Here’s how you can listen to Taylor Swift’s album ‘Red’ for free
Now’s a great time to be a Swiftie. Taylor Swift just released a new recording of her 2012 album Red. Red (Taylor’s Version) comes just a few months after the rerelease of her breakthrough album Fearless. Taylor Swift’s re-recorded albums are an attempt for her to control her music publishing. In 2019, talent manager Scooter Braun bought the rights to her original masters.
With Red (Taylor’s Version) available everywhere, the album is accompanied by music videos. Taylor Swift recently made headlines by directing a music video for her song “All Too Well”. The short film, which you can watch for free on YouTube, stars actors Sadie Sink & Dylan O’Brien. Many believe that the song & video are a coded message about her ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal.
Along with Taylor Swift getting into directing, she’s also enlisting the help of the Hollywood elite to make content for her album. Blake Lively directed the music video for “I Bet You Think About Me” off of Red (Taylor’s Version). While Taylor Swift is trending for re-releasing her old records, there’s also plenty of new music out there for you to enjoy.
Donda (Deluxe)
Taylor Swift’s longtime rival Kanye West just released a deluxe version of his newest album Donda. His long-awaited tenth solo studio album was a hot topic this year, especially after his divorce from Kim Kardashian. Overall, Kanye seems to be entering a newfound state of creativity after his split with Kim K.
Despite the hype surrounding Donda, the album received a mixed reaction from critics. Pitchfork gave the record a six, having said the “album arrives barely finished and with a lot of baggage. Its twenty-seven tracks include euphoric highs that lack connective tissue, a data dump of songs searching for a higher calling.”
Kanye’s recent live performances echo the artfulness of his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy & Yeezus years. Perhaps West is entering a late-career renaissance. We’ll have to see what kind of content he puts out going forward.
CRAWLER
U.K. post-punk group IDLES have steadily risen since their 2018 breakout Joy as an Act of Resistance. The band is now one of the most popular rock acts in the world, yet still has the appearance of not having sold out. Their fourth album, CRAWLER, might be their best shot at a mainstream crossover. They’re considering this new record as their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CRAWLER comes just a little over a year after their 2020 album Ultra Mono. While IDLES can be considered a political band in many regards, their pop sensibility is undeniable. For CRAWLER, IDLES got hip-hop producer Kenny Beats to co-produce the album. The result is a rock record that sounds nothing like anything else in the genre right now.
Mitski’s newest singles
After Pitchfork & New York Magazine called her 2018 record Be the Cowboy the best album of the year, it seemed like Mitski couldn’t rise any further. However, the publicity & touring surrounding her previous album drove her to the brink of her musical career. This year, Mitski released two singles off her upcoming album Laurel Hell.
“Working for the Knife” & “The Only Heartbreaker” combine Mitski’s signature moody voice with her ear for modernist production. After nearly a decade since her debut album Lush, Mistski is still exploring new sonic territories. She’s even announced a world tour that will start in the U.S. early next year.
—
You can listen to the album Red (Taylor’s Version) for free on YouTube. As 2021 comes to a close, there’s still plenty of good music coming out. What’s your pick for album of the year? Let us know in the comments!
