The Atlantic

'Gorgeous' Doubles Down on Taylor Swift's New Attitude

Her bubbly new <em>Reputation</em> track confirms that she’s trying on an edgier persona with a familiar musical swerve.
Source: John Salangsang / AP

The drum beat that opened Taylor Swift’s made a slow, simple, statement: “1 … 2 … 3 … and 4!” at a pace roughly appropriate for lurching along in a grocery line, with a regularity that even the most drunken campfire-side clapper couldn’t mess up. The song, kicked off her supposed first “official pop album” with a portrait of glorious naivety. Swift was the country girl just arrived in the big city, amazed by all she saw: the lights, the sounds, the . Her gait was accordingly

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