Taylor Swift's 12th album, "The Life of a Showgirl," shows she's still at the top of the cultural mainstream. The album, released Friday, features upbeat pop tracks and a return to the fold of Swedish producers Max Martin and Shellback.

The album's themes explore fame, perception, love and Travis Kelce's podcast with witty lyrics and catchy hooks. Swift's dense vocabulary shines, though sometimes it feels a bit too much.

Overall, the album captures the glitz and glamour of her "Eras Tour" with humor and humanity.

The New York Times called the album the singer's "Eras Tour victory lap."

"The star’s power and reach has grown with each of her releases," wrote Ben Sisario. "Now she’s following her record-breaking live show with her 12th original studio LP."

Rolling Stone gave the album fi

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