Rating: 7.5/10
Taylor Swift said that her seventh studio album was meant to capture the fullness of love, and all that it has to offer, which is why it is her longest album yet. This album is very lovey-dovey, which is why I’m posting this on Valentine’s Day (I was originally working on another album review, but I’ll probably post that within the next few days).
I’m really sad that this is the last Taylor album I’ll be reviewing. Of course, I’ll review her next album whenever it comes out, but that won’t be for a while. But life goes on, and it’ll happen eventually. Now before I get too sappy, let’s start the ranking of Lover.
18. ME! (Track 16)
I don’t hate this song, but I don’t like it, which makes me sad because I love almost all of Taylor’s music. It’s just so generic and bubblegum-pop, which is a stereotype that I would hate to be pushed on Taylor. Brendon’s vocals are great though, surprise surprise.
17. You Need to Calm Down (Track 14)
Yeah, Taylor really didn’t do the album justice with the early singles. Again, I don’t hate this song, I just don’t love it. I think it’s catchier than ME! so I’ve ranked it higher.
16. The Man (Track 4)
I know most people would rank this higher, but it’s just not my type of song. I’m generally not a fan of overtly political songs, and sonically it’s not up my alley.
15. London Boy (Track 11)
This song is so cute, and I love the British references, but it wasn’t one of my absolute favorites. Bonus points, though, because this song reminds me of Harry Styles.
14. I Forgot That You Existed (Track 1)
The opening track is a nice setup for the album, bringing up the themes of letting go of the past and moving forward with your life. I also like the simple production, but it’s not one of the most sonically interesting tracks.
13. False God (Track 13)
I like the saxophone at the beginning, and the dreamy vibe of this song, but overall it’s a little too sensual for my taste. I like Taylor’s vocals though, and its cool that she branched out in terms of genre.
12. Paper Rings (Track 8)
This song is honestly so adorable. I like the vocal effect on Taylor’s voice, and the chorus is super infectious. It’s one of those songs that I love listening to in the context of the album, but I don’t check out much outside of it.
11. Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince (Track 7)
Like I talked about with It’s Nice to Have a Friend, I think Taylor is great with cinematic lyricism, and furthermore, I think this is her best album in terms of it. The high school imagery in this song is brilliant, and I really like the chorus. Plus, that brief string part at the end always gives me chills.
10. It’s Nice to Have a Friend (Track 16)
This song was originally my least favorite, but it’s grown on me. I think it’s a very cinematic track, and it’s cute and just enjoyable to listen to. It feels like a pretty little interlude right at the end of the album.
9. I Think He Knows (Track 6)
I really like the snapping in this song, and I like how the lyrics describe being so into someone that simply seeing them makes you giddy. This is overall a very fun song.
8. Soon You’ll Get Better (Track 12)
This is actually one of the best songs on Lover, with some of the most touching and emotional lyrics, and a return to country is always a win with me. However, I don’t listen to this song very often because it makes me so sad. That’s literally the only reason this isn’t ranked higher. It depresses me.
7. Cornelia Street (Track 9)
I really love the music in this song, and I think it’s a very touching song. Taylor does a great job of portraying what it’s like to be so in love with someone that even the thought of them leaving your life breaks your heart into pieces.
6. Afterglow (Track 15)
This song marks the point on this list where all the songs from here on out are my favorites. A lot of people criticize Taylor for never taking accountability for the breakups that she describes in her songs (which I think is to an extent true) but this song completely contradicts that. Afterglow sees Taylor apologizing to her partner for starting fights that shouldn’t have had to happen, and I really like this song, not only musically and production-wise, but also for its maturity.
5. Lover (Track 3)
The titular track is Taylor at her most lovey-dovey. She sings about how comfortable and secure she feels in her relationship, and you can just tell that she’s found the one. This is the ultimate Valentine’s Day song, so give it a listen. I don’t know what else I can say. It’s just a really simple, pretty, and refreshing song.
