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Niall Horan brings an oddly simplistic sophomore album.
Niall Horan released his sophomore album, Heartbreak Weather, on March 13, 2020. The project contains 14 tracks.
Going into his sophomore album, Niall brings us very interesting lyrical content aiming relationships, heartbreak and all the implication that has on someone. A gold aspect to praise in this project are the ballads delivered, they are actually pretty good even though some moments on the album shine as well on their own.
However, there’s a feeling that some rasp and aggression wouldn’t be bad at all: with vocal range, lower tones more approached for instance as the ballads end up overpowering the whole album, when this is not only a ballad-type of project.
On a general consensus, from start to finish a lot of predictable moments happened, transitions were okay, but they could had been more captivating, more playful and it seems too much there’s a huge sense of cohesiveness here intended. But, it’s okay to spice up things even if a little bit so the album doesn’t run the risk of becoming too similar between tracks and without too much innovation.
It’s an okay sophomore album, that only needed a little bit more experimentation in vocal range, song structure and production work.
First listen brings a final score of 62/100 and, as standout tracks, there’s Nice to Meet Ya, Put a Little Love on Me and Still.
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Allie X delivers a soft joyful musical approach on her sophomore album.
Allie X released her sophomore album, Cape God, on February 21, 2020. The project contains 12 tracks.
This projects seems a very funky, loose and joyful approach of music that is, in a way, refreshing. Cape God has a lot of beautiful moments, unexpected build-ups and also unexpected transitions and instrumental play in between songs and in between a normal song structure as well.
There’s a certain raspiness and sassiness in the way Allie express her thoughts and delivers her lyrics and that is for sure one of the aspects that may grab you into this project, even if some tracks don’t immediately grow on you at first.
Perhaps the only downfall on this projects is the need of a little bit more build up on a lot of moments, the album runs the risk and becoming way too simple at times, which isn’t a bad thing, but can compromise the whole experience for sure.
The first listen brings a final score of 78/100 and, as standout tracks, there is Fresh Laundry, Rings a Bell, Life of the Party and Madame X.
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5 Seconds of Summer bring a lot of range and expectation in their fourth studio album.
5SOS released their fourth studio album, CALM, on March 27, 2020. The project contains 12 tracks.
Going as a first experience, an overall consensus about this album is that is not bad at all. There’s a lot of genre combinations from start to finish, which is pretty great on showing the range the band can actually have inside the pop genre. The vocals developed also are very impressive at times, the bridges and chorus of almost every songs are the best part – as can be seen in a lot of commercial pop approaches.
However, a few things are lacking in this experience. Even though the range showing is something good, there’s a wish of a storyline between the sounds going into this project, there are moments completely full of stuff and others incredibly simple, questioning a little bit the cohesiveness of it all.
They also fall into a little of the predictable realm, maybe for putting all bets on bridges and chorus and it’s not as surprising as it feels it might be the opening track sets us into a world that fades a little in the rest of the songs.
Overall, there’s interesting artistic choices in production and song blends, and it does feel like a love or hate it type of album, that definitely feels like it could had been way greater.
First listen brings a final score of 73/100 and, as standout tracks, there’s Red Desert, Teeth and High.
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Conan Gray presents a tender and soft view on the new generation in his debut album.
Conan Gray released his debut album, Kid Krow, on March 20, 2020. The project contains 12 tracks.
With his debut album Conan really represented himself as the whole new generation of teens: still full of dreams, still hopeless, still full of rollercoaster-type lifes. Kid Krow offer beautiful lyrical content and messages aligned with storytelling lines and a full wide pictured story from start to finish.
With a very suble touch on the range of pop-rock and indie-pop, this project is full of beautiful moments, not wide and explosive ones, but yes soft, cute and tender ones, which is in a way the general appreciation of this debut album. A tender first glance to the public about Conan and all of the reality of the teenagers nowadays; the album has a reminiscent scent of Lorde’s project, Pure Heroine, as both of these translate teen-like realities and what if feels like to belong in a new generation.
