"Sam Lansky from Idolator was conflicted but hopeful about the departure from Swift's typical sound, remarking that "the hook isn’t quite as immediate as 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together', but Martin's stamp is still all over 'Trouble', from the bright, sparkly instrumentation to the keen, radio-friendly melody.There might be a little part of us that misses Swift's very personal and idiosyncratic songcraft, but it's already clear that it's elsewhere on the album — and the introduction of these all-star producers into the mix is giving Swift a chance to show that she’s way more versatile than just a girl with a guitar."