People say it's because it's "safe pop", and they're right because pop is a safe genre, it has always been and always will be, but knowing how to make GOOD pop makes the difference. Not everyone can pull off "safe pop" and be praised for it, there are many examples of that, you need your own personality and good songwriting to back it up, and Taylor has that, she's always been an excellent songwriter with a distinctive style, her songs are only hers and only she can pull them off, no matter who's the producer. 1989 deserves its praise and success, it's a pop album but it's ****ing great, that's what matters.