Taylor Swift – Lover

[born]

I know! I prefer "Beautiful Trauma" though.

[kimberly]

Some of y'all are wildin... Here's my ranking after listening to this all the way through ~15 times.

Death by a Thousand Cuts (A+)
It's Nice to Have a Friend (A+)
Lover (A+)
Miss Americana & Heartbreak The Prince (A)
The Man (A-)
Cruel Summer (A-)
Paper Rings (B+)
Afterglow (B+)
False God (B+)
Cornelia Street (B+)
I Think He Knows (B)
The Archer (B)
Soon You'll Get Better (B)
London Boy (B-)
I Forgot That You Existed (C+)
You Need to Calm Down (C+)
Daylight (C)

That said, I enjoy all 17 tracks above to an extent. B+ and up means I never skip it. C+ and below are the tracks I tend to skip.

[collegedropout]

Aug 28, 2019 9:04:30 GMT -5 kimberly said:

Some of y'all are wildin... Here's my ranking after listening to this all the way through ~15 times.

Death by a Thousand Cuts (A+)
It's Nice to Have a Friend (A+)
Lover (A+)
Miss Americana & Heartbreak The Prince (A)
The Man (A-)
Cruel Summer (A-)
Paper Rings (B+)
Afterglow (B+)
False God (B+)
Cornelia Street (B+)
I Think He Knows (B)
The Archer (B)
Soon You'll Get Better (B)
London Boy (B-)
I Forgot That You Existed (C+)
You Need to Calm Down (C+)
Daylight (C)

That said, I enjoy all 17 tracks above to an extent. B+ and up means I never skip it. C+ and below are the tracks I tend to skip.

Ok but you can't just pretend ME! Doesn't exist

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2019 3:16:30 GMT -5 Janhova's Witness said:

This album is actually pretty good, way surpassed my expectations based on the singles. I totally agree with whoever said that this is like a sequel to Red

I have to say, like most of Taylor’s albums, this suffers from some very unfortunate sequencing errors. Why is she so bad at this?! 😂

I created my own track list that I believe creates a better flow without making any drastic changes

Lol at you leaving out ME!. Don't blame you for doing that though.

[👑 Eloquent ™]

My thoughts on the album:

1.) "I Forgot That You Existed"

I enjoyed this from first listen. I like that lyrically it is opening a brand new era while closing the Rep era along with its drama. I kind of wish the production had built harder as the song progressed ala "I Think He Knows" as the stagnant production kind of made the song drag. The highlight is her attitude throughout, particularly during the "it isn't hate, it's just indifference" bit.

B

2.) "Cruel Summer"

The banger of the album commercially. Love the juxtaposition of her being so in love, yet being miserable due to their affair having to be shrowded in secrecy while she craved to scream it from the mountain tops. The chorus flows like butter, infectiously so. The verses hit and the little vocoded backing vocals throughout are awesome. LOVE the "he looks up grinning like a devil" line in the bridge. Ugh.

A+

3.) "Lover"

I was underwhelmed when I first heard this song admittedly, but it has grown on me faster and deeper than any other Lover track. The lyrics and melody are simply gorgeous (the airy, dreamy vocals in the pre-chorus and chorus are EVERYTHING). I think we can all relate to this feeling and I certainly relate it to my own relationship. So warm. So cozy. So perfect.

A+

4.) "The Man"

A timely song with true lyrical content that any woman can relate to. The song is catchy and the hook, irresistible. Love the thumping production and the way the chorus flows. Favorite part is the bridge. Something about Taylor letting out a curse word or two gives me life. We love a relatable queen.

A+

5.) "The Archer"

LOVE the 80s vibe of this song's production and honestly was hoping to hear it a lot more in the album. It sits kind of oddly within the album, sonically (should have dropped at some point with much stronger production). Still an ace track from beginning to end.

A+

6.) "I Think He Knows"

Sleeper of the album. I think this track is largely passed over, but will eventually permeate most top 5s. The way the production builds and that infectious chorus hits make this song so, so good. I LOVE the hint of rare cockiness Taylor injected into this lyrically as well.

A-

7.) "Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince"

The Lana vibes, political undertones, masterful metaphors, dark production, chanting backing vocals, thumping verses, hard-hitting chrous make this track delictable for me: best of the album. I would LOVE to see more of this from Taylor. Obsessed with the back and forth in the bridge.

