2. 1989 (2014)
1989 is the perfect perfect pop record. The sound is driven by synthesisers and programmed drums to try and emulate the 1980s sound and the opening synth-beats of ‘Welcome to New York’ still give me goose-bumps.
From the fluffy pop of lead single ‘Shake It Off’, to the dreamy soundscape of ‘Wildest Dreams’, 1989 has a spectrum of pop sounds. See also indie-synth rhythms of ‘Out Of The Woods’, and the sensual synth beats of ‘Clean’.
What sets 1989 apart is the way it blends a varied electronic soundscape with some of Swift’s most personal and powerful songwriting. “Darling I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream” from Blank Space remains one of her most quotable lyrics alongside “Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes, you say sorry just for show” from ‘Bad Blood’. Perhaps one of the most enduring lyrics is from bonus track ‘Wonderland’:
We found wonderland, you and I got lost in it and we pretended it could last forever”
‘Wonderland’
With 1989, the way the retro influence has helped the album sound timeless means this ‘Wonderland’ really will last forever.
Rating: 9.5/10