29 Comments
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Christina's avatar

I actually didn't think this post was all over the place. I totally followed where you were going and enjoyed the ride. Thanks for the great read!

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

Thank you for reading!!!

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Liesl's avatar

I adore your preorder swag! Both of those artists never miss with their work! Burning question, though: what is Carolina Battery's mascot?

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

Imagery and logos for them often use a cannon because they're playing off the naval base/Battery in Charleston thing. BUT I see their mascot as being one of those random creatures where you don't quite know what they are, like Gritty or Raymond (for the Rays).

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Liesl's avatar

That's much cooler than my initial idea of someone dressed as a giant 9-volt battery! I just Googled Raymond the Ray and now think that he should be as popular as Gritty; that's an impressive collection of facial hair!

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Jill's avatar

See the fact that she capitalizes KIM in the title just makes me think it’s not about her but she’s okay with you thinking it is. I am a little crazy though 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

ha -- I like that theory!!

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Nicole Waite's avatar

You’re invited to any and all future convos I may be blessed enough to have with Kate

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

I need a frequent flier miles plan to keep up with you!

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Amber's avatar

I'm so glad you mentioned being unsure of the album on your first listen. I was kinda like "yeah its fine, nothing special tho." But I relistened to it and definitely like it so much more now. I think my favorite song atm is Black Dog but also maybe The Bolter. Also love all the swag reveal, you are too good to us!!!

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

I was a little distressed at first, like "oh no, I don't like it!!" But I think it growing on me a little slower has actually made it a richer experience. I'm glad you like the swag!!

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Christina's avatar

It was *a lot* to take in all at once.

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Julie Tieu's avatar

The swag is so cute!

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

Thank you!!

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Cath's avatar

The swag! I am already mentally standing in front of my bulletin board, figuring out what is going to be replaced. 😍 The Rescuers Down Under reference! To this day I bemusedly say "don't hurt yourself, Frank" when family members are strain at something. And I almost wrote about Taylor this week too! But I haven't even listened to TTPD in its entirety, lol

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

It's a lot to listen to!! And I'm so glad that The Rescuers Down Under reference hit lol

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Sarah's avatar

I've been wondering whether the TTPD Anthology songs are basically "from the vault" songs but in real time (as opposed to on a re-release like with the TV albums). I could absolutely see, after having the experience of releasing the TV albums with their vault tracks, Taylor not wanting to hold back songs from TTPD like she might have previously. (This observation from someone who only started really listening to Taylor Swift's music in this, my 40th year of life, and therefore is woefully undereducated about the TS lore. 😂)

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

Yes, I think that's a really good point! I was also thinking about the "from the vault" songs and how our expectations are different going into them because like, we KNOW they didn't make the album. So if they're doing something very similar to another song on the album, we're not mad about it because we're like, "Yeah, that's why she didn't use it." But then it changes the context when you release all the songs at once. I don't know, it's interesting!

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Christina's avatar

I thought some of the them may have been evermore/folklore leftovers. Especially some from the Anthology extras.

In any event, I will never say no to more TS songs.

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Sarah's avatar

Makes so much sense.

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Sarah's avatar

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived is my favorite song on this album. I may have listened to the bridge approximate 17 times in a row while catching up my business accounting last week. 😅

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

It Does Something to you!

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Alexis Davis's avatar

Weezer!! Is doing a Blue Album tour! In Austin they are playing with Flaming Lips and Dinosaur Jr. which seems like it should be a fun time. Anyway, thanks for the dive into Taylor, I’m loving reading all these!

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

We were thinking of trying to get tickets when they come to Florida in September!

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Amanda Sellet's avatar

I just finished WHAT IS LOVE? too and it rocked my world! SO FUNNY AND SMART! The platonic ideal. I need to read her Phantom book asap.

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

ALL her books are so good tbh but What Is Love? just might be my favorite!

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Lolatron's avatar

A lot of the song titles made me think Taylor may be a romance reader, but then that line "like a tattooed golden retriever" made me go YES! She definitely is! (I mean, that's probably all the proof we're going to get.)

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Cath's avatar

I like to imagine her with a burner ig account, following all her fave authors

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Alicia Thompson's avatar

I feel like she HAS to be!!!!!

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