A++

8.) "Paper Rings"

Lyrically, the song is fantastic, just sonically not particularly my vibe. The song has grown on me more since first listen, but sonically it seems so out of place in this album. I think choices like this are what made critics say Red lacked cohesiveness.

C+

9.) "Cornelia Street"

An updated, pop "All Too Well". Incredible build to the song, great storytelling, a touching emotional vibe, and a beautiful, sailing chorus. Love the added sound of thunder and the imagery throughout. This song highlights just how in love she truly is while simultaneously exemplifying her strengths as a writer. This song stripped to piano would be a tear-jerker.

A+

10.) "Death By A Thousand Cuts"

The "ba's" at the beginning were off-putting for me along with some of the production. The bridge is a clear highlight (very strong) of the album and I love the way it hits. I will say the song is growing on me quickly.

B-

11.) "London Boy"

More Lana vibes and I liiiiiveee. The key change in the chrous was unexpected, but loved. I guess I am a whore for chanting cause I love it here too. My favorite part is the "babe don't threaten me with a good time" in the second verse. Such a feel-good vibe.

A-

12.) "Soon You'll Get Better"

One of my least played songs of the album. I respect the emotional meaning behind this, so I don't care to critique it much. I will say I feel she captured a similar vibe much stronger with "Ronan".

C+

13.) "False God"

Ok Taylor. I need more of this from you. So sexy, the way she dances through those verses over that sultry r&bish production. Ah, the way she sings "lu-hu-hu-hu-hove". I die. An album highlight.

A

14.) "You Need To Calm Down"

I love the pro-lgbt lyrics and vibe in this. Also love the ascending "uh-oh's" in the chrous. This still knocks, maybe just not as much as a second single should have, especially after what we have heard housed in this album. Still solid enough.

B+

15.) "Afterglow"

Another sleeper on the album. The chrous on this hits hard and for me is one of the album's highlights. I find it relatable lyrically, as I have bad anxiety and am always "in my head". The verses could use a bit more umph, but I understand why they kept it a bit understated.

A-

16.) "Me!"

I suppose it plays better within the album, but still: f*** you.

F

17.) "It's Nice To Have A Friend"

It's also nice to shave unnecessary excess off an album prior to releasing. This could MAYBE work as an interlude, but jesus does this b*tch drag as it goes nowhere. Not even salvaged by potential good lyrics it doesn't have. The inclusion here is just baffling to me.

D

18.) "Daylight"

I don't particularly care for the sound of the first verse that highlights a chord progression I find off-putting, but as the chorus swells, the song progresses beautifully into that GORGEOUS bridge. The "I can still see it all..." portion of the songs is perhaps the most sonically beautiful moment of the album.

B

Overall grade: A-

[kimberly]

Aug 28, 2019 9:44:04 GMT -5 collegedropout said:

Aug 28, 2019 9:04:30 GMT -5 kimberly said:

Some of y'all are wildin... Here's my ranking after listening to this all the way through ~15 times.

Ok but you can't just pretend ME! Doesn't exist

You know where it falls in my ranking sis 

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

I've been itching to do a rankdown for the album and since none have popped up yet, I've made one:

pulsemusic.proboards.com/thread/187613/taylor-swift-lover-impression-rankdown

It's an album first impression rankdown so the deadline is next week! Do it now while you're still excited over the album.

due: Tuesday, September 3

[Hefty Hanna]

It is baffling to me that with the material they had to pick from, they chose....

....'ME!' and YNTCD as the singles. Like. . . . . . ?

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

I keep seeing that but was the album even finished when those songs were released?

[surfy]

Aug 28, 2019 22:24:27 GMT -5 Rose "Payola" Nylund said:

I keep seeing that but was the album even finished when those songs were released?

even if it wasn’t, i mean, ME was the best they could come up with? i can understand YNTCD with the activism and the Equal Rights Act but ME makes no sense to ME!

[Grün]

My thoughts on the album:

1.) "I Forgot That You Existed"

When this song first started, there was a pit in my stomach, " she is not going to talk about her reputation for another 18 songs, please God". Luckily, this was used as a bridge from reputation to this new album. Gone is the angst, anger; it is now just indifference. I have to say that I love on the last chorus when she says, "I thought it would kill me, but it DIDNT". She is definitively saying that she is not dead (Contrary, to what Look What You Made Me Do would have you think). All in all, a solid start.

