The Tortured Poets Department Review: Tongue-in-cheek, vicious and Swift’s most personal album yet ★★★★★ 

6 mins read

“All’s fair in love and poetry”, declares Taylor Swift in the written intro to her latest album, THE TORTURED POETS’DEPARTMENT, a deliciously tongue-in-cheek journey through the tumultuous few years for Swift as she went through both a heavily publicised break-up and relationships.  

Opener, Fortnight (ft. Post Malone), informs the listener immediately that this isn’t Midnights 2.0 with Swift describing herself as a “functioning alcoholic” and referencing murder. The mid-tempo synth-pop tune is the lead single from the album and features backing vocals from Post Malone, who helped write the piece.  

Swift in the Fortnight music video

“The breakdown of Swift’s long-term relationship”

The title track, The Tortured Poets Department, sounds direct from an 80s film soundtrack and highlights the satirical nature of the album name. “You’re not Dylan Thomas, I’m not Patti Smith. This ain’t the Chelsea Hotel, we’re modern idiots”, she self-deprecatingly sings 

My Boy Only Breaks His Favourite Toys sounds closest to earlier pop albums such as 1989 or Reputation, while Down Bad is a lower-key bop which will cater to fans of Midnights. 

So Long, London is a devastating track 5 about the breakdown of Swift’s long-term relationship with Joe Alwyn. The pulsing rhythm and Swift’s vocal delivery add an anxious tension to the song. And the inclusion of voices singing like church bells is one of the more experimental choices made on the album.  

Tortured Poets black-and-white photoshoot

Fame

Many of the tracks tackle themes of fame and parasocial fan relationships. “God save the most judgmental creeps who say they want what’s best for me, sanctimoniously performing soliloquies I’ll never see” on But Daddy I Love Him. Others take on media rumours (“That I’ll sue you if you step on my lawn. That I’m fearsome and I’m wretched and I’m wrong. Put narcotics into all of my songs and that’s why you’re still singin’ along.”) On the reputation-esque Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? And the limit of fame (“You look like Taylor Swift, in this light we’re loving it. You’ve got edge she never did.”) on album closer Clara Bow. A song that strongly recalls earlier songs like Nothing New & The Lucky One from Red (Taylor’s Version). 

Florida!!! and Guilty as Sin are other album highlights with Swift even mentioning Scottish band The Blue Nile on the latter track – a sultry, upbeat number similar to Lover‘s track, False God. Florida!!! which features Florence + The Machine is a wild ride with the title being emphasised in-track by pounding drum rhythms.

THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT has proven to be somewhat of an acquired taste, but long-term, and potentially new, fans will appreciate the bold new sound, personal lyrics and moments of experimentation. 

The Anthology

Written by Anna Nová

19th of April struck and Taylor Swift’s fans did not even get a chance to catch their breath after listening to the her new album The Tortured Poets Department as the star songwriter released extra 15 songs titled The Anthology at 2 in the morning.

Swift announced the initial album at the 2024 Grammy’s with ‘peace sign’ hand gestures signaling to fans that something else (The Anthology) was brewing

In The Anthology, we get an extended version of what Taylor Swift would have us believe reveals her inner private love life in great detail. Songs like imgonnagetyouback or The Albatross both seem to fall into Swift’s usual but freshly new repertoire. Their fast and rhythmic tone brings us back to albums like Lover or even Midnights in a certain well-known way. However, most of The Anthology seems to be composed in a rather melancholic manner. Taylor achieves this by using a subtle piano tune in the majority in the songs such as “How did it End?” which urges one to feel the emotions that it brings out, even to a greater extent.

I Hate It Here makes one feel understood and heard. Taylor once again sings about feelings that are undoubtedly relatable. From being fed up with one’s usual routine and environment, to the inevitable tendency to dream about a better place to be, perhaps a better future. Who could not sympathise with that? 

A song that has caused people to gasp at its clear message has been Taylor’s thanK you alMee which at first, thanks to its subtle sounds, resembles a track from the Fearless album. But, many have rumoured about the undeniable links to Kim Kardashian. 

Although many magazines have called Taylor’s new album “chaotic”, one thing is clear: Taylor yet again managed to deliver a set of songs where you cannot help but recognize her. The music, be it the original album or The Anthology, lives up to its name. You get Taylor’s most tortured parts of her life in a form of heartfelt poetry.

Featured Images Credit: UMG

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He/Him
Arts Editor 24/25
Press email: arts@brignews.com

Anna Nová
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