It's hard to deny the appeal of Taylor Swift. Gangly limbed, blonde, multimillion selling country turned pop superstar who just fell short of Britney Spears' Oops! I Did it Again first week sales record by 8,000 ish copies. She's one of the hottest names in music, but the shift to pop has only recently become apparent with her last album RED and its lead single We Are Never Getting Back Together, an infectious if not completely ridiculous song that charmed with its playground chant chorus and American Teen Girl mockery. Now she's onto her fifth studio album which she has claimed to be her "first documented official pop album".
The year of her birth seems to influence a loose 80s flavour on 1989, with opening track Welcome to New York boasting a half spoken melodic chant as its chorus is layered above a collection of retro synths. The Ryan Tedder co-write is one of the album's most memorable moments, frivolous City loving fun. The 80s vibe vanishes too often on this record for it ever to be labeled a 'retro' album. Blank Space is a mid tempo track, vocals sat atop synth drum beats and electronic harmonies. The lyrics are clever, unlike some other tracks on the album, "Darling I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream" and the production is stylishly tinny.
