Excited to take on the release date of yet another Taylor Swift album, my original intent was to write a review and an inside look on the album. But, as the clock struck 11 pm EST music platforms welcomed 15 extra tracks (additional to the 16 on the announced album); the industry was hit with a double album. Clarity was restored when the Chairman of THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT (TTPD) herself (Taylor Swift) released a statement in addition to the songs. The forever brokenhearted Swift writes “I’d written so much tortured poetry in the past 2 years and wanted to share it all with you,” further explaining the context and timeline of not only the extra songs but the album itself.
Somehow, someway, folklore and Midnights (previous Swift albums) crossed paths and hit it off, because this album is a product of the two sounds, concepts, and ideas. As Swift’s first breakup album since Red (2012) she delivered with quite the album. Containing grown up themes (compared to her 20-year-old self during Red) such as alcohol, sex, and overall maturity toward life and her career, the album takes on a precocious reputation as a spectacular piece. Predictably, the media has split between whether this is one of her stronger or weaker albums; the albums strengths outweigh the “weaknesses” masked beneath a breathy voice and folk pop tone the majority of pop listeners turn their noses up to. With more mello instruments and some fictional/historical imagery pertaining to the past, pieces of folklore shine through (assisted by the gray and white visuals the album takes on. The infatuated Swift and dreamy pop nature of Midnights shines through with songs such as “But Daddy I love Him,” “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” “So High School” and others. Contradicting, although the album hits at past works, people, and ideas, the sound is overall new.
My personal favorite songs so far (as of April 20) are “So High School,” “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” “thanK you aIMee,” “The Bolter,” and “The Manuscript.” Next issue, once the dust has settled and the Chairman has become comfortable, I will write more in depth about the tracks and ideas this album brought to life. As for now, so long London, and so long Shield readers.