4. Death By a Thousand Cuts (Track 10)
“I dress to kill my time, I take the long way home. I ask the traffic lights if it’ll be alright, they say, ‘I don’t know’. And what once was ours is no one’s now. I see you everywhere, the only thing we share is this small town.” This is a song that, despite how musically upbeat it is, is actually quite sad (though contrary to to the title, is not graphic). It’s also a song that I didn’t think much of when I first listened to the album, but has grown on me immensely over time, and I’m now extremely fond of. I think the production is amazing, Taylor’s vocals are great, and the lyrics are truly beautiful. I used to have it higher up in my ranking but I think I’ve overplayed it too much since this album came out. I still love it though. “My heart, my hips, my body, my love. Trying to find a part of me that you didn’t touch. Gave up on me like I was a bad drug, now I’m searching for signs in a haunted club. Our songs, our films, united we stand. Our country, guess it was a lawless land. Quiet my fears with the touch of your hand, paper cut stings from our paper-thin plans. My time, my wine, my spirit, my trust. Trying to find a part of me you didn’t take up. Gave you so much, but it wasn’t enough. But I’ll be alright, it’s just a thousand cuts.”
3. The Archer (Track 5)
“Easy they come, easy they go. I jump from the train, I ride off alone. I never grew up, it’s getting so old. Help me hold on to you.” This Track 5, like Delicate and All You Had to Do Was Stay before it, is a unique Track 5. It’s not some acoustic, mournful ballad lamenting a loss of love. It’s a vulnerable confession of feeling no one will ever love you for who you truly are. I think it’s one of the most earnest and genuine songs we’ve ever gotten from Taylor, and I really admire her for being able to take such a sad feeling and turn into such an ethereal track. I’ve seen people criticize this song for being very still and motionless (that is, not having any crescendo or major key changes) but I actually like that about. It’s like Taylor’s just having a quiet discussion through song. “All the king’s horses, all the king’s men, couldn’t put me together again. ‘Cause all of my enemies started out friends, help me hold on to you.”
2. Daylight (Track 18)
“And I can still see it all in my mind. All of you, all of me, intertwined. I once believed love would be black and white, but it’s golden. And I can still see it all in my head. Back and forth from New York, sneaking in your bed. I once believed love would be burning red, but it’s golden like daylight.”This is without a doubt one of her best album closers, and such a beautiful way to conclude Lover. Fun fact, this was the song I was listening to at midnight on New Year’s Day. I think it was a great way to start off the new decade. This song sees Taylor finally being able to rejoice in the fact that someone loves her for who she is, and truly letting go of the messiness in her past. It’s very in line thematically with the album, and has one of my favorite backing instrumentals of the whole record. The bridge is absolutely stunning and makes me really emotional for some reason. I also like how it calls back to Red, which was Taylor at her most passionate, and says how she doesn’t think of love as being a bright, burning red anymore. It’s golden like daylight. A truly beautiful mark of her growth and maturity. “You’ve got to step into the daylight and let it go. Just let it go. Let it go.”
1. Cruel Summer (Track 2)
“Killing me slow, out the window. I’m always waiting for you to be waiting below. Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes. What doesn’t kill me makes me want you more.” Honestly, I knew as soon as I heard this song that it was going to be my favorite. Not even three tracks in, I just knew. This song is just the most fun, summery, free-spirited song ever. Imagine the sun setting as you drive down an empty road with the windows down, this song playing in the background. It would be something straight out of a movie. Cruel Summer is about being in a relationship where you’re just having fun and messing around, but being nervous to admit that you want something more serious. This song, similarly to Miss Americana, is very cinematic, and I’ve considered writing a short story based on it (haven’t gotten around to that yet). Just… listen to it if you’re looking for a summer bop (or a bop in general). It’s by far my favorite song on the album, and I just adore it. “I’m drunk in the back of the car, and I cried like a baby coming home from the bar. Oh, said ‘I’m fine’ but it wasn’t true. I don’t wanna keep secrets just to keep you. And I snuck in through the garden gate every night that summer just to seal my fate. Oh, and I screamed for whatever it’s worth, ‘I love you, ain’t that the worst thing you ever heard?'”
Anna's Music World 