B -

2.) "Cruel Summer"

My favorite song on the album. This is commercial Taylor mixed with songwriter Taylor at a perfect balance. This song is infectious without being pandering. I think this stacks up with her 1989 singles for me. Also, a recurring theme on this album. Taylor finally remembered how to write excellent
bridges again. This song's bridge and final chorus puts this in my top ten in her entire catalog. ( If this isn't a single, I will be utterly pissed. I will not have another Getaway Car situation.)Lastly, if this gets a fan video; I will lose my f*cking mind. I would actually like a Joseph Kahn music video for this song.

A+

3.) "Lover"

It is like Red came back to life. However, this time it has a happy ending. What is there to say that hasn't been said. This is a classic Taylor Swift song. Again, it has an amazing bridge. Her songwriting on this album is miles ahead of Reputation and we are only three songs in. I hope this is a hit for her. I don't see how Perfect can be a hit and this wouldn't be ( This is a million times better than that rehash).

A

4.) "The Man"

Out of the "political songs" on this album, this comes across as the most genuine. I like the lyrics on this song. There isn't a lie to be seen in any of these lyrics. I agree, I like when Taylor says bitch. Also, bonus freaking points for bringing Leo into the conversation.

B+

5.) "The Archer"

This is just simply a beautiful song. The lyrics again are superb. For some reason, the bridge reminds me of Cheap Trick and that makes me like the song more. This feels like it could be placed on Red. Change the production and add in an acoustic guitar. This is essentially country Taylor and I love it.

A

6.) "I Think He Knows"

At first, I believed this was the first dud of the album. However, the bridge and final chorus makes this a knockout. "Where we gonna go, where we gonna go"? I really love the production on this song. This is a fun song.

B+

7.) "Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince"

I think some of the lyrics on this song are truly superb. I like the eerie vibe of this song. It really creates a theatrical experience.

B

8.) "Paper Rings"

If Taylor wanted to pick a lighter song as her first single, she should have picked this song. Is this a multi-week number one, no. However, its lyrics are far stronger. I think this would have been a great lead single. Also, I might be in the minority, but I like the 1 2 3 4 part.

B

9.) "Cornelia Street"

Plain and simple, I love this song. The storytelling, the lyrics, and just the honesty on this track. One major gripe about Reputation, it felt like she wrote many of her songs depicting a caricature of herself. This comes off a genuine trepidation. The fear of loving and then losing that person, but still holding on the remnants of moments and memories. A total highlight on this album.

A+

10.) "Death By A Thousand Cuts"

I know she said she was influenced by some show on Netflix, but I swear this song is reflecting on her relationship with Calvin. " Chandelier still flickering here". I believe this harkens back to the days when "the bass beat rattling the chandelier". Nonetheless, I love the lyrics to the song. Again, a recurring theme: the bridge is fire.

A+

11.) "London Boy"

Maybe Taylor shouldn't write songs about cities. I will say the production on this song is amazing. However, this seems little to childish for me. This is the first miss on the album for me.

C-

12.) "Soon You'll Get Better"

If you don't get choked up when she sighs in the final chorus, you are dead inside. The lyrics in this song are simple, but poignant. I do love this song, but it is hard to listen to because it makes me reflect on all those I have lost in my life. This really is a homerun for Taylor. I am glad she shared this song with us; I would not have the guts to put a song like this on my album ( if I had one that is).

A+

13.) "False God"

I thought this was a skip at first. However, I am coming around to this. I like how this is basically a nineties, sex throwback song. Also, the lyrics again are strong and sexy. I feel like this is what Dress tried to accomplish, but couldn't quite get there.

B

14.) "You Need To Calm Down"

At first, I was mad about this single. After ME!, I wanted something with more clout. However, the more I hear this song, the more I like it. Plus, I think this is still an important song for the political climate we are in. Also, I like that Taylor is taking shots at the keyboard warriors. The people that say certain celebrities need to be cancelled should really just shut the f**k up. Twitter is a breeding ground for monsters.

B+

15.) "Afterglow"

I actually love this song. The lyrics on this are so relatable and strong. I would actually like this to be a single later on. Lastly, I love that Taylor takes ownership and admits that sometimes things are really just in her head. This predicament is very relatable to me. We create these delusions in our head that only intensify the problems with people we love.

A

16.) "Me!"

I actually think the first verse is really good. It just needs a new chorus, no duet, and no references to spelling. All in all, her worst lead single. This makes Never Ever look like Stairway to Heaven. I bought the single when it came out (for support), so this isn't on my Lover download. I am not complaining.

