There is no such thing as a perfect test track – music is just a tool that allows us to do our jobs and help recommend a range of products to help you make informed buying decisions. This is why we thought we would mix things up a bit, with a list of our favourite test tracks from arguably the biggest pop and country act on the planet, Taylor Swift.
SHAKE IT OFF (1989, 2014)
One of Swift’s most peppy, poppy tunes, its lively tempo is a fine test of rhythmic ability, and if your feet don’t find themselves automatically tapping along, there’s something seriously wrong. It is also a nicely balanced number, punctuated by a looping drum beat that sounds solid and weighty but also keeps enough distance between itself and the rest of the ensemble as to not intrude. If your headphones tend to overemphasise lower frequencies, you will more than likely hear it overpower the rest of the track. Similarly, if they are on the bright side, there’s plenty of percussion that can catch them out.
NO BODY, NO CRIME FT HAIM
(EVERMORE, 2020)
We could play this country murder balland endlessly and never get tired of it. Swift’s vocals harmonise beautifully with Haim’s trio of singers, and your wireless headphones or earbuds should be detailed enough to pick out the subtle textures of everyone’s voices. Those smooth, layered harmonies are coupled with a great sense of rhythmic drive and dynamics that should keep you hooked on every lyric. If you are not entirely engrossed in the storytelling, you might want to level up to a more capable pair of headphones that can dig out detail, dynamic expression and spacious atmosphere in a more mature, accomplished way.
MAROON (MIDNIGHTS, 2022)
Maroon announces itself with a couple of hefty drum hits which sound quite foreboding, but there is plenty of subtlety to this slice of dreamy synthy pop. Swift’s lyrics display an array of emotions from sadness to trauma to a tinge of anger. Combine this with a line of instruments that slowly surround her and it will take skill and finesse from your headphones to communicate this clearly. There’s a steady pace to the track but it’s not the bassiest of offerings. There are, however, significant pauses and silences – your headphones will tee up the rhythm but you are left to fill in the gaps, and whether or not you arrive at the next note on time will be down to just how accurately they follow those rhythms.
EXILE (FOKLORE, 2020)
Its simplicity makes it a compelling
