1. starlight 2. sad beautiful tragictie for 3: red/ troubletie for 4: all too well / 22
― 乒乓, Sunday, 22 September 2013 21:50 (ten years ago) link
AND I GUESS WE FELL APART IN THE USUAL WAYAND THE STORY'S GOT DUST ON EVERY PAGEBUT SOMETIMES I WONDER HOW YOU THINK ABOUT IT NOWAND I SEE YOUR FACE IN EVERY CROWD
― uberweiss, Sunday, 22 September 2013 22:16 (ten years ago) link
WE'RE DANCING 'ROUND THE KITCHEN IN THE REFRIGERATOR LIGHT
I READ YOU SHOULD NEVER LEAVE A FIGHTUNRESOLVED
― uberweiss, Sunday, 22 September 2013 22:17 (ten years ago) link
but no the answer is "treacherous"
every song on this is perfect except the 2 duets/"the lucky one" and none of those are actively bad (k maybe the gary lightbody one)
― uberweiss, Sunday, 22 September 2013 22:18 (ten years ago) link
ikywt/wanegbt/red/starlight just have the most amazing melodies
oh and mother of mercy "begin again" <<<<<<<<<<3
― uberweiss, Sunday, 22 September 2013 22:19 (ten years ago) link
so many good ones, particularly IKYWT and Red, and 22 - I know it's more gauche than her usual stuff but i have a lot of love for its absolute giddy IDGAF-ness
but the mighty "treacherous" trumps all
possibly my fave t-swift song ever (sophie's choice b/w that and "enchanted")
― monotony, Sunday, 22 September 2013 22:29 (ten years ago) link
oh "holy ground" is soooo good also
gr8 album basically. obviously.
― monotony, Sunday, 22 September 2013 22:30 (ten years ago) link
starlight is the one i've played when in doldrums at work this year. and it has never failed to knock my socks off and put me in the right mood again. i adore nearly every song on this but that got my vote
― making plans for nyquil (outdoor_miner), Sunday, 22 September 2013 22:37 (ten years ago) link
― monotony, Sunday, September 22, 2013 10:29 PM (42 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― monotony, Sunday, September 22, 2013 10:30 PM (42 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Agree with all of this, Monotony you are speaking righteously.
Basically "Treacherous" is my number 1 forever and yes it's a fight to the death with "Enchanted" for the title of finest song in Taylor's discography.
"Holy Ground" is my number 2, then "All Too Well", and then a surprisingly large number of tracks all clustered around an indistinguishable level of greatness ("State of Grace", "Red", "I Knew You Were Trouble", "22", "Begin Again", "I Almost Do", maybe "Starlight").
It seems to me that "Red" has grown in people's estimations since the album came out? A lot of people were down on it at first IIRC.
If I was gonna cast a sympathy vote it would be for "I Almost Do", which seems curiously underrated esp. given it has one of Taylor's most magical, moving, "camera pans out and reveals we're working on a much more expansive and nuanced emotional terrain than previously realised" middle-eights.
― Tim F, Sunday, 22 September 2013 23:19 (ten years ago) link
1. holy ground2. wanegbt3. bonus track demo version of state of grace
feel like most people i know do not agree with me that wanegbt was the best single from this
― james brooks, Sunday, 22 September 2013 23:21 (ten years ago) link
― making plans for nyquil (outdoor_miner)
^^^ this. I'm glad she never released it as a single. It'll remain a "secret" highlight for fans.
― first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 22 September 2013 23:37 (ten years ago) link
I'm pretty much in sync with Tim. "Holy Ground" would have been my top pick the first few weeks of listening, and "Treacherous" at first just registered as a nice tune with some good lines, but after a while it became the song I wanted to hear again. I think I said this on the Red thread, but "Treacherous" has her best-ever singing imo -- the restrained excitement of the verse/chorus and the explosive desire of the bridge.
"State of Grace" and "I Almost Do" would be my underdog picks. (If Bono's got any sense left, there'll be a U2 cover of "State of Grace" as a bonus track on the new album.)
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Monday, 23 September 2013 01:11 (ten years ago) link
http://vine.co/v/hveOe3hLJE3
― markers, Monday, 23 September 2013 01:25 (ten years ago) link
wow i thought i was the only person who would have "enchanted" in their tswift top 3
― druhilla (k3vin k.), Monday, 23 September 2013 01:32 (ten years ago) link
it has one of Taylor's most magical, moving, "camera pans out and reveals we're working on a much more expansive and nuanced emotional terrain than previously realised" middle-eights.
