Whatever she’s cast as, Taylor Swift remains a juggernaut, more impervious with each release.
Her sixth LP, while not quite a Yeezy-style renaissance, is awash with clinical, top-shelf electro pop: a far cry from her cutesy country roots, as she, along with A-List allies Jack Antonoff and Max Martin employ R&B cadences and trap soundscapes to add ballast to her well-worn balladry.
The icy electronica of I Did Something Bad sees her channel Grace Jones, while Dress is an R&B masterclass, enough to shake off the tired tabloid posturing.
• Taylor Swift. Reputation. Universal.
• ★★★★ (out of five)
Single download: Dress
For those who like: Grace Jones, with added insecurities
— John Hayden