The only thing left to desire on this project is really more experimentation, in the way that it might seem like a safer album, on a register known as a good one or one that works, but hopefully Conan will experiment more in his genres because his storytelling is quite amazing and shouldn’t at all be compromised by the rest; not that it is here, but it could for sure be spiced up.
First listen brings a final score of 72/100 and, as standout tracks, there is Wish You Were Sober, Maniac and Checkmate.
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Dua Lipa captivates, shines and grabs a spot in the pop industry with her sophomore album.
Dua Lipa released her sophomore album, Future Nostalgia, on March 27, 2020. The project contains 11 tracks.
This has to be considered one of the best sophomore albums ever released, to date. Dua Lipa completely reinvented herself and her sound since her debut project that tried to find what sound works best for her personality; and it sems like she found it indeed.
This hole project carries a cohesive theme, with enticing production moves, beautiful vocals and very good lyrical content. In Future Nostalgia, there’s an attempt of combining the old and the new of the music industry, and this attempt is actually very successful from start to finish.
It doesn’t mean it’s the best project ever made that brings back the big 80’s pop feel and uses it as inspiration, but it is one of the best renditions ever made. This is an interesting step for the singer, that clearly grabs a spot in the industry that can be called her own, as there are twists here and there in the composition of the songs; samples aren’t exagereded, nor is the whole composition of the songs here.
It might not be a perfect album, but it should be considered a very good cohesive and conceptually amazing album, and what it can be the beginning of the ascending of the singer, and this doesn’t feel like the peak quite yet, only the first steps to it.
First listen brings a final score of 90/100 and, as standout tracks, there is Physical, Hallucinate, Love Again and Boys Will Be Boys.
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Doja Cat marks her presence and a place with her sophomore album.
Doja Cat released her sophomore album, Hot Pink, on November 7, 2019. The project contains 12 tracks.
Going through the album a first impression is of how fun of an album this one is; there isn’t really to big concerns on album structure but yes of playful blends in the tracks, the key is, those blends don’t actually ruin the cohesiveness of the full body of work. It might be a bit weird yes, but it’s not bad and it actually can make you go on an emotional train.
There’s a lot of exploration of the bubblier aspects of music but also the 80’s and that nice soul music that can really move you. Listening to this project is somewhat confusing mostly because of the goofiness that Doja brings from start to finish, with some hidden gems and also hidden lines, the artist brings something new to the table: a full album of her singing and raping.
Doja sets her records straight with Hot Pink, showing the industry she is a contender into the rap music industry, and also the singing industry as well, as she shows a lot of good moments when both work beautifully to compose a full track.
It might not be impeccable, in part because of all of the goofiness, but it definitely catches an eye to Doja and to her creativity and musical ability, which can leave many waiting to see what her next project might sound like.
First listen brings a final score of 74/100 and, as standout tracks, there is Say So, Streets, Shine and Juicy.
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Kesha brings old and new on her fourth studio album.
Kesha released her fourth studio album, High Road, on January 31, 2020. The project contains 15 tracks.
High Road feels a lot the freedom of kesha: a woman that is still fighting for her own rights, but who is also living her life to the fullest and with the most happiness.
This project is incredibly controversial from start to finish, mostly for the attempt of blending the old kesha, with funky sounds and rhythms with the new kesha somewhat more relaxed. The blending is very interesting but it’s also disturbing in a lot of moments of this project; it’s not like they don’t blend at all, but sometimes the raw difference between then might be a little bit too much.
Apart from this, this is a pretty decent project delivered. The hidden gems on this album are simply beautiful, the lyrics are simple, not too intricate but still catchy, even when she’s just being goofy and playful about the themes of the songs.
The whole album had potential to be something even greater, because a lot of little moments can be appreciated from start to finish and maybe it could need a better thinking in production aspects, but it’s an artistic choice that will make you love or hate it, there’s no in between.
The first listen brings a final score of 74/100 and, as standout tracks, there is Shadow, Little Bit Of Love, Father Daughter Dance and Thunder.
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Pabllo Vittar delivers a double-sided third album.
Pabllo Vittar released his third studio album, 111, on March 24, 2020. The project contains 9 tracks.
