At 12:00am on April 19th, Taylor Swift released her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department. Not only did Swift release the 16 tracks that she previously shared the titles of with her fans with the track list, but also she released 15 extra tracks in what she calls The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. The 16 original tracks alone would have been an impressive feat, but with these bonus tracks, Swift has once again left her fans speechless with her immersive and soul-stirring songwriting.
The Tortured Poets Department takes listeners through a one-of-a-kind listening experience filled with all kinds of emotions. Swift goes from upbeat songs with addictive beats such as “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” to absolutely heart-wrenching tracks such as “So Long London.” Specifically, “So Long London” has already become a fan favorite, with its clear ties to her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. The song acts as a sequel to her upbeat love song “London Boy” on her 2019 album Lover. These connections make the song even more heartbreaking as Swift sings about the feeling of trying your hardest to make a relationship work but having to move on nonetheless.
Another song that has quickly become a fan favorite is “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” This track has some similarities to songs from her 2017 album Reputation. In the song, Swift takes a stance against her critics, a common theme during her Reputation era. That being said, the song is also reminiscent of some tracks in Folklore (2020), with its deep reflection on her past experiences. In this way, Swift takes two of her most popular yet completely different albums, Reputation and Folklore, and combines them into a song relatable to people all over the world.
In the end, Swift has once again blown critics away with songs that grapple with one of the music industry’s fundamental questions – how does a person deal with a broken heart? Through her increasingly impressive prose and stunning imagery, Taylor Swift has made an album that has become a favorite among both casual listeners and die hard “Swifties.” As Swift continues to make music, it is exciting to think of what she comes up with next.
