Taylor Swift - Midnights (new album out Oct. 21)

[Sheena]

Dying at how much everyone is going to be losing their shit over this in about 5 plays’ time

 

[Jark]

dying at how you can never handle any negative opinions about Taylor albums

 

[Jark]

have we seen that the 3am edition has 7 bonus tracks?

 

[jivafox]

Is the 3am edition only on Spotify? She’s such a fickle cow!

 

[Sheena]

dying at how you can never handle any negative opinions about Taylor albums

Huh? I haven’t even heard it yet! I’m hardly a BLIND TAYLOR STAN.

But everyone seems to judge the first play of her records and change their mind further down the line. IT’S JUST WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

 

[Jark]

Bigger Than the Whole Sky is just gorgeous. and she put Question on the album over this. hateful queen!

 

[Jark]

But everyone seems to judge the first play of her records and change their mind further down the line. IT’S JUST WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

having a first play opinion about a highly anticipated new album (or any) is quite normal! I reserve the right to change my mind

 

[ZenGiraffe]

Currently up to Midnight Rain and it is INFINITELY more listenable than her last few albums.

 

[ZenGiraffe]

Ok Vigilante Shit is as good as its name suggests.

Completely fallen off a cliff now.

 

[Pingu]

dying at how you can never handle any negative opinions about Taylor albums

In fairness, he’s probably right in your case.

 

[Jark]

having a first play opinion about a highly anticipated new album (or any) is quite normal! I reserve the right to change my mind

5 points for attempted snark if nothing else

 

[ZenGiraffe]

...did she just say "my panties make your crown"?

 

[ZenGiraffe]

Can we have the song that the pre-chorus of Mastermind wants to be please? The chorus doesn't live up to it at all.

 

[GNL]

The sexy baby line just made me WINCE.

Enjoying the soundscape though!

 

[ZenGiraffe]

Anyway, after listening to the main album, it's definitely 1989 (Limp version). There are half decent songs but nothing stellar.

 

[ZenGiraffe]

Ok, listened to the 3am tracks as well. She should have just gone to bed.

Only Dear Reader is worthwhile, and even then on the assumption that it is a grower.

 

[octophone]

7 bloody songs not on the CD?

FUCK. OFF.

Why the hell should I cough up for two-thirds of an album because I'm STUPID ENOUGH to pay for music?

 

[AlgoAlex]

Quite like Sweet Nothing in second half. It’s not grabbing me in the same way folklore and evermore did on first listen and just isn’t as cohesive

 

[joanne]

It’s not grabbing me in the same way folklore and evermore did on first listen and just isn’t as cohesive

same. I'm gonna need more time with it.

 

[jivafox]

Now I’m all for you like Janet

Loved this on first listen. Basically an album of the chiller moments of Reputation. Maroon, Anti-Hero, You’re on your own, kid, and Glitch are my stand outs at the moment.

 

[GNL]

Yeah, it's not as good as Folklore for me, but it's nice. I'm glad she's moved past the need to ruin her albums with horrible, shrill singles.

 

[dUb]

Is she not bored of coming up with the same kinds of melodies again and again?

I'm CERTAINLY SICK OF HEARING THEM

 

[OutSynk]

Is she not bored of coming up with the same kinds of melodies again and again?

I'm CERTAINLY SICK OF HEARING THEM

I haven’t even heard the album and I already know what it sounds like.

 

[Jark]

Is she not bored of coming up with the same kinds of melodies again and again?

I'm CERTAINLY SICK OF HEARING THEM

she is very much in recycling territory here melodically, and I think she needs new collaborators to keep pushing her.

 

[Pipo]

Midnights summarised in a sentence:

trap drum patterns in 2022 is sad

It all feels very middling like she tried making another 1989 without Max and his hooks.

 

[OutSynk]

I'm currently back to worrying it'll be shit

Oh it WILL be. Jack Antonoff is all over it.

 

[joanne]

love this!

 

[Jark]

OK but Maroon is excellent. gorgeous song.

 

[Pipo]

now, hold on a minute, but Would've, Could've, Should've is TOP TIER TAYLOR

 

[Pipo]

omg the bonus tracks are much better than the album High Fidelity is

 

[RJN]

I listened in full in bed with no distractions this morning.

first five tracks are brilliant. her best opening run besides folklore. Maroon is gorgeous. Anti-Hero is the one! such a catchy, effortless hook. it's me, hi. I'm the problem, it's me!

Snow on the Beach good, but crediting Lana feels like a cruel joke. Midnight Rain is a bit interludey but I enjoyed.

Question...? and Vigilante Shit are both dreadful. what was she thinking. Question...? in particular, and that line about kissing in a crowded room and people clapping, belongs in the bin. Vigilante is a bit better but Jack being hung up on trap drum patterns in 2022 is sad.

Bejeweled is a sparkly bop. Labyrinth pleasant filler. Karma is a good song and could do well on radio but... hunny, those lyrics. enough is enough!

the last two passed me by, and sonically the album is seriously blurring at this point.

I pretty much agree with all of this after my first listen. I like vigilante shit a bit more though (because it’s ridiculous and she can’t help herself)

 

[Jark]

You're on Your Own, Kid is wonderful

I hosted parties
and starved my body
like I'd be saved by a perfect kiss
the jokes weren't funny
I took the money
my friends from home don't know what to say
I looked around
in a blood soaked gown
and I saw something they can't take away

the way this closing verse builds and builds reminds me of Cardigan quite a LOT. and the droning synths are mildly giving 400 Lux by Lorde. NEW FAVE!

 

[Mike(y) W]

A bit nonplussed on first listen earlier this morning, but am now on my third replay having gone off and listened to other stuff and am now loving most of it (the Janet ref most of all naturally!).

 

[octophone]

No. Went to Fopp but couldn't persuade myself at £13 (£35 on vinyl!) because of the "bonus" tracks situation.

Poor show.

 

[Mike(y) W]

I bought the digital 3am edition on Amazon for a tenner, or just slightly over.

 

[Jark]

No. Went to Fopp but couldn't persuade myself at £13 (£35 on vinyl!) because of the "bonus" tracks situation.

Poor show.

but they are bonus tracks what's the issue? she made the album she wanted to make and put out 7 songs with a clearly different sound as a digital bonus.

 

[octophone]

but they are bonus tracks what's the issue? she made the album she wanted to make and put out 7 songs with a clearly different sound as a digital bonus.

If it had been like the Walmart thing with one song and a couple of demos, fine. But 7 full scale songs? Nah, she can piss off. Take thousands of pre-orders for multiple editions and then drop 7 extra songs on the day of release? And only of fucking Spotify, by the looks of it as well? Ridiculous strategy.

 

[Diddy]

Well I finally did my first listen today

(Of Evermore)

 

[joanne]

it's a grower not a shower.

 

[POP!]

If it had been like the Walmart thing with one song and a couple of demos, fine. But 7 full scale songs? Nah, she can piss off. Take thousands of pre-orders for multiple editions and then drop 7 extra songs on the day of release? And only of fucking Spotify, by the looks of it as well? Ridiculous strategy.

She is definitely after the record for highest streaming debut or something. The longer album will increase her SEA totals and she also delayed the debut of the songs on her YouTube channel for a day, which will help get people on her Spotify.