Taylor Swift has been releasing country pop albums since 2006 but it wasn’t until 2012’s Red was released that she became a household name. Now, the 24-year-old is perhaps the biggest pop star on the planet – and it’s justified.

Her fifth album 1989, named after the year she was born, shakes off the shackles of her Nashville background to offer up a straight pop album, full of singable hooks, memorable choruses and empowering lyrics.

She answers her critics in the ultra-catchy Shake It Off, addresses a former lover (Styles), writes from the perspective of the cartoon Taylor the media has created for her (Blank Space) and much, much more, all while having the most fun possible.

1989 is a blast – exciting, clever, danceable and puts Swift several leagues above her competitors.