Taylor Swift’s newest album, “The Tortured Poets Department” offers listeners a unique blend of rich storytelling, lyrically reminiscent of her previous works like “Folklore” and “Evermore,” with a touch of synth-pop akin to “Midnights.”
I enjoyed the album, though I wish there had been more variety in the music as many of the songs had similar ambience and instrumentals. The lyrics made each song stand out, but they had to be listened to closely to stand out among the 31 songs released.
Several songs resonated with me and nearly made me cry. Ballads such as “The Prophecy,” “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me” and “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” pulled on my heartstrings. These tracks all had lyrics that reminded me of my diary entries and I believe any listener of this album can find a song that speaks to them in a similar way.
A standout among my top three is “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” because it is about her time on the Eras tour during her breakup with Joe Alwyn, according to Elle. She sings about pushing through the pain because she has to, and who hasn’t had to put sadness aside every once in a while to accomplish something?
The line, “I cry a lot but I am so productive, it’s an art,” is a good reflection of the college experience of trying and working towards specific goals. The line stands out not only from the song, but from the whole album. It shows how Swift was performing mind blowing concerts while struggling emotionally, which makes it all the more relatable.
While many of the songs are more bittersweet, the album is not without parts that made me laugh. In “But Daddy I Love Him,” Swift sings, “I’m having his baby / No, I’m not, but you should see your faces.”
While this was not my favorite album, (that title belongs to “Folklore”) it is up there due to the sheer beauty of the lyrics. It lacks songs I can dance and scream to, like from “Red” or “1989,” but it is an album ideal for a rainy day, spent listening to music and just soaking in the lyrics.
Like always, I recommend giving the album a listen, because with 31 songs, a listener is bound to find one they enjoy and relate to on some level. I know I did, and definitely sobbed to them too.
Elizabeth Secor is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted on Twitter @esecor2003
