Taylor Swift’s fifth LP, 1989, has arrived in all its glittering ‘80s synth-pop glory. Critically, it's been heralded as one of the country-turned-pop star’s best projects. And, it’s her most grown-up and self-aware album to date, with a jaded wink to both her past and future loves.
Don’t get it twisted: This isn’t an album about he-who-must-not-be-named relationships. If the lead-off track ("Welcome To New York") isn’t a dead giveaway, know that this is an album about the sleepless city and the perspective it gives new (and old) residents alike. Mainly, residents like Swift herself.
But, did she nail it? Did she make it out of the proverbial country woods and produce an album worthy of this concrete jungle that dreams are made of?
Instead of turning to lofty critics for their thoughts, we figured why not hit the streets of New York itself and see what both real New Yorkers and tourists (don’tchaknow Swift has just been named The Big Apple’s Welcome Ambassador for Tourism) have to say about 1989. Mmmhmm.