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Taylor Swift: Reputation (review)

Maybe in a couple of decades when we look back at Taylor Swift's Reputation, we'll see it for what it is: a solid if unspectacular set of pop songs.

Evan Sawdey

Music

Taylor Swift's Talent Remains Intact on 'Reputation', Her Most Focused, Most Cohesive Album Yet

The double-edged sword of success — and the fame and fortune that have accompanied it to stratospheric levels for her — inform many of the songs on Reputation, possibly the most anticipated album of the always-intensive fall season.

Randy Lewis

Music

The Flipside #7: Taylor Swift's '1989'

With "Look What You Made Me Do" and other songs soon to be plastered over the airwaves, the Flipside boys look back on Taylor Swift's 1989 and whether it lives up to its reputation.

Brice Ezell and Evan Sawdey

Music

The 58th Grammy Awards: Authenticity Is the Hardest Thing to Fake

Amidst the numerous deaths of pop music icons, we thought the Grammys might do something soulful this year. Lamar and Howard, at least, gave us what we needed.

Music

Guessing the Grammys 2016: Expect Weirdness

Speculating on the nominees' odds in a dozen big categories.

Television

PopTalk: The Poptimism and Rockism Debate

In 2015, the "poptimism vs. rockism" debate has inspired a rash of thinkpieces and Twitter arguments. Is this debate actually saying anything, though?

Brice Ezell, Evan Sawdey, Nathan Stevens

Music

Ryan Adams by Taylor Swift: Authoring '1989'

Even if you've never heard Swift's original performances, you're hearing them when you listen to Ryan Adams perform 1989.

Music

Ryan Adams: 1989

Save a few tweaks here and there, Adams' 1989 never gets too bold, his covers sounding more like curiosities than clever reinventions.

Music

Is Taylor Swift the New Michael Jackson?

Is Swift’s 1989 having the biggest impact on the pop culture landscape since Michael Jackson’s Thriller?

Jon Bream

Music

Taylor Swift - "Wildest Dreams" (video) (Singles Going Steady)

Is "Wildest Dream" excessively clever? Overly sophisticated? Ironic? Earnest? Anything?

Music

Taylor Swift's '1989' Tour Isn't Full of Bad Blood, It's Full of Heart (Photos)

Taylor Swift can't help but make new friends everywhere she goes. The 60,000 people who saw her each night at the Meadowlands can attest to that.

Music

Apple Changes Its Tune for Taylor Swift: What Have We Learned?

Taylor Swift: “This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success.”

Ryan Faughnder

Music

Apple Music to Taylor Swift and Indies: "We Hear You"

Leave it to Taylor Swift to get Apple to change its stance on music royalties.

Ryan Faughnder

Music

From the Bleachers to Cheer Captain: The Devolution of Taylor Swift

Whereas universality and populism mark Taylor Swift's early years, with her recent LP 1989 she has become the cheer captain she once railed against.

Michael Green

Music

The High Art of Disownership in 'Death Sentence: London'

Death Sentence: London is quite possibly the most important work of 2015.

Comics

PopTalk: The 2015 Grammys, "True Artistry", and Meme Culture

The latest PopTalk podcast takes a look at whether or not, as Kanye West suggests, the Grammys and awards culture in general can or should care about "true artistry".

Evan Sawdey and Brice Ezell

Music

Pop Ten

"Pounding Humility into You Permanently": On Anthony Bourdain

Say It Loud! 100 Great Protest Songs: Part 1 - Beethoven to Janis Ian

Say It Loud! 100 Great Protest Songs: Part 2 - Steve Reich to the Sex Pistols

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