hip to be swift

Her early work was a little too country for my tastes, but when Red came out in '12, I think she really came into her own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. She's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Taylor has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor. In '14, Taylor released this: 1989, her most accomplished album. I think her undisputed masterpiece is "Shake It Off", a song so catchy, most people probably don't listen to the lyrics. But they should, because it's not just about the pleasures of conformity, and the importance of trends, it's also a personal statement about Taylor herself. Hey, Paul!