Taylor Swift is an artist who honestly needs no major introduction. There is not a ton I could say about Taylor that has not already been said. She has been one of(if not the) most popular figures in Pop culture of the last 20 years. I could describe her immense popularity in so many ways that are incomparable to any of her peers. I mean, what other artist could just re-record and re-release all of her albums and have them still go number one the second time? In the history of London’s Wembley Stadium, no artist had ever played more than seven nights in a row(Michael Jackson on his Bad tour); Taylor Swift recently played 8 nights there. From her high-profile relationships with people like The 1975’s Matty Healy and the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce to her very public feuds with her former record label and manager, Taylor Swift is a pop-culture phenomenon that transcends most boundaries. Billy Joel actually likened her impact to The Beatles, as they and Michael Jackson may have been the only artists with such a profound effect on so many people at their peak. Musically, the last four years or so have been pretty interesting for Taylor Swift. In addition to re-recording a lot of her past records, she also completely changed her music style. In 2020, she dropped two Indie-Folk-esque records called Folklore and Evermore. Both these albums are highly critically acclaimed, as Taylor was praised for her musical diversity and her incredibly deep and personal songwriting. She followed this album up with 2022’s Midnights, which is a sleek ElectroPop album. Although Midnights was not quite as loved as Taylor’s previous two records, she was still lauded for her willingness to go outside the box with her sound once again. After much anticipation, Taylor Swift has finally released a new album called The Tortured Poets Department. To be frank, this album is an absolute unit. The Tortured Poets Department has a whopping 31 songs, with a run time of more than two hours. Taylor delivered as much new music as her fans could handle with this project. Similar to my write-ups on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and Future & Metro Boomin’s WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU, instead of reviewing every track like I normally do, I am going to talk about some of my top songs, and then give my closing thoughts and a rating at the end. I normally like to give my thoughts on every song on album reviews, but to save yourselves and myself from like a 15000-word essay, I will refrain from that. Some honorable mention tracks I would pick that just missed this list are ‘My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys,’ ‘The Black Dog,’ and ‘The Manuscript.’ With that being said, here are my thoughts on Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite songs are from this album, and also comment on how you feel about the album as a whole.
Fortnight feat. Post Malone
Taylor Swift starts The Tortured Poets Department with a song that contains an interesting feature. ‘Fortnight’ is a very soft song with a song that I do not think I would have expected to hear from Taylor. This song leans into the 1980-influenced New Wave/Synth Pop trend that is big right now. ‘Fortnight’ is a lot more subdued than most of the current music in this style, though. Instead of being inspired by groups by INXS, it feels inspired by groups like Berlin. The synths that drive this song are so soothing, and the beat is moderate as well. The vocals from Taylor and Post Malone on this track are not anything exhilarating, but that is okay. The toned-down nature of the vocals fit the feeling of the track super well, and regardless of the power in the vocals, Taylor Swift and Post Malone’s voices mesh nicely. On ‘Fortnight,’ Taylor and Post are singing about a secret, short relationship they look back fondly on even if they should not be thinking about it anymore. ‘Fortnight’ may have a pretty inconspicuous sound, but it still makes an impression through its lyrics, melody, and vocals.
So Long, London
‘So Long, London’ is a song that I have already seen is becoming a fan favorite from The Tortured Poets Department, and it is easy to see why. The influence of Lana Del Rey on this song is so evident. This track straight-up sounds like it could be off of Lana Del Rey’s iconic Ultraviolence album. (this Lana Del Rey influence, which comes out throughout the record, is something I will touch on more in the conclusion). As much as this does feel like a Lana Del Rey song, from the ethereal instrumental that sounds classic and futuristic at the same time to the literal tone that Taylor sings with, I have to give Taylor credit on this track. Taylor’s tone is very pretty on this track, and the way the vocals are layered throughout the track gives the song a weighty feeling that makes it hit harder than a lot of the other music on this record. On ‘So Long, London,’ Taylor is singing about how much she was hurt and torn up by her break up with her longtime boyfriend Joe Alwyn. ‘So Long, London’ is an extremely vulnerable song where Taylor channels her inner Lana to make a very powerful Neo-Americana ballad.
