Taylor Swift has always been a star who splits opinions, and her newest album seems to keep that tradition alive. Since its release at midnight on Friday, October 3, The Life of a Showgirl has received a mix of reactions from music critics. Some have applauded her incredibly sharp songwriting. Others, however, feel it just doesn’t measure up to fan favorites like Red from 2012, 1989 in 2014, or 2020’s Folklore. It seems even a superstar like Swift can’t please everyone all the time.
Across the pond, some reviewers found little to celebrate. The British newspaper The Guardian gave the album a mere two out of five stars. Rock and pop critic Alexis Petridis noted the album "lacks melodies and continues to reek of resentment." He wondered if "romantic satisfaction simply translates less powerfully than vengeful post-breakup bitterness," suggesting it might have been rushed or that Swift, at 35, was simply tired, "which would be entirely understandable." The London Standard was even harsher, giving it only one star. Their headline slammed Swift’s "phallic metaphors and poor little rich girl tales." Associate editor India Block even questioned if she was "accidentally listening to a parody album." She lamented that the 14-time Grammy winner’s famous lyrical skill "seems to be going in reverse."
Taylor Swift Republic Records
Not all reviews were so tough. Rolling Stone awarded Swift’s twelfth studio album a perfect five stars. Associate editor Maya Georgi praised the singer, saying she "ascends to a new level of superstardom and hits the mark every time she tries." Georgi found Swift’s lyrics "funnier than ever" and also "bolder than ever." The song "Wood" reportedly includes playful double meanings about her fiancé Travis Kelce’s "manhood" — ahem. Also, "Actually Romantic" is widely rumored to be a tribute to fellow artist Charli XCX.
Variety joined the praise chorus, stating that Swift is "in a league of her own." Chief Music Critic Chris Willman wrote, "Nobody does it better, now or in any recent memory, when it comes to delivering world-dominating pop that conveys all the emotions and doesn’t skimp on reflections." Willman celebrated the album’s "radiance." He called "Ruin the Friendship" "one of the prettiest songs Swift has ever written." He also gave a nod to the "absolutely pleasing" production by Max Martin and Shellback.
Even The New York Times chimed in with approval, naming The Life of a Showgirl a Critics’ Pick. Pop Music Critic Jon Caramanica described the project as "a deceptively modest set of songs about the facade of fame and what it takes to tear it off and get past it." Caramanica felt Showgirl offered "a more cohesive form of chaos" than Swift’s previous two albums. He mentioned Midnights from 2022 and The Tortured Poets Department from 2024. However, he admitted he still longed for "a radical turn" like her 2017 album, Reputation.
Despite these mixed signals from critics, fans wasted no time tuning in. Swifties and casual listeners alike embraced the new music. Less than 11 hours after its debut, Spotify announced that The Life of a Showgirl had already broken a record. It became the most streamed album in a single day for 2025 so far. That’s show business for you.