Jepsen is what 1989 want to be.… Expand
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