But Daddy I Love Him
‘But Daddy I Love Him’ is a track that has sent shockwaves through the Swiftie universe since it came out. There has been a lot of speculation on what this song is about; in a way, it sort of feels like Taylor Swift is calling out the public for their perception and scrutiny of her relationship with Matty Healy. Taylor seems to be fighting back against the backlash that she has gotten for associating with such a controversial person because he made her happy. As far as how ‘But Daddy I Love Him’ sounds, it reminds me a lot of the music from Taylor Swift early in her career. This track has a bright and bubbly Country Pop sound that makes me think of songs from her albums Speak Now or Red. I really enjoy the banjo-driven melody this track has; the other string instruments that complement this riff and the beat have a triumphant feeling that makes this song so easy to sing along to. Taylor’s vocals are strong on this track as well; the emotion in her voice is palpable. ‘But Daddy I Love Him’ is a defiant song with a lively sound that I am sure will be a smash hit.
Florida!!! Feat. Florence + The Machine
‘Florida!!!’ is probably the most unique song on this record when compared to the rest. It is also definitely my favorite song from this record, and is one I will definitely be coming back to frequently. Honestly, ‘Florida!!!’ does feel more like a ‘Florence + The Machine song than it does a Taylor Swift song. Their influence is so evident in the instrumental of this track, which feels like a modern version of the Psychedelic Folk Rock that Fleetwood Mac was known for(and that Florence is heavily inspired by). The guitar riff and drum beat that drive this instrumental are so fun, and I like how the melody fluctuates between being super intense and soft. Taylor Swift and Florence Welch both sound great on ‘Florida!!!.’ Their tones mesh so well, and each artist exhibits their range in a way that shows off how special they are. On ‘Florida!!!, Taylor and Florence are singing about a nasty breakup and wanting to start fresh, equating Florida with a place people go to escape. ‘Florida!!!’ is a cool track with a sound that stands out for Taylor that I personally dig a lot.
Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me
Whereas ‘Fortnight’ straight up feels inspired by 1980s New Wave music, ‘Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me’ feels like a fusion of that kind of music and 2000s Country Pop. The melody is driven by full and wavy Synths, but it is complemented by string instruments with a Country tint. This melody has the tone of Country Pop, but the mix of New Wave music. It makes this song unique, as it feels bright and dark at the same time. ‘Who Afraid of Little Old Me’ is easily one of the most energetic songs on this record. Even though it is not super upbeat, the instrumental still has a lot of power. The mix in this song is pretty rough(for a Taylor Swift track), which gives the instrumental more emphasis. ‘Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me’ has what is easily one of the best vocal performances of the record. Taylor Swift shows off her range on this track, which adds to its already very poignant feeling. In ‘Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me,’ Taylor addresses her haters and references all of the hate and scrutiny she receives for everything she does. ‘Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me’ is an anthemic track song that feels like it will end up being one of the hits from this album that stands the test of time.
loml
‘loml’ is probably the softest and most low-key I picked for this record. This is the kind of light and breezy Country Pop ballad that Taylor Swift originally became known for. ‘loml’ reminds me so much of songs like ‘Enchanted,’ ‘Begin Again,’ or ‘Back to December.’ ‘loml’ basically consists of a single melancholy piano riff to drive the whole instrumental. Towards the end of the track, synths and backing vocals come in to give the song a bit more life, but for the most part, this song is just that piano riff and Taylor’s voice. Taylor’s vocals on this track are delicate yet impactful. The emotion that she sings with is so palpable, making ‘loml’ hit very hard for being such a stripped-back track. On ‘loml,’ Taylor is singing about her breakup and how she feels so deceived by her former partner. ‘loml’ is the kind of sweet song that Taylor knows she excels at; this is a track that will hit the hardest with her most long term fans.