First thoughts on this project is that is seems super small for an album, but it is considered an album. Nonetheless, 111 can bring us some moments of pure enjoyment, with sassy lyrics (for those familiar with Portuguese and Spanish languages) and also some upbeat production layering is present as well.
The main problem with this project is simply this: it seems too much with so little; Pabllo approaches a lot of the extends of the pop genre, but it doesn’t do it with cohesiveness, at a point it seems that all is being thrown up just for the sick of being; it might be an artistic choice but for a listener it gets tricky to understand what the album really talks about.
We can identity two interesting paths: the pop influenced with Spanish rhythms and even Portuguese rhythms, making the songs more sultry, sassy and intricate and a more futuristic approach, with quick transitions, sound changes and big evidence of the musical parts that don’t blend together, they are just put there to make the song a whole.
This feels like a project that could had gone a lot better with cohesiveness, even with few tracks, because the little good moments in here are really intriguing and I could only wish there were more of them.
The first listen brings a final score of 61/100 and, as standout tracks, there is Ponte Perra.
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The Weeknd takes us into an emotional and nostalgic time with his fourth studio album.
The Weeknd released his fourth studio album, After Hours, on March 20, 2020. The project contains 14 tracks.
Abel was able to show us one more time how luxurious his music can be and feel. This project is filled with mesmerising transitions, interesting vocal and production layering and super personal and direct lyrical messages. It’s almost like there’s no filter at all for what he wants to talk about but after that every track is smoothly polished to our ears.
This is a pretty good album, reminiscent of the 80’s exploring in a way what could be called as the disco aspect really present in this decade: it’s not a dead on dance-type album, not like that, but you can really groove to it.
The lyrical content is also very relatable in a lot of moments provided on this project: the raw aspect of the storyline and the song messages can make people relate even more to them, as in there’s no one to impress really, it’s just your venting session and that’s totally fine.
The only downfall that this project had, due to its artistic choices, is becoming a bit monotonous at times, almost like on the edge of becoming boring; there’s to notice that a lot of moments bring new light and color but before some moments you may feel as if it’s all going the same path: which connects a bit with the not-so-dance type of album, but yes a moody album that also brings you the opportunity to groove.
First listen brings a final score of 83/100 and, as standout tracks, there is Hardest To Love, Heartless, Blinding Lights, Save Your Tears and After Hours.
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Halsey closes a manic chapter of her life and invites us to reflect about it with her
Halsey released her third studio album, Manic, on January 17, 2020. The project contains 16 tracks.
Saying that the album title fits its whole body is an understatement. Manic is, indeed, absolutely manic. With a lot of conflicting artistic choices, Halsey was able to open up in such a magnifico way about her personal struggles and a phase of her life and share it all with us, being able at the same time of explore sounds and production constructions, since the theme allows her to do that.
The execution of most tracks is incredibly interesting, where there’s a lot of moment that can hit people on a lot of different ways and generate opposite opinions about liking or disliking. However, it is safe to say that the artistic work, concept and lyrical messages on this project are beautiful and the best Halsey has conceived to us so far.
The only downfall of the project relies indeed on the experimental production, that consequently doesn’t make you love a lot of the tracks on the first listen; however, it does make you return again and again, as there are a lot of little elements and different genres for us to indulge on; and we don’t claim we hate a track, we simply grab to a part of it, but the whole project is a grower, filled with beautiful moments and a lot of highlights to the lyrics of the tracks, that are indeed the gem of this album.
First listen brings a final score of 76/100 and, as standout tracks, there’s Graveyard, You Sould Be Sad, Without Me, More and Still Learning.
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Weyes Blood prodives a beautiful jorney with enticing vocals and dreamy production
Weyes Blood released her fourth studio album, Titanic Rising, on April 5, 2019. The project contains 10 tracks.
This project is one of the projects with a magnificent opening track: it not only introduces you to the world and dimension of this album, but it captivates you at the same time.
The simplicity of the production is the major key to the spiritual journey that this project conveys, where fine melodies are intertwined and not only makes you appreciate the vocal ability showcased but also the emotions every track conveys.