It occurs to me that this or similar is a feature of nearly all my favourite Taylor tunes.
― Tim F, Monday, 23 September 2013 02:06 (ten years ago) link
"State of Grace" is the most overlooked track on this record
― flamboyant goon tie included, Monday, 23 September 2013 02:14 (ten years ago) link
StarlightHoly GroundStay Stay Stay
that's all I've kept. The rest I still hear on the radio.
― first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 23 September 2013 02:15 (ten years ago) link
*raises hand*
this is still "holy ground" btw but everyone otm about "treacherous"
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, 23 September 2013 03:35 (ten years ago) link
On a whole-of-song basis I would be very tempted to go for "Holy Ground". If I was doling out awards it probably should win "Best Song", but then "Treacherous" would scoop the balance of the prize pool: "Most affecting vocals in a Taylor song"; "Greatest second chorus in a Taylor song"; "Most arresting and perceptive lyrics in a Taylor song" etc.
― Tim F, Monday, 23 September 2013 04:49 (ten years ago) link
The fact that Alfred hasn't retained it marks him out as incorrigibly glib and heartless.
all too well
― abcfsk, Monday, 23 September 2013 05:34 (ten years ago) link
enchanted is definitely top 10 or maybe even top 5, and treacherous is a perfectly serviceable song, but to put the two even in the same circle
man
― 乒乓, Monday, 23 September 2013 12:06 (ten years ago) link
Imagine Swift songs called:
IncorrigleIncorrigibly GlibHeartless
― first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 23 September 2013 12:14 (ten years ago) link
I Knew You Were Incorrigible When You Logged In
― Tim F, Monday, 23 September 2013 13:06 (ten years ago) link
This album has so many pleasing little lyrical flourishes, like the shift in "Stay, Stay, Stay" from "I've been loving you for quite some time" to "I'll be loving you for quite some time".
― Tim F, Tuesday, 24 September 2013 00:40 (ten years ago) link
Voted "Red" here over "Begin Again"
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Tuesday, 24 September 2013 01:35 (ten years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Friday, 27 September 2013 00:01 (ten years ago) link
Just noticed how great "All Too Well" is the other day. Wide screen narrative.
― MikoMcha, Friday, 27 September 2013 23:31 (ten years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Saturday, 28 September 2013 00:01 (ten years ago) link
Ah, OK, I had no idea "All Too Well" was such a favorite!
― MikoMcha, Saturday, 28 September 2013 08:33 (ten years ago) link
Surprised state of grace didn't get more love
― monotony, Saturday, 28 September 2013 10:41 (ten years ago) link
I'm glad I put in a vote for "Begin Again", just so it charts. But yeah, there's tons of great tracks on here.
― MikoMcha, Saturday, 28 September 2013 11:00 (ten years ago) link
Poor "I Almost Do" :'-(
― Tim F, Saturday, 28 September 2013 15:20 (ten years ago) link
excellent results apart from the bizarre "starlight" overrating and presumably the joke "everything has changed" vote
― lex pretend, Saturday, 28 September 2013 18:03 (ten years ago) link
"everything has changed" isn't that bad. but then again i may have been brainwashed by all the play it is getting on my local hot ac station. i like it better than "stay stay stay" which sounds like an unpleasant spotify commercial.
― dyl, Sunday, 29 September 2013 14:45 (ten years ago) link
7. "I Almost Do" 0
yeah this is crazy; and it hits so hard & w/ pinpoint accuracy after a breakup :{
― johnny crunch, Tuesday, 1 July 2014 12:42 (nine years ago) link
listened to this album for the first time in a while tonight...so completely killer. i even like the duets OK, esp. the Sheeran one. i don't hate the Lightbody one, but then i kinda like the one Snow Patrol CD I have (Final Straw).
still, when the Lightbody duet and Sad Beautiful Tragic are the worst songs on a 16-track album, you've put together something pretty special, I'd say.
