4/5
80's Baby.
Going through the 'Eras' year-by-year, Taylor Swift is taking back her career. It's a master move as she repaints her masterpieces and becomes to women in music (like fond friends Haim) what Dylan is to the great American songbook. Raging against the Big Machine in this big-wig forsaken music industry and re-recording her first six albums ('Speak Now' and 'Red' remain highlights in the re-telling of her story so far) and making them her 'Taylor's Version' own. Swiftonomics indeed. But it goes deeper than all that. Taking ownership of her own work and career doesn't just make a Swift stand for herself (as well as she should), it also inspires and influences countless other artists who have already given and lost so much in the name of creative control. Especially young, not to mention female, artists who have and are at a great risk of being exploited and manipulated by a male dominated industry that needs more Taylor made leaders.
'The Eras Tour' and concert movie may be raking in so many gate receipts and so much box office that 'Eras' in a doubled-up culmination may be single-handedly be saving both the music industry and the American economy, Swiftly. The biggest tour of the year (and how about all-time?), coupled with the biggest movie of the year outside of 'Barbie', expect an Oscar to grace the trophy cabinet of the Grammy laden artist who appeared in David O. Russell's 'Amsterdam' last year alongside Margot Robbie, Christian Bale and John David Washington. As for now, '1989' may seem like yesterday away (it was actually almost a decade ago in 2014, not to mention 33 years ago), but it's bought back to the boil here before the fifth and final 'Reputation' rewrite and the hey 'Lover' victory lap for the 'Evermore', 'Midnights' singer of modern-day 'Folklore'. One that has put in so much work since the pandemic and only come out of studio quarantine to tour the whole wide world. Announced at her LA show, this Republic synth-pop record is one to savour. The summer love of the '89' sound comes back in with the tide right before the fall. 'Welcome Back To New York'. It's been waiting for you still.
'From The Vault' like Prince, who posthumously releases the super deluxe 75-track edition of his 'Diamonds and Pearls' (originally released two years after Taylor's birth in 1991) this week, Swift's sweet 16 songs are joined by five for the bonus road. Making this Queen and Prince the married biggest releases of a New Music Friday that sees new albums from the supergroup The Kills playing 'God Games', and the returning Gaslight Anthem for the 'History Books' co-signed by the Boss Springsteen. In an outstanding October that sees new records from The Rolling Stones ('Hackney Diamonds') and The Beatles (Ringo Starr's 'Rewind Forward' EP and the last Fab Four song). And the extension of 'The Record' of the year from 'The Rest' of Boygenius. Leaving Drake's dogs sleeping. Here, there's also that classic Kendrick Lamar remix of her 'Bad Blood' with that star-studded music video (the new 'DC League Of Super Pets' gives the dog the bone too) and the previously re-recorded soundtrack style of 'Sweeter Than Fiction' for 'One Chance'. The classics 'Wildest Dreams' re-woken and 'This Love' back together were released in anticipation for what has Swiftly become the most streamed album of the year in just a weekend. Crashing Apple and Spotify servers, Taylor's popularity won't wane. And if you wonder what's to come after this epic era...it's this.
One of the most important artists in history and certainly the pinnacle of our generation in her prime like Parton from the Nashville country to the AmeriCAN dream, rewriting the rule book to her own 'Blank Space'. Complete with a new ballpoint pen sound that clicks. Singing and signing her name across your heart like D'Arby. A classic of a classic and the most vivid 'Version' yet. The late eighties gave us 'New Romantics', 'Out Of The Woods' and so much more before the forest of 'Folklore', all re-'Style'd here, or kept as perfect as they always were. Exactly is. The huge hit 'Shake It Off' shaking off Scooter and reminding all of you who rocked with it at Backdrop, the classic Americana Universal Studios (what's up USJ, Osaka, Japan, and all those beautiful memories with you?), the rollercoaster that takes you backwards like a Taylor Swift version. Reclaiming an album that was so popular, talented but troubled (and career and reputation compromised) Ryan Adams (who we must hold accountable, no matter how much we like his music) re-recorded it himself mere months after its release with another iconic '1989'. "Stand there like a ghost shaking from the rain, rain/She'll open up the door and say, "Are you insane"/Say it's been a long six months/And you were too afraid to tell her what you want, want/And that's how it works", 'That's How You Get The Girl'.
"You can hear it in the silence (silence), silence (silence), you/You can feel it on the way home (way home), way home (way home), you/You can see it with the lights out (lights out), lights out (lights out)" and 'You Are In Love'. True love. 'All You Had To Do Was Stay'...and treat her right. 'I Wish You Would'. Because for all the 'Places' she knows, like 'Wonderland'. It's 'Slut!' the new exclamation highlight on this version that puts all those to shame who try to do the same to her. "But if I'm all dressed up (If I’m all dressed up) /They might as well be lookin' at us (Lookin' at us)/And if they call me a slut (If they call me a slut)/You know it might be worth it for once (Worth it for once)/And if I'm gonna be drunk Might as well be drunk in love." The best of these new sonic synth 'Suburban Legends' that 'Say Don't Go' like an anthem, ask 'Is It Over Now' in confessional, 'Now We Don't Talk' ("I call my mom, she said that it was for the best/Remind myself, the morе I gave, you'd want me less/I cannot bе your friend, so I pay the price of what I lost/And what it cost, now that we don't talk"). Never that, the eras just continue for the American songwriter. 1989 will always be her year. But this is her forever more time. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Out Of The Woods', 'Slut!', 'Suburban Legends'
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