It is, indeed, a project you need to get into with an open mind, this is not the one that instantly grabs to you unless you’re willing to accept that. The simple arrangement from the beginning to the end make the album its masterpiece and it’s not boring or bland, you just need to clear your head to get all those production details that make so much for the emotions and song messages.
First listen brings a final score of 84/100 and, as standout tracks, there’s Andromeda, Movies and Picture Me Better.
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Selena Gomez returns with catchy pop and hopeful messages on her third studio album
Selena Gomez released her highly anticipated third studio album, Rare, on January 10, 2020. The project contains 13 tracks.
The big highlight of this project relies on the lyrical content, as Selena gets more personal in her writing as she never done it before. Rare is, indeed, rare on the amount of personal moments we are provided with from start to finish.
However, the production and artistic choices may lay a little bit on what we can consider bubble pop, and although the tracks are mostly catchy, this approach doesn’t seem to perfectly fit with her vocal approach most of the times.
The structure of the songs are usually good, with a lot of tiny surprises in between that just let wish that there were more of those. The tracks are good, they aren’t just great and aren’t also an instant grabber for most the moments. Selena does show diversity, the problem is that the diversity gets lost in the simplicity of the tracks; it’s still there, it just needed a little more oomf to rise more.
As a project released after a 4-year break, Rare shows a more mature Selena: the album has a very hopeful and joyful feeling linked to it, and even though it doesn’t really stand out as an over the top project, can be considered indeed a point of change in the singer’s musical approach from now on.
First listen brings a final score of 72/100 and, as standout tracks, there’s Lose You To Love Me, Vulnerable and A Sweeter Place.
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As the year ends, I’ll start a tradition of sharing my 15 favorite projects
As 2019 ends, I’m able to reflect on my top 15 projects delivered this year, and I’ll do it every year from now on. Here they go.
#15 Romance by Camila Cabello
Even considering Camila’s sophomore album had questionable moments, I do think Romance brings something that 2019 was all about: experimenting sounds, blends and conventional approaches. To me, this is a project that might be able to grow as it has a lot of aspects that are pleasing, but as a whole it did lacked cohesion.
#14 Love + Fear by Marina
Love + Fear was Marina’s solo debut, as previously known as Marina and The Diamonds, and to me this project deserves to be included on the top list starting from the state of mind the singer is at this moment. The messages brought here were beautiful and her vocals are simply incredible, and a lot of tracks here end up growing on you a lot than you actually expect them to.
#13 Blood Harmony by Finneas
Finneas opened himself up to us this year with his debut EP and it did seemed like he brought some nostalgia on how good music can be; how mesmerizing lyrics can really be and grab you and also how simple production can still make the most out of a project.
#12 Cuz I Love You by Lizzo
Lizzo’s work this year was, definetly, a breath of freash air in such a good and happy mood. This project can be liked for a lot of different people because of her approach, vocal ability and whole concept of the album. Its uplifting flavor can really grow on you.
#11 III by Banks
Banks really got to take us into such a beautiful journey with III. It is amazing how much it feels she challenges the conventional in music but it still sounds so nostalgic and homely at the same time. This is a very good piece of work.
#10 Charli by Charli XCX
With her self-titled project, Charli XCX brought once again amazing flavour in what comes to the futuristic pop approach, creating very interesting bridges between production and vocals into her tracks. It does seem like a grower as well, and a introduction, per say, to a new way of music making.
#9 K-12 by Melanie Martinez
K-12 secured his belt in this listing not because of its production, even though amazing but lost at times, but yes for the lyrical content on it. Melanie is not the most talented song writer out there, but the amount of messages K-12 transmits to you, so softly directed but not too harshly given to you is the main reason you might fall in love with this project.
#8 Cheap Queen by King Princess
This was one of the best debut albums we got this year. King Princess delivered such a cohesive, amazing and beautiful body of work, full of relatable moments and surprises. This is a very interesting direction for the singer, as its proved already lyrics are excelent and production finds its way of working really good with it.
