Taylor Swift’s twelfth original studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” has already been rated a perfect one hundred by Variety and Rolling Stone, and it’s a new look for this generationally talented hit singer.

According to Rolling Stone journalist Maya Georgi, “With her twelfth studio album, the musician shoots into a fresh echelon of superstardom — and hits all her marks.” 

Three out of four of Swift’s latest albums have all been far from her usual pop and country themes. Both “Evermore” and “Folklore” were  considered folk and indie pop, and her previous album, “The Tortured Poets Department” had a melancholy and lyrical feel to it. 

But compared to this new album, it’s a completely different sound.

Produced by Max Martin and Shellback, who are both Swedish producers (More recently produced Taylor’s album, Reputation), it sounds very pop with tiny bits of soft rock, and 80s synth wave. As well as more emo parts with songs like “Eldest Daughter” and “Father Figure”.

This trio hasn’t worked together since 2016, giving them 8 years to grow and develop into the sounds and lyrics they are known best for. 

On the New Heights podcast, Swift said, “I essentially said to them [Max Martin and Shellback] I want to be as proud of an album as I am of the Eras Tour, and with the same reasons.”

A personal favorite from the track list  is “The Fate of Ophelia”, which is about Swift and Shakespeare’s Hamlet, who drowned herself when she couldn’t have the man she wanted, lyrics like “You dug me out of my grave and, saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia”. Lines like these can be compared to her and Travis Kelce’s blossoming relationship, and how he saved her from Ophelia’s fate.

This album comes after Swift has wrapped up her critically acclaimed Eras Tour. While not confirmed if all of these songs are all from her touring days, there are some that can be connected to it.

More notably, “The Life of a Showgirl” tells the story of Swift coming into her performing self with a feature of Sabrina Carpenter (who also just wrapped up her Short n’ Sweet tour). In this song, a fictional character named Kitty, who is also a showgirl, is giving Swift and Carpenter advice–but telling them they will never be on the same level as her, something they are trying so desperately hard to reach. This adds to the aesthetic and mystery of the dwindling population of showgirls.

The album ends with an emotional audio clip directly taken from an outro to the final Eras Tour show in Vancouver.

“Thank you for an unforgettable night! We will see you next time, give it up for the band, the dancers… that’s our show, we love you so much, goodnight!” says Swift.

One thing’s for sure, even without the album or tour, Swift has cemented herself as one of the showgirls of our generation.