Meghan Trainor - “Takin’ It Back” album review
She made us look, and she made it look easy.
Meghan Trainor is back with her third studio album in three years and has once again blown listeners away with her genre-bending melodies and lyricism.
Trainor, who turns 29 this year, has been a trailblazer in the music industry in terms of her advocacy for body positivity and female independence.
With smash hits such as”Title,” “All About That Bass,” “Me Too,” “Dear Future Husband” and many more, fans of Meghan Trainor (affectionately known as members of the ‘MTRAIN’) have been eagerly awaiting her newest release.
Tracks on the new album, “Takin' It Back” feature Trainor as she’s never been seen before. Songs like “Mama Wanna Mambo” feature Arturo Sandoval, a world-famous Cuban-American musician, best known for his work on the trumpet, piano and for his composition. Alongside Sandoval, the song features Natti Natasha, a famous Dominican singer. These two features on the track allow Trainor to expose her audiences to these entrancing Caribbean and Cuban sounds, and it is incredibly well written and performed.
A large overarching theme throughout the album is a new take on Trainor’s signature brand of body positivity. Following the birth of her son Riley in the last year, Trainor has been incredibly open about her struggles with finding herself beautiful during and following her pregnancy. Songs like “Made You Look” see Trainor explaining to her fans how, ultimately, she discovered that she was even more beautiful thanks to her pregnancy. Trainor reiterated that it’s not about the external beauty, but the internal beauty that truly matters at the end of the day.
The album has an immense level of replayability, and has had a massive impact on social media platforms such as TikTok, where songs like “Dont I Make It Look Easy” and “Made You Look” have become international dance trends. This traction is crucial to Trainor’s growth, and it is evidently paying off as she is one of the most followed and liked artists on the platform.
Trainor has more than exceeded fans expectations with both the production of the album, and the rollout in terms of promoting the album. Listeners were thrilled to discover that Trainor partnered with popular mobile game Candy Crush to debut her music video for the track 'Made You Look'. Trainor was animated to match the style of the game, and fans were elated to see Trainor’s unique integration into such an iconic staple of mobile gaming. Innovative tactics like this are a surefire way to keep fans engaged, and is just one example of Trainor’s genius.
Undeniably, the album is a 10/10. It is classic Meghan Trainor, and it stands among the other titans of her discography, including the likes of Title, Thank You, and A Very Trainor Christmas. Trainor has a perfect balance of slow ballads and pop-anthems, while still maintaining a sense of cohesion amongst the signature Trainor spunk and style.
Rating: 10/10
Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: Made You Look, Shook, Don't I Make It Look Easy
Reviewer’s Least Favorite Songs: N/A
Ethan Berman is a third-year majoring in film & television. To contact him, email ethanberman@psu.edu.
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Ethan Berman
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