#7 WWAFAWDWG? by Billie Eilish
Speaking of debuts, Billie really created the hype for her’s, and she didn’t disappointed at all. The challenge of approaches and how these can be blended into artistry were very explored by Billie and mostly sucessfull in my opinion. This project does make you think about what music can really be in upcoming years.
#6 Truth Is by Sabrina Claudio
Truth Is is the most cohesive body of work the singer has presented yet to us. Sabrina Claudio found an amazing way of keeping a concept of an album described from start to finish, without going way too overboard on it.
#5 Turn Off The Light by Kim Petras
Turn Off The Light also secures a belt for how much it challenges musicality itself: this is a halloween themed project, and it is so beautifully arranged that you don’t need to listen to it only in halloween season. Kim braced herself and delivered amazing harmonies, runs and electro-pop sounds, not so predictable as you may think they are.
#4 Lover by Taylor Swift
In 2019 Taylor not only told us she was deeply in love, she invited us to experience it in almost every way possible. Lover brings a lot of nostalgia of how the singer used to approach music before, but also brings new elements that show she is somehow evolving; it’s blending the best of both worlds in a way. Lover is a wild ride of emotions and amazing stories, because Taylor does that in a beautifully divine way.
#3 thank u, next by Ariana Grande
Ariana brought something most of us weren’t fully expecting: incredibly personal and raw body of work. This project shaped a lot the view of music in 2019, as Ariana delivered a very r&b blended with pop sound, but in a fresher way than before, ans also her peak as an artist and as how her artistry really can shape her work.
#2 Madgalene by FKA Twigs
Magdalene is one of 2019′s gems. The way FKA created this world for us to dive in, so full of surprises and unexpected moments but also how deeply we can fall in love with her art with this project; all the constructions are non-conventional, all the approaches are made in order for you to exit wherever you are and enter this beautifully sad world.
#1 Norman F*****g Rockwell by Lana Del Rey
2019 brought Lana’s return in a bomb-like way that no one was really prepared for. Norman F*****g Rockwell comes with such perfect cohesion, lyrics, harmonies, vocal ranges, transitions, and a whole amazing vibe and state of spirit. This is without a doubt an amazing peak and an amazing body of work that is almost untouchable.
#top15#albums#music#top music#shower thoughts#lana del rey#fka twigs#ariana grande#taylor swift#kim petras#sabrina claudio#billie eilish#melanie martinez#king princess#charli xcx#lizzo#banks#finneas#marina#camila cabello
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Lana Del Rey delivers her peak and most mesmerizing work of art to date
Lana Del Rey released her highly anticipated sixth studio album, Norman F*****g Rockwell, on August 30, 2019. The project contains 14 tracks.
I don’t even know quite where to start with Lana’s most recent project. Did she outdo herself? She most definitely did, and we were not ready for it at all.
Norman F*****g Rockwell is such a beautifully composed and produced project it is mostly impossible to don’t be affected by it. The cohesiveness shows up so much from start to finish and it is incredible on a 14-track project doesn’t feel to have any type if filler track whatsoever. There are, indeed, some moments where the music won’t make you instantly fall in love, mostly because of production and artistic choices, as they make the concept incredibly strong during your whole experience.
It is safe to consider this is Lana’s peak in her career. From the amazing vocals, to the mesmerizing layering and harmonies, to the experimental-ish and playful production with random elements combined but still so meticulously planned in the way they are blended and presented. This project is able to surprise you with every song, from her vocals or from the production choices of new introductions.
As a whole project, Norman F*****g Rockwell is such a solid piece of work that it is incredibly how much art was put into it; and how fans can still connect to the soul and words that Lana sings so diviningly.
First listen brings a final score of 96/100 and, as standout tracks, there’s Norman F*****g Rockwell, Love song, Cinnamon Girl, The Best Next American Record, Happiness is a Butterfly and Hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have – but I have it.
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FKA Twigs brings a crazy spiritual journey in her sophomore album
FKA Twigs released her sophomore album, Magdalene, on November 8, 2019. The project contains 9 tracks.
