The Album Review Club - Week #191 (page 1286) - Harlequin Dream - Boy & Bear

Anecdotally, when I first heard Dan Campbell's (of The Wonder Years) solo All Too Well song, I said jokingly to my mate - he's gone a bit Tay-Tay there. Not realising it was a cover of one of hers! So there's that.
 
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Shocking!! TS relegates the best thread on BM to page 3 - no not that page 3!!

Rather than discuss the overhyped phenomenon, @Coatigan, the singer from Wolf People reminds me of Darroh Sudderth of Fair to Midland, if they’ve ever crossed your aural path?
 
GornikDaze said:
Shocking!! TS relegates the best thread on BM to page 3 - no not that page 3!!

Rather than discuss the overhyped phenomenon, @Coatigan, the singer from Wolf People reminds me of Darroh Sudderth of Fair to Midland, if they’ve ever crossed your aural path?
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Missed the first comma of second paragraph and was about leap to the defence of Coatigan :-)
 
GornikDaze said:
Shocking!! TS relegates the best thread on BM to page 3 - no not that page 3!!

Rather than discuss the overhyped phenomenon, @Coatigan, the singer from Wolf People reminds me of Darroh Sudderth of Fair to Midland, if they’ve ever crossed your aural path?
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Couple more swift days then we'll shake it off.
 
I've said most of what I was going to say about this album. Even a Swifty is happy to say its far from her best. Having listened a couple of times its competently sung, played and produced. I don't hate it but there is very little in it for me - but thats what I expected. She didn't make the music for me. I can't give it any more than a 4 but a bonus point for her being a very very smart iconic artist who's career will likely last decades.
5/10
 
Coatigan said:
Couple more swift days then we'll shake it off.
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You know in the video for that, she seemed to be able to take the piss out of herself a bit and possibly have some comic skills. I thought she might do a bit of a Doris Day and go into movies but I suppose why bother when the day job is so lucrative?
 
threespires said:
You know in the video for that, she seemed to be able to take the piss out of herself a bit and possibly have some comic skills. I thought she might do a bit of a Doris Day and go into movies but I suppose why bother when the day job is so lucrative?
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I would imagine she's had lessons and screen tests already.

Hollywood are always looking at ways to exploit the teen market.
 
Preliminary dates for Round #12.

As ever, please let me know if the date is an issue for you.

Round #12

17/09/2025 RobMCFC
24/09/2025 bennyboy
01/10/2025 BlueHammer85
08/10/2025 OB1
15/10/2025 Saddleworth2
22/10/2025 Coatigan
29/10/2025 GornikDaze
05/11/2025 threespires
12/11/2025 FogBlueInSanFran
19/11/2025 LGWIO
26/11/2025 Journolud
03/12/2025 mrbelfry
10/12/2025 BimboBob

17/12/2025 ***** Christmas Break Playlist ****

07/01/2026 Black&White&BlueMoon Town
14/01/2026 southamptonblue
21/01/2026 shackattack
28/01/2026 Mancitydoogle
04/02/2026 GoatersLeftShin
 
RobMCFC said:
Preliminary dates for Round #12.

As ever, please let me know if the date is an issue for you.

Round #12

17/09/2025 RobMCFC
24/09/2025 bennyboy
01/10/2025 BlueHammer85
08/10/2025 OB1
15/10/2025 Saddleworth2
22/10/2025 Coatigan
29/10/2025 GornikDaze
05/11/2025 threespires
12/11/2025 FogBlueInSanFran
19/11/2025 LGWIO
26/11/2025 Journolud
03/12/2025 mrbelfry
10/12/2025 BimboBob

17/12/2025 ***** Christmas Break Playlist ****

07/01/2026 Black&White&BlueMoon Town
14/01/2026 southamptonblue
21/01/2026 shackattack
28/01/2026 Mancitydoogle
04/02/2026 GoatersLeftShin
Click to expand...

Had something of a classic lined up for my pick but the date for my nomination makes me wonder if I should take inspiration from this week and go with a Katy Perry album!
 
RobMCFC said:
Preliminary dates for Round #12.

As ever, please let me know if the date is an issue for you.

Round #12

17/09/2025 RobMCFC
24/09/2025 bennyboy
01/10/2025 BlueHammer85
08/10/2025 OB1
15/10/2025 Saddleworth2
22/10/2025 Coatigan
29/10/2025 GornikDaze
05/11/2025 threespires
12/11/2025 FogBlueInSanFran
19/11/2025 LGWIO
26/11/2025 Journolud
03/12/2025 mrbelfry
10/12/2025 BimboBob

17/12/2025 ***** Christmas Break Playlist ****

07/01/2026 Black&White&BlueMoon Town
14/01/2026 southamptonblue
21/01/2026 shackattack
28/01/2026 Mancitydoogle
04/02/2026 GoatersLeftShin
Click to expand...
Not great for me Rob. Could you stick me into January please if poss.
 
I have sons not daughters and while I wouldn't suggest that Taylor Swift appeals only to a female audience the earlier comments about nieces etc suggests that you'll get more insight from a female fan than a male one. For what it's worth my sons weren't able to add anything constructive to the conversation.

