Post by @itsalexmars

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore is here with four new songs, and after my first listen, I’m not convinced this album needed to be reopened at all. “Babylon” is easily my favorite, while “Patient Zero” and “Pink Clouding” have moments I like. But “Cleveland!” might just be one of my least favorite Taylor Swift songs ever. Almost a year after The Life of a Showgirl became the biggest-selling debut of Taylor’s career, this Encore brings the album back into the conversation right before Grammy nomination voting. The problem is that commercial success and artistic quality are not the same thing, and I still don’t think these songs add the depth, perspective, or storytelling this era has been missing. After 16 songs, I’m still asking: where is The Life of a Showgirl? Full unedited reaction is up on my Sub$tack. What do you think of the Encore tracks? #TaylorSwift #TheLifeOfAShowgirl #newmusic #musicreview #reaction