There isn’t much to say about FKA’s sophomore project. From start to finish, this album is simply…..pleasant perfections. Starting from the vocal abilities, that are merged a lot of times into production, to the harsh transitions and also the harmonies delivered in between production switches make this one of the best projects of 2019 for sure.
It is without a doubt a moody album, it doesn’t have the power to grab everybody, but it does have the power of taking you into a spiritual journey, as long as you’re open minded to it. There are a lot of moments of surprise in this project, where tracks can somehow go differently than you thought initially, or then she shows her amazing vocals out of the blue and that is simply mesmerizing.
Even though the lyrical content is not the happiest ever produced, this project does makes you happy in the sense of how artistic and experimental FKA went here without pushing it to the edge of disgust and also without going overboard as that could cause tracks to get lost and the whole concept of the album get lost as well.
First listen brings the final score of 95/100 and, as standout tracks, there’s Home With You, Sad Day, Mary Magdalene, Mirrored Heart and Cellophane.
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Ariana Grande invites us into her world in the most personal way she has ever invited
Ariana Grande released her fifth studio album, thank u, next, on February 8, 2019. The project contains 12 tracks.
With her fifth studio album, Ariana delivered something both fans and outside admirers wanted for a while: an incredibly personal body of work with fresh production to the ears. The personal aspect of this project is most likely why you can feel so grabbed into it; the stories, the metaphors, the parallels, and the descriptive lyrics are simply amazing and contribute a lot to feel even more connected with the tracks.
The production blends pop with r&b into very simple and intricate approaches. What is also amazing to note on this whole album is how beautifully works a simple production, with simple vocals and the choice of a few moments of transition and element adding. I personally think this simplicity and almost perfectly lined construction makes you appreciate the music even more.
Perhaps what might contribute for this project not being a full flawless one are just some moments when the artistry might seem just a little bit off: production gets too repetitive, sonics are too pop like for the blend that is being made in here and that contributes indeed for some questionable moments, even though those are incredibly few ones. Most of the times, when Ariana wants to blend and build simple sound transitions with vocals, she does an incredible job.
Thank u, next sets what could be considered her peak so far, as every aspect of this project connected in such a more unique way and the personal value of it is really projected in a way this album can be easily stood out from her previous ones, not in a bad way for any of the projects, but yes in the sense that something new was delivered here, and that something was already wanted and it is very much appreciated.
First listen brings a final score of 80/100 and, as standout tracks, there’s needy, fake smile, in my head and thank u, next.
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Taylor Swift takes us in a ride to discover love on all of its realms
Taylor Swift released her seventh studio album, Lover, on August 23, 2019. The project contains 18 tracks.
Lover is delivered to us at a perfect timing in the year: the summer momentum seems perfect to indulge on the love stories that Taylor wants to share; Taylor is in love and we are, without a question, jealous of it.
As a remarkable point in every project, the song writing of this project is stunning. While talking about love and the infatuation your partner can have over you and how it can change your perspective of yourself, there also exist metaphors that reflect some problems we are facing on recent days; there isn’t a in-your-face approach of those matters but instead they are beautifully called out in the lyrics that Taylor does know to create.
While in a way this project might remember us of the old Taylor, with all the pop influenced sounds and all the background soft harmonies, we are also being introduced to a different Taylor at the same time: a mature, more conscient, reflective and adult person. This project really walks a lot on love of a partner, love of family, and most importantly, the love you need to have with yourself, and how you need to believe in your abilities and skills.
The downfalls of this project are for sure the whole body of work, for being too long. Of course, that the fans are getting a lot of new songs but as a concept point of view, the more tracks a project has the easier it is to identity potential flaws or points where the interest might fade. Another downfall is the production itself in some specific times of this entire album: there are some moments provided to us where the sonics might seem a little bit off, too bubble-gum pop or too experimental for the approach Taylor is giving us here.
In the end, Lover is an amazing project that truly captured a perfect representation of the different sides love can get, and how you should embrace all of them.
The first listen brings a final score of 79/100 and, as standout tracks, there’s Cruel Summer, Lover, Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince, Afterglow and Daylight.
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