I do have two nieces that fall very roughly into my preconceived age bracket for a Swifty but one of those is defintitely an indie kid and I'd be surprised if she was a fan and the other one rarely has much of substance to say about anything. Not that I'm particularly interested if I'm honest about what either of them think about Taylor Swift. I'm just padding...

If I was to voluntarily listen to a Taylor Swift album it would be one of the later ones that had the involvemment of the National's Aaron Dessner and in fact that is what I did do several months ago. Swift contributes vocals on a National track on one of thier recent albums and does a decent job of it. This does lend her a certain credibility and Matt Berninger obvioulsy thinks highly of her.



The comparison between her siging on this track and Evermore and the album under review are quite notable, like she has learnt to sing, or at least make more of her voice.

Predictably Speak Now doesn't do much for me. I do think there are some interesting themes, not all about her relationships but about the transition to womanhood that are as well negotiated as you maybe should expect from a woman the age she was. But those slower meaningful songs, well they're a bit of a drag. And the album is too long.

But, you've got to admire the fact that someone who might attract blind criticism as being a bit manufactured, would put an album out that stretches over an hour. No 10 songs and that's your lot that used to be the way. But of the 17 songs that I assume are the original album (before you get into various accoutic and US versions), well I didn't really like any of them. Her voice is a bit ordinary, it is pop and not for me.

And to be honest, Evermore although it is a marked change of style also didn't really float my boat. I found it a bit dull.

Scoring this album if I was just to focus on the music then it wouldn't be that high but considering her work ethic, the fact that this doesn't just seem to be churned out and the value it gives to those that it is aimed at and the attempt to tackle those themes I mentioned it seems only fair to give it a 6.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Not great for me Rob. Could you stick me into January please if poss.
Click to expand...
Round #12

17/09/2025 RobMCFC
24/09/2025 bennyboy
01/10/2025 BlueHammer85
08/10/2025 OB1
15/10/2025 Coatigan
22/10/2025 GornikDaze
29/10/2025 threespires
05/11/2025 FogBlueInSanFran
12/11/2025 LGWIO
19/11/2025 Journolud
26/11/2025 mrbelfry
03/12/2025 BimboBob
10/12/2026 Black&White&BlueMoon Town

17/12/2025 ***** Christmas Break Playlist ****

07/01/2026 southamptonblue
14/01/2025 Saddleworth2
21/01/2026 shackattack
28/01/2026 Mancitydoogle
04/02/2026 GoatersLeftShin
 
RobMCFC said:
Round #12

17/09/2025 RobMCFC
24/09/2025 bennyboy
01/10/2025 BlueHammer85
08/10/2025 OB1
15/10/2025 Coatigan
22/10/2025 GornikDaze
29/10/2025 threespires
05/11/2025 FogBlueInSanFran
12/11/2025 LGWIO
19/11/2025 Journolud
26/11/2025 mrbelfry
03/12/2025 BimboBob
10/12/2026 Black&White&BlueMoon Town

17/12/2025 ***** Christmas Break Playlist ****

07/01/2026 southamptonblue
14/01/2025 Saddleworth2
21/01/2026 shackattack
28/01/2026 Mancitydoogle
04/02/2026 GoatersLeftShin
Click to expand...
As that's the week of my Dad's birthday I suspect we will be hearing one of his favourites.
 
RobMCFC said:
Round #12

17/09/2025 RobMCFC
24/09/2025 bennyboy
01/10/2025 BlueHammer85
08/10/2025 OB1
15/10/2025 Coatigan
22/10/2025 GornikDaze
29/10/2025 threespires
05/11/2025 FogBlueInSanFran
12/11/2025 LGWIO
19/11/2025 Journolud
26/11/2025 mrbelfry
03/12/2025 BimboBob
10/12/2026 Black&White&BlueMoon Town

17/12/2025 ***** Christmas Break Playlist ****

07/01/2026 southamptonblue
14/01/2025 Saddleworth2
21/01/2026 shackattack
28/01/2026 Mancitydoogle
04/02/2026 GoatersLeftShin
Click to expand...
Perfect thanks.
 
Rob, can I please swap with either gornink or spires, that particular week bumping forward might be a toughie for me. Rather than affecting everyone else, might just be easier a localised swap.
 
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Coatigan said:
Rob, can I please swap with either gornink or spires, that particular week bumping forward might be a toughie for me. Rather than affecting everyone else, might just be easier a localised swap.
Click to expand...
Round #12

17/09/2025 RobMCFC
24/09/2025 bennyboy
01/10/2025 BlueHammer85
08/10/2025 OB1
15/10/2025 threespires
22/10/2025 GornikDaze
29/10/2025 Coatigan
05/11/2025 FogBlueInSanFran
12/11/2025 LGWIO
19/11/2025 Journolud
26/11/2025 mrbelfry
03/12/2025 BimboBob
10/12/2026 Black&White&BlueMoon Town

17/12/2025 ***** Christmas Break Playlist ****

07/01/2026 southamptonblue
14/01/2025 Saddleworth2
21/01/2026 shackattack
28/01/2026 Mancitydoogle
04/02/2026 GoatersLeftShin
 
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