― alpine static, Sunday, 21 June 2015 05:44 (eight years ago) link
sad beautiful tragic is seriously magical
― nose, Sunday, 21 June 2015 15:10 (eight years ago) link
what an album
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Tuesday, 14 November 2017 00:34 (six years ago) link
today i am seriously vibing with "the lucky one"
I had forgotten that "Treacherous" actually won this poll.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 14 November 2017 02:12 (six years ago) link
where she fell off
― difficult listening hour, Tuesday, 14 November 2017 02:34 (six years ago) link
Listened to this for the first time in years yesterday and wow it's even better than i remember it. Begin Again is such a heartbreaker
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Thursday, 16 November 2017 20:11 (six years ago) link
"where she fell off" = crying laughing emoji
― alpine static, Thursday, 16 November 2017 20:22 (six years ago) link
this album is really frustrating to me because i think it might be her best album if those terrible duets weren't on it, and neither were the martin/shellback tracks which aren't bad but are all a little underwritten and feel like they're from a completely different album. removing those brings it down to 11 tracks which is a much more manageable length too.
the highs among the remaining tracks are so high though! like "red", "treacherous", "all too well", "holy ground", "starlight", "begin again" - all incredible
― ufo, Saturday, 27 April 2019 11:28 (four years ago) link
only recently came across "Ronan"; my favorite Red-era songs are probably that and "Girl At Home". Swap those with the lame duets.
― L'assie (Euler), Saturday, 27 April 2019 12:11 (four years ago) link
as i said upthread i think, no one rates "the moment i knew" but i do and i wish it were in "the last time"'s place, and "girl at home" rules
but then "the last time" has pretty great strings, and honestly "everything has changed" is a good song that happens to have ed sheeran on it
― american bradass (BradNelson), Saturday, 27 April 2019 12:43 (four years ago) link
so it's still my favorite taylor album
love this album... its songs range from v. good to great, IMO.
― get your hand outta my pocket universe (morrisp), Saturday, 27 April 2019 13:48 (four years ago) link
(and it's all good imago, enjoy the beer)
― Tim F, Monday, 15 November 2021 23:10 (two years ago) link
It's not so much just what each song is about, it's the nuts and bolts of it, the arrangement, the decisions made, the tempo picked, the previous iterations. All that stuff is super interesting and not always revealed. Like all those versions of Like a Rolling Stone that were eventually released. They nail the final version on the second or third take, but then just kept going, including that one version in waltz time. What made them realize the keeper was the keeper? In Taylor's case, I suppose I'd want to know her editing and refinement process, how different the final versions are from their origins. Stuff like that. Angles like this are why publications like Tape Op are invaluable. Where else are producers going to be interviewed about the tricks of the trade? Or even behind the scenes stuff. They've been witness to countless pivotal moments of history, but rarely is their opinion or experience the center of the discourse, and they have a lot to say. Same with session dudes: God only knows the stuff that Jim Keltner has seen, but where is that interview going to run besides Modern Drummer?
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 15 November 2021 23:24 (two years ago) link
God only knows
I bet there are a few extant interviews concerning the recording of this song!
― heterologous booster (morrisp), Monday, 15 November 2021 23:37 (two years ago) link
hosted by the right people, this general topic could make for an incredible podcast that surely (?) enough people would listen to
― alpine static, Tuesday, 16 November 2021 00:38 (two years ago) link
i realize i should want to read these conversations, but y'know ...
― alpine static, Tuesday, 16 November 2021 00:50 (two years ago) link
If that young man has Taylor’s scarf he should return it.— Dionne Warwick (@dionnewarwick) November 15, 2021
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 16 November 2021 03:28 (two years ago) link
lmao read the 1 star reviews on this
https://www.target.com/p/taylor-swift-red-taylor-39-s-version-target-exclusive-vinyl-4-lp/-/A-84294181
― frogbs, Tuesday, 16 November 2021 04:29 (two years ago) link
looool
― Tim F, Tuesday, 16 November 2021 04:33 (two years ago) link
Red (Jake's Version)
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 16 November 2021 04:48 (two years ago) link
So it’s a 4LP set mastered at 45 rpm, when it could have(?) fit on 2 LPs at 33? Is that a sound quality thing, or a nefarious plot to ring up 2x the number of “discs” sold(?)
― heterologous booster (morrisp), Tuesday, 16 November 2021 07:47 (two years ago) link
that's typically a sound quality thing i think?
― ufo, Tuesday, 16 November 2021 08:20 (two years ago) link
I assume it's sound quality + they could fit the 16 album tracks on two discs and the bonus tracks on the other two. They would have needed 3 LP's anyway at 33, because it's over 2 hours long.
