4/5
The Last Showgirl
Swifties rejoice. The new era is here. Recently, in the multiple Grammy (no need for Kanye) singer/songwriter's life and times, she's rerecorded and re-owned her renowned masters, embarked on an epic 'Eras' live concert circuit, that might just be the greatest and most successful world tour of all-time, and announced that "your English teacher and gym teacher are getting married", with her engagement to NFL, Kansas City Chief tight-end Travis Kelce. And we can't and won't forget how she stood in solidarity with our hometown of Southport, either, after the cruel Hart Space dance class tragedy that took too many innocent lives and showed us real heroes in the face of such evil. The Elvis of our generation, recently on Travis and Jason Kelce's 'New Heights' podcast, also revealed she'd be releasing a new album. Although she didn't show the album artwork until she got on her socials of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X and more. But now, here she is, in a bath in a cocktail dress with more than champagne problems, giving us 'The Life Of A Showgirl', from Elizabeth Berkley to Pamela Anderson.
'Elizabeth Taylor' too, for one of this twelfth night's best. Every album of this artist amazes, whatever the version, but since '1989' made her country career go genre bending supersonic, she's been on one, post 'Reputation' critic tasking (and this one reunites her with that LPs producer, Max Martin). Although this one feels closer to that one's standing. This 'Lover' gave us pure pop before the world shut down. Then during lockdown, she quarantined in a studio in the woods to give us both 'Folklore' and 'Evermore' in the same year, that felt like a century, of 2020. Before returning for the magic of 'Midnights' two years later. That felt like the trend, in-between 'Versions' albums that offered richer and deeper takes of her definitive discography that is now well and truly hers. Yet it's only been a year since we signed up for 'The Tortured Poets Department'. Now with 'The Life' and those boys behind her, Taylor moves on swiftly with a classic concept album that speaks now and speaks to more. You only have to hear 'The Fate Of Ophelia', sealed with a kiss that says, "I do" to know. Or the title-track, debuted live, featuring the only star capable of going for her crown, Sabrina Carpenter.
Alas, there is no beef here. No Kendrick Lamar 'Bad Blood'. That would be a real bad way to 'Ruin A Friendship'. And no, don't worry. That infamous track is not about Blake Lively, either, as her and Ryan Reynolds are taking more heat than a 'Deadpool' co-star right now. This is the same superstar who had fellow one, Katy Perry, literally send her an olive branch. And nothing is on the nose here, no "boring Barbie", or cocaine about it. Although Taylor does get into love addiction with the outstanding 'Opalite'. It's just good music here. A dozen to add to the discography that is getting definitive, like a Sinatra or Springsteen set-list. Just let it play. YouTube has even given Swift her own 'TLOAS' icon to drag and drop play along with the album's video visualizers. Taylor Swift's music is like Marvel movies. There's so much of it, maintaining a great quality, and it's always a blockbuster moment. Sure, in this busy life of ours, showgirl or not, some of us may only have the chance to take each one in once or twice, but it always sounds fresh and fond. Especially if we get the chance to watch, listen and learn again.
Like her 'Gasoline' friends, Haim ("he did it") telling us 'I Quit', Tay also samples the late, great George Michael on a 'Father Figure' song of the same name. Yet it's 'Eldest Daughter' that might be my favourite, like my idol sister. Whereas nothing sounds as hook, line and sinker slick as the stylized 'Wi$h Li$t' that will soon be the request of everyone's "playli$t". On 'Actually Romantic', Swift sings, "I heard you call me "Boring Barbie" when the coke's got you brave/High-fived my ex, and then you said you're glad he ghosted me/Wrote me a song sayin' it makes you sick to see my face/Some people might be offended" on a track that flips haters like Mariah Carey's 'Obsessed'. That queen before the queen was 'Here For It All' last week, but nobody dares come in listening distance of Taylor Swift this New Music Friday. Not when the likes of 'Wood' or 'Honey' are playing, bringing out the bears, like the folk and ever 'mores'. This showgirl's muse even takes on a culture with 'CANCELLED' in all-caps. "Good thing I like my friends cancelled/I like 'em cloaked in Gucci and in scandal/Like my whiskey sour/And poison thorny flowers." "Something wicked this way comes", indeed. Can't cancel the syndrome of this album recorded in Stockholm, during the Sweden leg of her 'Eras' tour, though. The show goes on, girl. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Elizabeth Taylor', 'Eldest Daughter', 'Wi$h Li$t'.
Spin This: Taylor Swift - 'Midnights'
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