Global superstar Taylor Swift has once again won over audiences with her new album, The Tortured Poets Department. A year and a half after her last album, Midnights, the 14-time Grammy winner has released a two part, 31 song album. The album comes with collaborations, a new sound, and captivating lyrics. It explores themes of addiction, family, and haunting love.
With TTPD, Swift shows a new side of her music. This album is more muted than her previous albums, combining folk and pop to create a sound that is nostalgic and sad. There are memorable ballads, like So long, London and The Albatros, and belters like Florida!!! and I Can Do It With a Broken Heart. The more muted sound really makes the most outstanding music pop in her album.
Throughout the album, Swift demonstrates her lyrical expertise, crafting vivid imagery and narratives that resonate with listeners on a personal level, myself included. So High School and Peter are two tracks that I think resonate with us high school students. They bring a sense of longing and wistfulness that hits us right in the feels.
In addition to her solo efforts, Swift collaborates with Post Malone on Fortnight, bringing in depth and a new sound that compliments hers. She also brought in Florence + The Machine on Florida!!!, creating dimension and a haunting sound from Florence’s powerful voice. These collaborations solidify Swift’s status as one of the most versatile artists in the industry.
The album’s titular song The Tortured Poets Department has caught the attention of many, mostly because people expected more. The actual music itself is a little repetitive and flat, and some of the lyrics like “I scratch your head, you fall asleep/like a tattooed golden retriever” are a little strange. That said, I think the rest of the album does show her musical genius with lyrics like “He said he’d love me all his life/But that life was too short/Breaking down, I hit the floor/All the pieces of me shattered as the crowd was chanting, “More” ” in I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.
As fans have eagerly devoured her new songs (with over 200 million streams in the first 24 hours alone!!) Taylor Swift continues to make waves, if not tsunamis, in the music world, pushing the boundaries of her craft and inspiring millions of listeners across the globe. The enchanting melodies and heartfelt lyrics from this new album are sure to leave a lasting impression on the music industry and listeners for years to come.