― braised cod, Tuesday, 16 November 2021 08:28 (two years ago) link
Man, I bet that vinyl sounds awesome
― heterologous booster (morrisp), Tuesday, 16 November 2021 14:51 (two years ago) link
(when played at 45, lol)
― heterologous booster (morrisp), Tuesday, 16 November 2021 14:52 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ujcUumou9c
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 16 November 2021 14:54 (two years ago) link
idk from experience i do not think taylor swift's team cares about vinyl pressing
― STOCK FIST-PUMPER BRAD (BradNelson), Tuesday, 16 November 2021 14:55 (two years ago) link
the records of hers i have on vinyl sound extremely not awesome
― STOCK FIST-PUMPER BRAD (BradNelson), Tuesday, 16 November 2021 14:56 (two years ago) link
And you would hide away and find your peace of mindWith some indie record that's pressed much better than mine
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 16 November 2021 15:10 (two years ago) link
Well they sure care about CD sound quality (have I mentioned it sounds awesome?)
― heterologous booster (morrisp), Tuesday, 16 November 2021 15:21 (two years ago) link
It occurred to me today that even after hearing, as ambience, "Blank Check" and "Wildest Dreams" and so on some thousands of times over the past seven years, I still so strongly associate Taylor with "You Belong With Me" and "Love Story" and "Fifteen" and all of Speak Now
And yet, "We Are Never Getting Back Together" is chronologically, at this point, mid-period-- six years after her debut, nine years ago.
― flamboyant goon tie included, Wednesday, 17 November 2021 00:05 (two years ago) link
"Blank Check" --> "Blank Space"? Ha ha (I like yr title, tho)
― heterologous booster (morrisp), Wednesday, 17 November 2021 00:10 (two years ago) link
Ha lol whoops. I never listened to 1989 through Lover for pleasure, just research I guess
― flamboyant goon tie included, Wednesday, 17 November 2021 02:09 (two years ago) link
https://www.stereogum.com/2167771/taylor-swift-iheartradio-taylors-version/news/
“Whenever Taylor re-records a new track, we immediately replace the old versions. Our stations will always deliver songs that artists are eager to share and fans want to hear,” said Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer for iHeartMedia. “Listeners have made it known that they cannot wait to hear Taylor’s Version of each track. We are thrilled to provide a platform to share those with them, as well as the stories behind the songs from Taylor herself.”
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 17 November 2021 14:10 (two years ago) link
She and iHeartRadio are pretty sympatico.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 17 November 2021 14:27 (two years ago) link
I find it annoying that the implied choice (not on ILM per se, just in general) is between caring about all the autobiographical detail and not being invested in the songwriting at all. One of the best aspects of the shift in her songwriting in the last two albums (especially on Evermore) is the sense that that binary is no longer applicable. "Ivy" and "Cowboy Like Me" are two of the very best songs she has ever written, and both clearly have nothing to do with her own life.I was discussing with Brad a while back all the questions I wish TS would get asked in interviews, basically all of which would dig into her songwriting craft. A big question I had coming out of Evermore is whether she feels like, if she is writing from the POV of a fictional character, her lyrical vocabulary changes. Which of course she would never actually be asked by an interviewer.― Tim F, Monday, November 15, 2021 4:10 PM (two days ago) bookmarkflaglink
I was discussing with Brad a while back all the questions I wish TS would get asked in interviews, basically all of which would dig into her songwriting craft. A big question I had coming out of Evermore is whether she feels like, if she is writing from the POV of a fictional character, her lyrical vocabulary changes. Which of course she would never actually be asked by an interviewer.
― Tim F, Monday, November 15, 2021 4:10 PM (two days ago) bookmarkflaglink
otm
― Indexed, Wednesday, 17 November 2021 15:01 (two years ago) link
"Ronan" may be the saddest song I've ever heard.
― distortion’s secret telеphone (morrisp), Wednesday, 17 November 2021 16:36 (two years ago) link
it's been pretty funny/cute seeing my 12yo niece "discover" Taylor Swift
― (•̪●) (carne asada), Thursday, 18 November 2021 20:35 (two years ago) link
don't think she was really into music much before this
https://www.twitter.com/bloodbuzz/status/1460047771537494018
― STOCK FIST-PUMPER BRAD (BradNelson), Saturday, 27 November 2021 03:24 (two years ago) link
"Holy Ground" should've done better.
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 17 January 2023 20:12 (one year ago) link
Agreed, but I feel like the really underrated deep cut on this album is “I Almost Do”, which I think is also secretly really sharp songwriting.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 17 January 2023 21:06 (one year ago) link