The Audacity and Triumph of Taylor’s Versions – Plus, Rob Sheffield’s Taylor-Song Rankings

“Nobody’s tried this kind of insane project before,” says Rob Sheffield in the new episode of Rolling Stone Music Now, which is devoted to a discussion of Taylor Swift’s re-recording of her entire catalog — Red (Taylor’s Version) is, of course, the latest — as well as Sheffield’s newly updated ranked list of Swift’s songs. “I mean, it’s completely bizarre,” Sheffield adds. “It’s like if Paul McCartney in the Seventies went back and redid…  Rubber Soul.”

To hear the entire episode, press play above, or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Sheffield is joined by Brittany Spanos and host Brian Hiatt for the discussion, which, among many other topics, also explains why so much of Swift’s most recent work has taken over the top spots in Sheffield’s ranking. 

Download and subscribe to our weekly podcast, Rolling Stone Music Now, hosted by Brian Hiatt, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts), and check out three years’ worth of episodes in the archive, including in-depth, career-spanning interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Halsey, Neil Young, Snoop Dogg, Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, Rick Ross, Alicia Keys, the National, Ice Cube, Dua Lipa, Questlove, Killer Mike, Julian Casablancas, Sheryl Crow, Johnny Marr, Scott Weiland, Liam Gallagher, Alice Cooper, Fleetwood Mac, Elvis Costello, John Legend, Donald Fagen, Phil Collins, Justin Townes Earle, Stephen Malkmus, Sebastian Bach, Tom Petty, Eddie Van Halen, Kelly Clarkson, Pete Townshend, Bob Seger, the Zombies, Gary Clark Jr., and many others — plus dozens of episodes featuring genre-spanning discussions, debates, and explainers with Rolling Stone’s critics and reporters. Tune in every Friday at 1 p.m. ET to hear Rolling Stone Music Now broadcast on SiriusXM’s Volume, channel 106.