D

17.) "It's Nice To Have A Friend"

What an oddly peaceful, yet haunting song. I treat it as an interlude, but I like that Taylor took a risk.

B

18.) "Daylight"

I love, love when artists refer to their previous work. "Burning red, but it's golden". What a good closing track and thesis statement to this album.
Again, the lyrics of this song are stellar.


A

Overall grade: A-


All in all, I think this is an amalgamation of her last three albums. It has the songwriting craft of Red, the 80's feel of 1989, and the production of Reputation. Also, I appreciate that she didn't run to Max Martin this go around. I think that was a statement. She doesn't want the normal pop formula. She wants to break new ground.

[austin]

Aug 28, 2019 22:24:27 GMT -5 Rose "Payola" Nylund said:

I keep seeing that but was the album even finished when those songs were released?

First post in this thread was the day she finished the album - February 24th. She just often picks bad or weird singles.

[KeepDeanWeird]

'ME!" did its job by announcing that the so-called 'dark' .reputation phase/era was gone. And judging by the surprisingly solid new streams and sales during the past week, I don't think the GP hate it as much as many, including ME!, do here.

I'm slowly working a few Lover tracks into my playlists. It's going to be 2 years until the next era, I'm in no hurry to play this to death after one week. I like holding back a few tracks and then 'discovering' them a few months later.

[deepston]

Spotify First-Week WW Streams

Day 1: 54,830,823
Day 2: 39,874,893 (-27%)
Day 3: 32,474,452 (-18.56%)
Day 4: 36,358,501 (+11,8%)
Day 5: 33,388,599 (-8.14%)
Day 6: 31,283,082 (-6.31%)

Total (6 days): 228,210,350

[musicspy]

For me to get finally on board I am no casual Taylor fan but i got to listen to her album(at least most of it). I still like YNTCD and think that it should be a single. I dont find much appeal in The man like everyone else, but I like Cruel Summer a lot. A highlight for me is Afterglow tho. Its just so relatable and i believe general public will bite, just like I did. Its one of the worst performing album cuts so far, at least Taylor give it a try as a single please!!

[14887fan]

After much deliberation, I’ve decided that my highlight tracks are:
-“Cornelia Street”
-“I Think He Knows”
-“Cruel Summer”
-“Lover”
-“Soon You’ll Get Better”

Four perfect pop songs + an absolutely gutting country song.

[Snowbeast]

Aug 29, 2019 9:09:49 GMT -5 deepston said:

Spotify First-Week WW Streams

Day 1: 54,830,823
Day 2: 39,874,893 (-27%)
Day 3: 32,474,452 (-18.56%)
Day 4: 36,358,501 (+11,8%)
Day 5: 33,388,599 (-8.14%)
Day 6: 31,283,082 (-6.31%)

Total (6 days): 228,210,350

Kind of crazy that 228 MILLION streams equates to 152,000 albums “sold”.

[deepston]

Aug 29, 2019 10:49:33 GMT -5 Snowbeast said:

Aug 29, 2019 9:09:49 GMT -5 deepston said:

Spotify First-Week WW Streams

Day 1: 54,830,823
Day 2: 39,874,893 (-27%)
Day 3: 32,474,452 (-18.56%)
Day 4: 36,358,501 (+11,8%)
Day 5: 33,388,599 (-8.14%)
Day 6: 31,283,082 (-6.31%)

Total (6 days): 228,210,350

Kind of crazy that 228 MILLION streams equates to 152,000 albums “sold”.

I think it's balanced. Otherwise Drake would be selling millions of albums first week.

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

It’s also crazy that the albums that did sell don’t contribute to the Hot 100 the way the streams do.

[Ivy Leegue™]

Down to 79 on Metacritic, thanks to Paste Magazine. I'm getting dizzy tracking the score. Hopefully, it either goes up or stays.

[Choco]

Aug 29, 2019 11:40:00 GMT -5 Rose "Payola" Nylund said:

It’s also crazy that the albums that did sell don’t contribute to the Hot 100 the way the streams do.

I remember there was a minor outcry back in the day when Hilary Duff was selling millions of albums yet she couldn't even crack the Hot 100 with her lead single.

Unless streaming keeps growing exponentially we won't see another million opening anytime soon (give or take whatever happens with Adele).

[deepston]

Aug 29, 2019 11:40:00 GMT -5 Rose "Payola" Nylund said:

It’s also crazy that the albums that did sell don’t contribute to the Hot 100 the way the streams do.

