Taylor Swift - 1989

1989 is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, originally released in October 2014 via Big Machine Records.

America’s darling Taylor Swift has been firm in stating 1989‘s intentions. This is her “very first documented, official pop album.” Not country. No more country. Taylor’s positioning herself for world domination.

Begone banjos, shuffle off the drawls and stow the geetar; Swift vies for huge everyman cores enveloped in glossy, glittery '80s-inspired pop. Swift is clearly au fait with the need for pop to strike a balance between pushing emotional buttons, remaining almost universally accessible and being, in at least some sense, fun. It's in the latter category that she knocks the ball out the park. “Shake It Off” is sublimely silly, goofy even, with white-hot horn blares.

Even in the darkest moments, like the string-filled “Wildest Dreams” it’s slathered in grandeur and glass-half-full strength. In its omnipresent optimism, there is a seam of cheese to be found – not necessarily cringe worthy Disney, but rather a karaoke quality. You'll belt these numbers anywhere, and that includes in front of a crowd of strangers. These are songs that everyone knows, from your little brother to your drunken aunt; the pop is utterly indiscriminate in its spread. 1989 is classic pop in its basest forms.

Perhaps one of the most surprising points to note – then again, perhaps not – is Swift's lyrical dexterity. For every “areweouttathewoodsyetareweouttathewoodsyet” etc. there's a silvery-tongued turn of phrase or ear-catching line about Cheshire Cats. It's not necessarily Dylan Thomas, but it certainly makes you pay attention to what she's saying, and that's an important part. Rather than half-hearted slogans and jingletastic caveats, there are narratives and meanings to be gleaned – as corny as it sounds, there's a genuine... depth.

One major facet of the 1989 is just how huge it is. Every track's an anthem of some kind; every track could clamber to the top of the charts with ease, brushing aside wannabes like pawns on a chessboard.

Taylor Swift going (pure) pop is not a surprise. RED was the platter of hors d'oeuvres gauging our appetite for this kinda thing, and when “Trouble” et al. went supernova, it was clear that the twangy country-at-heart pop was going to be ditched, at least temporarily. Quite honestly, it couldn't have been a better career move. There's evolution with purpose in every fibre of 1989, and far from jettisoning her integrity in this drastic lunge, she's proved in her bold, decision that she's got courage in her convictions to pull it off and faith in her fans to accept the new direction.

This double album 2LP record set is a 2022 repress on black vinyl housed in a gatefold sleeve, pressed in Europe via Big Machine Records.