Taylor Swift strikes gold again, going for deep cuts in her 11th studio album. This album broke the Spotify record for the most streamed album in a day with more than 300 million streams, one day after its release.
Swift's relationships seen through this album have not been completely private, but Swift lets new feelings and emotions be shown to the light in this new piece. The album also features collaborations with Post Malone on the track “Fortnight” and artist Florence + the Machine on “Florida!!!”
Highs
The song “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart” can take the listener through a heartbreak at the worst time in your life. For Swift, this meant going to her job on stage every day for her sold-out Era Tour concerts while dealing with a devasting heartbreak. The lyrics “All the pieces of me shattered, as the crowd was chanting 'MORE!' I was grinning like I'm winning, I was hitting my marks 'cause I can do it with a broken heart.” The juxtaposition between the lyrics and beat is what makes this song stand out, and also what makes it amazing.
The song follows a synthesizer beat that truly shows the fake smile to make it through, which Swift even references in the lyrics “They said 'Babe, you gotta fake it till you make it.' And I did," confirming the energy of the song. The inner ear cues Swift would be getting on stage adds another layer to the song.
The little things Swift does in individual songs give this album the deepest cut. The call and response in “So Long, London” is majestic. A low thrumming chord mixed with the sing-talking melodies throughout the song gives it a special sound. The lyrics “I’m just mad as hell cause I loved this place. For so long, London” are used in two ways; I loved this place for so long and so long, London, intertwining themselves.
The way Swift breaks the fourth wall throughout also adds a type of humor and that feeling people relate to. The most notable one can be seen in “But Daddy I Love Him,” with the lyrics “I’m having his baby, no, I'm, not but you should see your faces,” referencing the listeners.
Another of these special things is the song “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” which is pure feminine rage in a bottle. “If you wanted me dead, you should've just said." Each time asking who is afraid of me, something that you made like this with the comments, jokes, and hate, “I am what I am cause you trained me.” I could go through small and big lyrical visualizations throughout the entire album, but these songs truly have a lot of lyrical skill and worth you have to hear to love.
Lows
The way the musical choices take time to digest. Some of the album's production is very distinct sounding with some songs being heavy on synthesizer and then some heavy on piano. Since there are distinct differences at first listen, this album falls to the fate of the one listen through. Even though I loved the lyrics at first listen, I found myself not loving the whole piece after. But once you hear the connectedness of stories and patterns throughout, you never know why you didn't like it to begin with.
Verdict
This album is a special look inside Swift's mind and heart, and it shows in volumes. From relatable emotions of betrayal, love, and sadness, everyone can relate to a song or emotion off the album.
I give “The Tortured Poets Department” a 10 out of 10.