This has always annoyed me. Selling an album is like selling each individual track of the album separately. It not counting makes absolutely no sense.

[kimberly]

Aug 29, 2019 11:44:04 GMT -5 Ivy Leegue™ said:

Down to 79 on Metacritic, thanks to Paste Magazine. I'm getting dizzy tracking the score. Hopefully, it either goes up or stays.

Even if it went down, I doubt it'll go below reputation's 71. Her consistency in the 70's range is just astonishing

[KeepDeanWeird]

Aug 29, 2019 12:59:24 GMT -5 deepston said:

Aug 29, 2019 11:40:00 GMT -5 Rose "Payola" Nylund said:

It’s also crazy that the albums that did sell don’t contribute to the Hot 100 the way the streams do.

This has always annoyed me. Selling an album is like selling each individual track of the album separately. It not counting makes absolutely no sense.

That's been my argument for years. If someone buys 9 Lover tracks (almost the price equivalent of complete album), all those count to H100, but buying all 18 doesn't. Completely illogical.

It was the same way with digital multi-track remix singles - if someone bought the single with all tracks (4, 6 or 8), it counted as 1, but if someone purchased 1 track, it counted the same for the H100.

[irice22]

Aug 29, 2019 10:00:36 GMT -5 14887fan said:

After much deliberation, I’ve decided that my highlight tracks are:
-“Cornelia Street”
-“I Think He Knows”
-“Cruel Summer”
-“Lover”
-“Soon You’ll Get Better”

Four perfect pop songs + an absolutely gutting country song.

We are practically the same.

[Ivy Leegue™]

So...I just listened to Fade Into You by Mazzy Star, after constantly seeing reviewers bring up the comparison between that song and Lover and...let's just say that artists have been forced to give other artists writing credits for FAR less similar songs. Even the vocal delivery is similar. Still loving Lover though, but the reviewers are spot-on with this one.

After now hearing the album in CD form on my computer speakers (I don't know why I never think to do this because CD quality is definitely better than ripped or streaming. I usually just buy the CD, immediately upload it to iTunes and put it back in the case. I think now I will only play the CD version of this when at home), iTunes-ripped version on my computer speakers, and the album on my headphones multiple times, my ranking is now:

1. The Archer
2. Lover
3. Cruel Summer
4. I Think He Knows
5. Death By A Thousand Cuts
6. Afterglow
7. The Man
8. Miss Americana And The Heartbreak Prince
9. Soon You'll Get Better
10. Paper Rings
11. Cornelia Street
12. Daylight
13. I Forgot That You Existed
14. Me!
15. You Need To Calm Down
16. London Boy
17. False God
18. It's Nice To Have A Friend

I don't really see this changing at this point.

[YourFaveIsAFlop]

I Think He Knows ft Brendan Urie as first single would have been amazing. It could have easily been turned into a duet

[Au$tin]

Aug 29, 2019 10:49:33 GMT -5 Snowbeast said:

Aug 29, 2019 9:09:49 GMT -5 deepston said:

Spotify First-Week WW Streams

Day 1: 54,830,823
Day 2: 39,874,893 (-27%)
Day 3: 32,474,452 (-18.56%)
Day 4: 36,358,501 (+11,8%)
Day 5: 33,388,599 (-8.14%)
Day 6: 31,283,082 (-6.31%)

Total (6 days): 228,210,350

Kind of crazy that 228 MILLION streams equates to 152,000 albums “sold”.

Those are worldwide streamimg numbers. The 152k is US only.

[itsaboutart]

Aug 29, 2019 18:10:09 GMT -5 Au$tin said:

Aug 29, 2019 10:49:33 GMT -5 Snowbeast said:

Kind of crazy that 228 MILLION streams equates to 152,000 albums “sold”.

Those are worldwide streamimg numbers. The 152k is US only.

That’s incorrect. 228 millions streams is 152k worldwide. One album is 1500 streams. Do the maths

[Au$tin]

Aug 29, 2019 19:32:41 GMT -5 itsaboutart said:

Aug 29, 2019 18:10:09 GMT -5 Au$tin said:

Those are worldwide streamimg numbers. The 152k is US only.

That’s incorrect. 228 millions streams is 152k worldwide. One album is 1500 streams. Do the maths

I could have sworn I read the album was doing 150k off of SPS in the US alone.

Oh these are Spotify only numbers, my bad.