It’s been a cruel summer for those of us who have been hanging on Taylor Swift’s every Instagram post and spinning the appearance of holes in fences into wild theories in the months since her final Reputation Tour performance. But, after a couple of disappointing singles and enough Scooter Braun drama to last a lifetime, Swift rose to the occasion and delivered an album brimming with hits.

Her seventh studio album, Lover, has something for everyone – Swiftie or not – and it simply begs to be played at full volume. Here are my top five tracks from the new album, and some insight as to why they’re my favorites. 

1. LOVER:

“There’s a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you dear.”

The album’s title track has everything I look for in a Taylor Swift song. Soft, acoustic guitar strums, low bass tones and a sappy love storyline are at the heart of this slow jam, which calls to mind Speak Now favorites like “Back to December” and “Last Kiss,” only with a different outlook. The chorus is infectious, but one of my favorite aspects is that the song reveals a more mature side of Swift, in stark contrast with songs like “ME!” It’s about time… she’s almost 30 after all. I put this song up there with some of Taylor’s all-time greats.

2. CRUEL SUMMER:

“What doesn’t kill me makes me want you more.”

Cruel Summer is the ultimate sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs bop for folks like me who are old enough to remember when “Our Song” was on the radio. The lyrics paint a picture of what seems to me like a subtle evolution of “Love Story,” complete with waiting below windows, secrets and, oh yeah, sneaking through garden gates. Again, it’s a maturation of an earlier Taylor Swift staple. The song is so catchy, it has me restarting it every time it nears its end.

3. I THINK HE KNOWS:

“He got my heart beat, skipping down 16th Avenue.”

Good luck getting that line out of your head when you hear it with the music. I’ve always thought Taylor was at her best when writing about love lost (see “All Too Well”), but this song is an outstanding example of Taylor’s ability to capture the bliss and excitement of falling in love, too. I dare you to try and make it through the whole song without bobbing your head.

4. AFTERGLOW:

“I don’t wanna do, I don’t wanna do this to you.”

It’s “Dress” meets Camilla Cabello’s “Never Be the Same” in this bass-heavy anthem, throughout which Taylor admits fault and asks forgiveness for relationship trouble. I think it’s a song everyone can relate to, even if we don’t want to admit it. Regardless, it leaves you with the feeling that love is indeed worth fighting for, and the vocals will stick with you long after the song is over.

5. PAPER RINGS:

“Kiss me once ‘cause you know I had a long night, kiss me twice ‘cause it’s gonna be alright…”

Another song in the category of “tunes to blast in the car on your way home from class,” “Paper Rings” is a delightful earworm that celebrates love in a way that, like “I Think He Knows,” hints at the seriousness of Taylor’s relationship with English actor Joe Alwyn. The lyrics don’t resonate with me all that much, but they don’t have to. The song is just so fun, I can’t help but keep it on repeat. It brings a relatively unique energy to the album with its quick tempo, and its sound is distinctive enough to earn it a top-five spot on my list.

Jake Stevens is a graduate student pursuing his master’s degree in advertising and public relations. He was formerly The Crimson White’s editor-in-chief.