I consider it hubristic for me to advise you that an album that is a huge success both commercially and critically is a failure. But it is a failure. Her, “things I wished I’d say” is as weak as her “And to the boys: You shoulda known” on the album credits. The first two singles were great, the next two were lazy and the album follows the latter. Here is a track by track look:
Mine – Really great… major… I’ve written about it many times, I love smart lyric and this is a humdinger, “the careless/careful” is so major she used it again. in retrospect, maybe the back up vocals were over done but I don’t care.
Sparks Fly – This is what happens when Swift nails down not one component of a song: a) lyrics are iffy, b) melody non existence, c) rock slow paced. A bad song.
Back To December – A humiliation for everybody concerned. here’s a note to Taylor: speeding up the flow on the chorus does not constitute a hook and embarrassing your boyfriend only works when you’re the injured party.
Speak Now – If not the best song Taylor has ever written, then the second best song she has ever written. Like “Love Story” it is a short story, a fantasy of redemptive love, of getting the guy, of freedom, of rights wronged. A masterpiece.
Dear John – Followed by the worst song she has ever written. Whinging about Mayer, whose reason for living is to fuck girls, making a pass at you for six fucking minutes will make you no friends. A dreary mess.
Mean – Written for a critic who didn’t like her Fearless album. Here’s a clue, the writer has no power, you have it ALL. How much reinforcement to you fucking want. And why not write about all the critics who love you. Me, for instance. A country swinger replete with violins hurt by a crap lyric.
The Story Of Us – This is like a vault of a Swift song where she forgot the combination. Unfinished (how can you forget to finish off a four minute song?) but not terrible, one great coupla seconds: the way she says “next chapter”.
Never Grow Up – A great song but a little overcooked. If she gave me this to work on. I would cut the chorus to two repeats and cut off a minute. Maybe kill the bridge as well. Stick it as a hidden track. Then release it as a single. End the concert with it.
Enchanted – The definition of a deep album track. A bad album track. Leave it for the extended album where it can do no harm.
Better Than revenge – This is such a complete rip of Hayley Williams “For A Pessimist, I’m Really Optimistic”, the only song I unequivocally love by Paramore, Hayley could sue for plagiarism.
Superstar – It says here I’ve listened to this song 24 times. I can’t remember one.
Innocent – Kanye West doesn’t owe Swift an apology for the VMAs, he owes her am apology for inspiring this terrible song. Sucked on TV, sucks here. Can nobody tell Swift ANYTHING ANYMORE. Just wait for the tell alls by former friends. An ex manager has started the ball rolling. Taylor should really watch her public image. It is too squeaky. if she told a subordinate to “shut the fuck up” it would be front page news across the world. She is making herself less than human.
Haunted – OMG, cut the fucking strings NOW.
Last Kiss – Everything that is wrong on Speak Now is wrong on this album. It is a summer blockbuster Part II. It is Ironman II. Everything is bigger, better, louder, more contrived. “Last Kiss” isn’t bad, it is maybe the fourth best song on the album, but it is so overdone, it is such an emotional wreck, it plays so false and it goes on and on and on. The “rude interruptions’ verse is magic. Unfortunately there is still another 3 and a half minutes to go.
Long Live – Alright, nothing much. I might like it if she relaxed a little and cut two minutes.
I could get Speak Now to stand with Fearless. Here is how. Don’t let her go over 3, maybe 4 on the title track, and cut it back to 10 songs:
1. Speak Now
2. Last Kiss
3. Better Than revenge
4. The Story Of Us
5. Superstar
6. Mine
7. Long Live
8.Enchanted
9. Sparks Live
10. Never Grow Up