Hello Swifties! The time has officially come! Taylor Swift’s new album The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD) officially dropped last Friday, April 19. Taking a brief break from releasing her re-recorded albums, Swift opened a whole new rebrand to her persona. Few artists have captured the hearts and minds of audiences worldwide quite like Taylor Swift. With each new release, she navigates the complexities of love, loss, and self-discovery, weaving together intricate narratives that resonate with listeners on a deeply personal level. She continues to captivate her fanbase with a whirlwind of surprises. The unveiling of TTPD Swift once again proved her to be a master of her craft.
At its core, TTPD is a testament to Swift’s evolution as both an artist and a storyteller. Still one of the most influential songwriters to this day, she uses her lyrics to reflect on the growth of her audience. The album represents a bold departure from Swift’s previous work, offering listeners a glimpse into the darker corners she once had to hide. As she continues to re-record and release her vault tracks, she reveals the deep and utter pain that she faced in the music industry.
Recently, she has begun writing collaborations with unlikely artists to extend her expertise. TTPD journey begins with “Fortnight,” a collaboration with Post Malone that sets the tone for the album with its allegorical lyrics. She then leads listeners through the title track of the Tortured Poets Department, which is a metaphor to the realm where the ghosts of literary devices go.
The title track serves as the album’s emotional centerpiece. It is unlike any other track she has released, which offers a whole new rebrand to her work. She delves into the tortured souls of the poets who came before her and relates it to the previous losses in her love life. Many Swifties believe this album is hinting not just to the end of her six year run with Joe Alwyn, but also her alleged rendezvous with English songwriter, Matty Healy.
Throughout the album, Swift draws inspiration from a diverse array of literary sources, such as Sylvia Plath, Emily Brontë, and Virginia Woolf. Each track is individually crafted to build a metaphor to some of their famous works. She compares her imagination and heartbreak to the principles of their art.
One standout track from the album is “Guilty as Sin?,” a haunting meditation on morality and redemption. Aspiring readers and poets may recognize Easter Eggs of inspiration from Dostoevsky’s classic novel, “Crime and Punishment.” In the chorus, she fights with the weight of her own guilt and limerence. Controversially, many of these songs allude to the Biblical crucifixion. These choices of words are arguably used to compare the weight of her self-sacrifice for all of the ones she loved before. After all, who wouldn’t feel that way after being forced to hide the ending of a six year long relationship?
She tastefully yet concerningly reveals this secret through one of her top played songs on the album, “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart”. The irony of the song is built with a concerningly heavy verse and pre-chorus, yet the mood of the chorus is set with a playful, whimsical tone. The irony of the dark lyrics shows her pressure to place a smile on her face even when she is mourning.
But perhaps the most daunting aspect of TTPD is its anthology, or the surprise release of a second part to her album. Placing the total track list up to 31 songs, Taylor Swift announced and dropped the second part of her new album just two hours following the initially TTPD release. Songs such as “The Black Dog,” explores the depths of depression and despair with raw honesty and vulnerability through retelling true life stories of her past.
One of the most surprising collaborations on the album comes in the form of “Florida!!!” featuring Florence + the Machine. Even Disney’s advertising team already ran to take advantage of this track! This unexpected pairing results in a hauntingly beautiful track that captures the essence of Swift’s exploration with Florence Welch’s ethereal vocals blending into the second verse.
The album draws to a close with “The Manuscript,” a beautiful piano ballad that lays the album to rest. It is evident that TTPD is not just another Taylor Swift album. Her ability to profoundly recite the storytellers before her and tie them into personal experiences continues to highlight her as a top artist of her time. If you haven’t placed your headphones on and listened to this new masterpiece, what are you waiting for?
 officially dropped last Friday, April 19. Taking a brief break from releasing her re-recorded albums, Swift opened a whole new rebrand to her persona. Few artists have captured the hearts and minds of audiences worldwide quite like Taylor Swift.){kind=link}