The long-awaited album has finally dropped. Taylor Swift started off in 2006 with her Taylor Swift album, and since then she’s released a total of 10 studio albums. Due to controversy regarding the musician’s record label from her early years, Swift has re-recorded some of her old albums. This is the first album to be released since Swift began her re-recordings in early 2021, which has caused a lot of build-up and anticipation from fans. As much as I love her classics I was so excited that there was a new album coming out, and that we would finally be getting some new content.

Lavender Haze –  I was expecting more from the opening song. The song started solemnly and I was expecting it to lead up to an epic chorus. But I was disappointed after about ten seconds Swift just seemed to be trying to be so unique that it sounded the same as every other one of her songs. The lyrics seemed to be commenting about the phase in a relationship right before a  breakup, where someone acts like nothing’s wrong in hopes of obtaining a false euphoria. I thought the lyrical meaning of the work was interesting which is the only redeeming quality of this song. 

• Favorite line: “I just wanna stay in the lavender haze.”
• My rating: 2/10

Maroon – Just the contrast between the soft color of lavender and the harsh tone of maroon hints towards the sharp contrast between the opening song and this one. It’s also very interesting how the song explains her relationship using an array of shades of red, ultimately settling on the deep color of maroon. It’s literally a dark version of her album Red.  This song starts more chill but it grew on me very quickly. With a catchy tune and a deep meaning, this song easily is one of my favorites on this album. 

• Favorite line: “the lips I used to call home, so scarlet, it was maroon”
• My rating: 9/10

Anti-Hero – I love this song. The tune isn’t my favorite but the lyrics make up for it. The lyrics in this song heart-wrenchingly go through the motions of the thoughts that come with self-loathing. 

• Favorite line: “It’s me, hi. I’m the problem, it’s me”
• My rating: 6/10

Snow On The Beach – Starting with a nostalgic and soft tune, I was kind of unimpressed with this song from the beginning. Towards the middle it gets good, but overall Swift has done way better. 

• Favorite line: “I saw flecks of what could’ve been lights” 
• My rating: 2/10

You’re On Your Own, Kid – Definitely my personal favorite in the album. With a fast yet soft tempo, this song is bittersweet. The lyrics leave goosebumps and are definitely the strongest part of the song. 

• Favorite line: “you’re on your own kid, always have been”
• My rating: 10/10

Midnight Rain – I have mixed feelings on this one. Originally, I was not a fan of the opening of the song. It had a really eerie tune. The rest of the song was ok but sort of basic and I was unimpressed with this. However, after listening to it a few times, the song grew on me and it got more and more catchy.

• Favorite line: “It came like a postcard: picture perfect, shiny family, holiday peppermint candy. But for him, it’s every day.”
• My rating: 5/10

Question…? – I loved this song. The lyrics followed a very interesting story that kept me engaged throughout the whole song. Paired with the fluctuating tempo and catchy tune, this song is a perfect balance. The only criticism I would have of it was that I thought the bridge was too preppy, but it was short so doesn’t take too much away from the song. 

• Favorite line: “We had one thing going on. I swear that it was something ‘cause I don’t remember who I was before you painted all my nights a color I’ve searched for since.”
• My rating: 9/10

Vigilante [*#@!] – This song was unusually short and snappy compared to the rest of the album. The tune was very bitter and had an angry connotation to it. It was catchy but very different.

• Favorite line: “Draw the cat eye, sharp enough to kill a man”
• My rating: 6/10

Bejeweled – Similarly to the first song, this one seemed like it was written to be so different that it ended up being basic. However, I did appreciate the confidence in the song.

• Favorite line: “Best believe I’m still bejeweled when I walk in the room. I can still make the whole place shimmer.”
• My rating: 3/10

Labyrinth – The opening to this song was very ominous and drew me in from the beginning. I love the whole metaphor of the labyrinth, which symbolizes navigating through life even when it feels like you’ve come to a dead end.

• Favorite line: “Breathe in, break through, breathe deep, breathe out”
• My rating: 9/10

Karma – Honestly I didn’t like this song from the first note. I think the metaphors in it are very cliche and this song is a confusing solemn tune with a fast tempo. There were also random beeping sounds in the background that I think took away from the song. It sounded like there was accidentally an alarm going off in the background.

• Favorite line: “I keep my side of the street clean, you wouldn’t know what I mean.”
• My rating: 0/10

Sweet Nothing – I liked the steady beat of the song but it kind of sounded too much like a lullaby to me. I did like the smoothness of the rhyme in the song. Not the best of Swift’s pieces and I feel sort of impartial about this song. 

• Favorite line: “All that you ever wanted from me was nothing. Industry disruptors and soul deconstructors.”
• My rating: 4/10

Mastermind – Although she may not have started the album off strong, Swift surely ended with a bang. Mastermind is the perfect conclusion to this album, with its fast pace and soft but catchy tune paired with the smooth rhyme of some of the lyrics. The lyrics conclude with a sense of inspiration which wraps up the doubt in some of the other songs in the album. 

• Favorite line: “You see, all the wisest women had to do it this way because we were born to be the pawn in every lover’s game. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail, strategy set the scene for the tale.”
• My rating: 9/10

Although Swift has done better, the combination of catchy tempos and meaningful lyrics throughout the album was impressive. There were a few songs like Lavander Haze, Snow On The Beach, and Karma that I was not a fan of. However, all the rest of the songs in the album made up for it. I took off three points in the album, one for each of the songs I didn’t like.

• Overall album rating: 7/10