Divide was a big let down, I can't stress that enough. Castle on a Hill is okay, at least, but fuck, that album is just disappointing. I know it's the cool thing to hate Sheeran now, but I was a big fan of Plus and especially Multiply, so I was stoked for Divide. And it's just bad.
Look What You Made Me Do and whatever the hell the one where Taylor raps is bad, but I don't think I have ever made it any secret that Taylor Swift is just not for me. Even through her changes, she never was an artist I enjoyed, but I feel like with what she releases now as compared to a decade ago, I can look back on that and see the appeal. It's very singer-songwriter, definitely captures the spirit of a teenaged girl, and clearly appeals to that demographic. It does have a certain cheesy, youthful charm. And it's very relatable. But this stuff? I don't get it. I'm not saying she has to be relatable all the time or stick to the same stuff, but it doesn't feel as personal as it once was. And that's coming from someone who has never enjoyed her music.
With the obvious out of the way, I didn't really listen to a lot of music this past year, so it's hard to comment. I didn't enjoy Katy Perry's Witness, apart from a few songs. DJ Khaled's Grateful had fun singles, but the album as a whole is a fucking slog to get through. It's just too damn long and tends to run together. Maroon 5 always gets on my nerves and SZA did not need to be dragged down and into that song. Body Like a Back Road is just?? Weird??? I know what he's going for there, but it just isn't very flattering. If I got told I had a body like a back road, I would assume I'm looking lumpy. Give me a body like a POM bottle. At least with that, I know it's smooth and has shape. A shape I can't possibly make with my body, but I'll take that over a fucking back road.
And I hate to do this to a track that has, from what I've read, increased calls to the suicide help hotline. However, I'm inclined to believe it's not the song itself that does it, but the fact the number is so openly available as a pop song title. But that "who can relate!" line needs to fucking go. Like yeah. I can relate. But why is THAT in the song... I appreciate the idea here, but you gotta. Leave some shit out. That can go. I may be giving this one line too much shit, but honestly...it has NO place there.