I Can Do It With A Broken Heart
‘I Can Do It With A Broken Heart’ directly follows ‘loml’ on this album. Whereas ‘loml’ may be the most toned-down song of the record, this one is probably the most energetic. Like ‘But Daddy I Love Him,’ I would be very surprised if ‘I Can Do It With A Broken Heart’ does not end up being a huge hit. This is a fun and breezy song that is so easy to dance to and sing along to. The instrumental has a 1980s Pop sound that makes me think of artists like Cyndi Lauper and Madonna. The synths that drive this melody are so entertaining, and the fast beat will get anyone moving and jumping around when it comes on. Taylor’s vocal performance on this track is not anything super special, but that is okay because the gratifying nature of the instrumental makes up for this. On ‘I Can Do It With A Broken Heart,’ Taylor is singing about working and touring while she is going through a nasty breakup. It is about fighting through the pain and living your life to the fullest even if you are down. ‘I Can Do It With A Broken Heart’ is a super enjoyable song with a good and relatable message that I am sure will resonate with so many people.
The Alchemy
When the dust settles around this album, I could see ‘The Alchemy’ end up being one of the ones people come back to and realize how good it was. ‘The Alchemy’ may not be a very lively song, but it still carries a good amount of energy. This is because of how heavy the track is. The synths that drive this melody are so atmospheric and floaty, but they still feel so hefty that they almost give the song a looming feeling. I will say that ‘The Alchemy’ is another song that does feel inspired by Lana Del Rey. Not only is the instrumental reminiscent of Lana but even Taylor’s tone and cadence are obviously at least somewhat influenced by Lana. I do not mind this, because the song does sound very good, but it is not easy to look past just how much it is the case On ‘The Alchemy,’ Taylor Swift is singing about how she came out of her depression from her last relationship to build something beautiful with her new partner Travis Kelce. ‘The Alchemy’ is a cool song that shows Taylor Swift’s diversity, even if it does sound so much like Lana Del Rey.
The Prophecy
My last pick for my favorite songs from this record is the one that probably feels the most Country to me. ‘The Prophecy’ has a sound that makes me think of 1990s Country music in particular, which is a sound that we have not heard Taylor Swift go within a very long time. When I hear this track, I think of artists like Travis Tritt or Sheryl Crow. Even though this instrumental is pretty uncomplicated, it still feels pretty dense. There is something about the somber yet warm feeling of the guitar riff that drives this track which gives the song this murky and almost intense element. This intensity is added to by Taylor’s vocals. Like the instrumental, even though her vocals are not super riveting or rangey, the tone that she sings with gives the song so much density and makes it feel so prominent. In ‘The Prophecy,’ Taylor is singing about hoping that her new relationship will yield different results, as she does not want to go through the same kind of heartbreak that she keeps going through. ‘The Prophecy’ is a lovely track with a classic sound where Taylor goes back to her roots and greatly succeeds.
The general consensus around The Tortured Poets Department as a whole has been pretty intriguing. For the most part, it looks like a lot of people were underwhelmed by this record as a whole. Taylor Swift’s biggest fans seem to love the record and I have seen some pretty positive reviews from some big music publications, but for the most part, the reception of The Tortured Poets Department has been that it is a bit of a letdown. Unfortunately, I would have to agree with this perception. I went into The Tortured Poets Department wanting to love it. Although I was not that into her last record, I have been a fan of Taylor’s in the past, and I have always been able to appreciate her immense talent. But there is just so much that drags this album down a bit for me. For one, it is just straight up too long. If the not-as-engaging 15 or so songs were cut out of this record, it would be a lot better as a whole. It is pretty impossible to make a 31-song album great all the way through, and The Tortured Poets Department does drag on for long stretches with mediocre-to-okay tracks. Also, I said I would bring up the Lana Del Rey influence on this record, and there are times when Taylor almost feels like a Lana copycat. There is nothing wrong with wearing your influence on your sleeve, but if Taylor is just going to literally sing in the same tone as Lana on super similar instrumentals to hers, I would rather just listen to Lana. With that being said, The Tortured Poets Department does have a good amount of music to love. There are a lot of very enjoyable tracks on this record, and no one can take away from Taylor Swift’s songwriting, as it is as great as ever on The Tortured Poets Department. Overall, The Tortured Poets Department is not a bad album by any means, but it is a bit of a bump in the road in her discography that does not live up to her best work.
EAST SIDE VIBES 