Incandescent Glow

The problem with critics is that they have to churn out their album reviews in so little time. I completely understand the root of this problem and I have no idea on how it could be fixed though. But yeah, having such a pressure to build a thoughtful critic in such a short time will naturally lead to external opinions influencing yours. I mean, wasn't it for Rihanna's ANTI that a critic revealed they basically had the entire review written down before the album was released and all that was left to do was basically insert song titles? That's how dire things are. If every publications were not allowed to release a critic within like a week or so, I'm sure the overall quality of every critical piece would be far better and far more fair, no matter which way. And obviously don't put stans or haters of an artist in charge of the review (we see you Rob Sheffield and whoever wrote for Paste magazine's TTPD review).

There's a few tracks that have been improved with the TV though: Out Of The Woods, This Love, I Know Places and Wonderland. But also I've always been of the side that doesn't care if a re-recording didn't sound good because the OG didn't disappear so I could just listen to that if i didn't like the new one. Style TV might be atrocious but I just listen to Style OG and move on with my day.

Excellent stability. Looking like it's shaping up to be a (big) hit. And funnily enough, increasing pretty much everywhere but the Anglosphere. Oh Tayglobal.

Well now that is a point I will definitely not argue with. I share the exact same sentiment that pure pop just doesn't let her core talent shine as much.

First, I gotta say that it's just wrong to argue that she didn't chase commercial success when she released folklore. This album has 10 vinyl variants, which is the most of any of her albums outside of Showgirl with 11. She was releasing signed CDs for multiple weeks to keep the #1 on BB200. cardigan received tons of remixes (let alone willow for evermore) to get to #1. Regardless of the genre of her music, she's always chased commercial success. I also don't think she's ever compromised the sound she made for success. At the absolute peak of her popularity, she made and released TTPD which is much more of a mellow, sad, nostalgic and lore-heavy album (which makes it basically the most "for the fans" album of her entire catalogue) instead of releasing something that is a lot more bright and uptempo like Showgirl which would have been a much easier way to capitalize on her popularity. She just makes what she wants to make. And despite all the success of Eras/TTPD, for all its flaws, Showgirl was somehow still a response to the critical reception of TTPD that was judged too slow, too sad, too dramatic and too long and made a much brighter and shorter album. The critical reception of Showgirl being mostly centered around songwriting, and with most of 2026 being her talking about songwriting, it appears clear to me that she took that criticism to heart and is gonna course correct. Of course there's the possibility that she can fumble the bag. There's always that possibility. But to me as long as she takes the creation of TS13 seriously (which we know she will lbr), I have nothing to worry about. And even if like you try to argue, commercial success is the only thing motivating her, then she knows she has to please the fans with TS13 because otherwise the repercussion for the rest of her career could be bad, it's TS13 after all, every fan has huge expectations for it. You're saying that people keep streaming her music regardless, but the only songs this era that received traction are Ophelia, Opalite and Patient Zero (so far), which imo are all good to great pop songs. But most of the album tracks have been tanking (for her standards ofc) and that's a clear difference from the rest of her discography where the most beloved tracks are more often than not the album tracks. Showgirl only has Ruin The Friendship in that category. So there's also clear commercial indication that this album really isn't pleasing the fans like the previous ones.

Well because not only Showgirl is just one album, but also because she has already bounced back tremendously well after a low in terms of songwriting (Lover -> folklore). And there's absolutely no logic behind the line of thinking "judging by her recent material" because otherwise, once an artist releases a bad album, it's over for them, which is not reality. I know this website's favorite sport is to undermine Taylor's monumental gift in the songwriting department, but I don't, so I am perfectly confident in TS13's potential to be excellent.

There's 6 good songs on it between the standard and deluxe, but no career highlight. And there are 5 of the worst songs in her catalogue. So a very disappointing album for someone as talented as Taylor. Ultimately, it's fine that she just released a head-empty album. She would have at some point anyway, like any artist. I'm just glad she got it out of her system before TS13.

The fact all the TVs are at least 4X Platinum when the OGs are at least 9X Platinum.

When I read this thread, I wonder if some people actually realizes that there's no physicals?

Very happy about the music video. The dialogue doesn't even bother me this time. It really looks amazing. Her best directed work.

But if you wanna party with somebody who might know About the devil on his shoulder under his halo When the toxins take their hold, you'd rather die than let it go But if you're sick of him, I got you, I was patient zero The way I've been turning this up at every occasion. To give my two cents on the current mental illness going on: I guess I understood it for the OG album (wasn't enjoying the hate either, like it was going waaaaay too far for what it was, you'd think she was murdering people instead of releasing music), but this level of hatred coming from these deluxe tracks that are completely inoffensive... I don't get it. And I'm not even a fan of the deluxe. I love Patient Zero, I can enjoy Cleveland even if it's objectively not great because that chorus is fun, and don't care for the other two (the fact they seem to be the fan favorites perplexes me because I don't get it, but whatever). Do I think that the Deluxe was necessary? No. Patient Zero is great but it doesn't fit on the album so she could have (/should have) kept it for another project. But it's also not something to be mad about. I'm more like in a "let's wait for what's next" type of attitude. The one thing I'll complain about though is if this deluxe prevents us from getting Debut for the 20th anniversary. I was really looking forward to that as a celebration but I'm afraid the deluxe has killed that plan.

The criticism I will give of Patient Zero though is that it has absolutely no place on Showgirl. I've been trying to make it fit somewhere and it's just not working for me (but lowkey same thing with Ruin The Friendship so maybe it's just the curse of the best songs of the project not really fitting). Like it's neither Showgirl themed, nor I love Travis, and the production is something that feels really different from the rest of the album. Doesn't stop me from looping the song though.

I'm sorry but **** off already. I am the biggest TTPD fan and a Showgirl hater but these 4 tracks are at least fine and certainly don't deserve a whole ass meltdown over it. You've made your point clear, now get over that pick me energy ffs.

Cleveland lowkey starting to hit now that I'm awake and it isn't 6AM anymore. That chorus is just so pleasing. Patient Zero is also one of her best pop singles. Doesn't enter the pop pantheons of 13/10s like Blank Space and such, but still a very great 10/10 from me. I cannot get that violin outside my head. But it's only a wonderful bridge away from reaching the highest highs. I hope the other 2 will grow on me because they seem to be some of the fandoms favorites but so far they do nothing for me. It's not like I hate them either, but they are just kinda there for me.

The song is truly excellent imo. Like thank you for this. I can't wait to see the MVs that looks incredible to accompany it.