Taylor wants an Oscar and scores big at the box office. J. Lo wants an Oscar and experiences the lowest point of her career. A tale of two pop star showgirls.

The cinematic experience — tied to the release of her new album — was originally expected to play in a slew of additional international markets later in October. Not anymore.

It was fun and refreshingly retro hitting up an actual record release party this weekend for Taylor Swift’s 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl. In a music landscape where artists scramble for every streaming penny, Swift still manages to feel a step ahead of the game.

True, nobody’s making much cash per stream these days, and vinyl doesn’t move like it did during its glory years. But Swift’s decision to pair her new album with a full-length film is a genius play—especially since most of the opening-weekend-only movie is just the lyrics to 11 of the 12 tracks streaming across the screen, turning each song into a cinematic event.

The lead-off single, “The Fate of Ophelia,” tips its hat to Shakespeare’s Hamlet and gets the deluxe treatment: a big-budget video and a behind-the-scenes look at how it all came together. It’s the standout on an impossibly catchy record.

Some of my other early favorites? I’m loving “Opalite,” the ballad “Eldest Daughter,” the Lenny Kravitz-vibed “Ruin the Friendship,” the Travis Kelce-inspired “Wi$h Li$t,” the Jackson 5-leaning “Wood,” and the gleeful “Honey,” which takes aim at passive aggression. These picks will probably shift and change over the coming months.

https://popculturelunchbox.substack.com/p/the-record-release-party-gets-reimagined

First 3 tracks has some topical focus on them and the hooks are passable . But right after this, the tracklist takes a nose dive.

Father Figure and Wood are uncomfortable concepts for songs. The song Eldest Daughter is straight up cringy, especially verse 1.

Her transitions from a low pitch to high pitch are poorly done.

Although the outro is a bright spot, that's because Sabrina Carpenter absolutely dominated the song with Taylor left in the dust. The production of this album makes it sounds like one big song.

Ill give the album a 6/10 with some bright spots

I have no idea what could possibly be the hit on this album lol

Please use this megathread to post your thoughts on The Life of a Showgirl, as well as any articles, news or reviews relating to the topic. Separate threads will be created for certain reviews/reactions from notable publications at the mod team's discretion. This will be sorted by new and pinned for a while to allow for further discussion.

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Reviews:

• The Guardian: Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl review – dull razzle-dazzle from a star who seems frazzled - 2/5

• The Telegraph: Taylor Swift’s new album is as sickly sweet as a Barbara Cartland fever dream - 3/5

• The Independent: Taylor Swift review, The Life of a Showgirl: As compelling as she’s ever been – the star, the ringmaster and the circus all in one - 4/5

• Rolling Stones: Taylor Swift Conquers Her Biggest Stage Ever on ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ - 5/5

• Billboard: Taylor Swift Brings the Bangers on ‘Life of a Showgirl,’ But Don’t Call It ‘1989, Pt. 2’: Critic’s Take

• Variety: With ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ Taylor Swift Has Made Such a Contagiously Joyful Record, Even Her Score-Settling Detours Sound Sunny

Interviews:

• The Telegraph: Taylor Swift: I thought I had to be sad to write songs

Articles:

• The Guardian: Taylor Swift’s Charli xcx hit job misses the point – and underscores her tedious obsession with conflict - Opinion piece by Laura Snapes

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