We hereby conduct this review of Taylor Swift’s 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” This album includes 31 tortured and poetic songs, unlike anything Swift has done before. 

Listening to this album feels like reading someone’s diary. It’s honest, gut-wrenching, humorous and messy. It’s not a perfectly polished album, instead, it is raw and genuine. 

The record was released at midnight EST April 19 with 16 songs. Two hours later, “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology” came out with 15 additional songs. 

Fans were expecting a devastating album as Swift publicly broke up with her boyfriend of six years, Joe Alwyn. While many songs seem to be about him, fans were surprised that most are about Matty Healy of The 1975, with whom Swift had a fling following the breakup. 

Swift’s dating life is constantly under scrutiny, but since these relationships were so public, it is impossible not to talk about the exes who inspired this work. 

Swift and Alwyn were constantly surrounded by rumors that they got married, engaged, or were having a baby. This album contains many references to marriage or the lack thereof, squashing those rumors while alluding to her heartbreak from not achieving those milestones.

But she also nods to her relationship with Healy with song titles that look eerily like songs by The 1975, such as “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)” and “imgonnagetyouback.” 

She also has a couple of songs that seem to reference her current relationship with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, “The Alchemy” and “So High School,” both of which have plenty of nods to football. 

Many of the songs allude to her discomfort with her constant time in the spotlight. Notably, “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” talks about her time performing at The Eras Tour during her painful breakup.

Sonically, much of the first half feels like part two of her previous project, “Midnights,” because many songs on the album were produced by long-time collaborator and friend of Swift, Jack Antonoff, the primary producer of “Midnights.” 

Antonoff added some incredible touches to the album, such as the sound of in-ear monitors in “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.” 

I enjoyed Antonoff’s influence, but this album would have been nothing without producer Aaron Dessner. His influence shines in the second installment of the album, bringing songs reminiscent of fan-favorite albums “folklore” and “evermore.” 

“The Tortured Poets Department” will not resonate with everyone, but its maturity, honesty and unique sound make it Swift’s greatest project. 

Official Score: 10/10

Categories: Arts & Entertainment