In 2006, Taylor Swift was just another out-of-nowhere chick country singer who had little to no substance as far as I was concerned. Swift’s name wasn’t more than a buzzword in my musical world until she released 1989 in 2014. That was when I first heard something that turned my head and made me stop. I had never heard someone who started playing one music genre make such a drastic creative change. While I didn’t love the music, I was more than impressed with the growth I heard. That said, I continued not giving her much more thought until 2023.
During an interview last year with Peter Stuart from ’90s alt-folk band Dog’s Eye View, he mentioned that one of his favorite albums in a long time was Taylor Swift’s Folklore album. He urged me as a singer/songwriter to listen; when I did, I was so blown away. Based on the musicianship, lyrics, and overall vibe, I couldn’t believe this was Taylor Swift. From there, I purchased its follow-up album Evermore, Midnights, and finally, her new release, The Tortured Poets Department.
I excitedly placed my pre-order for The Tortured Poets Department vinyl, and when it came in, I couldn’t wait to put it on. The opening song, “Fortnight” (featuring Post Malone), absolutely put me in the zone. It’s a lush, mellow, beautiful piece that showcases Taylor Swift’s lower register voice. Hearing her sing like this is breathtaking, and combined with the breathy, easing voice of Post Malone, it created a sleepy 2 am vibe that strangely worked well as an opening number.
The double record set continued with diverse songs covering much ground. With all the vibe of an electronic dance song, “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” breaks up the more mellow, earthy beginning. “So Long London” mixes folk-like lyrical content and a steady and somewhat meditative underlying beat, creating a foundation for lush strings and keys. Swift’s voice takes on a more airy, vulnerable voice, making it seem so transparent that I felt like I could see through her.
“Florida!!!” is hands down my favorite song on this album. With the help of Florence Welch from Florence & the Machine on duet vocals, Florida!!! is a song full of character, charisma, and attitude. One of the many things I love about this song is that I feel like I caught yet another glimpse into Taylor Swift’s mind and saw the life around her from her perspective. When she sings, “And my friends all smell like weed or little babies. And this city reeks of driving myself crazy,” it’s something I think we can all relate to as we hit a point in life where the people around us are changing and sometimes doing so that has them growing away from us.
The closing track, “Clara Bow,” is a solid testament to not just Swift herself but the many women in any industry who have had to deal with the concept of being a replacement for someone. Swift mentions that when she was a young woman looking for a record deal, people would tell her that she could be the next <insert name of artist here> and that it would take her far. Taylor herself just wanted to be the first Taylor Swift. She chose Clara Bow as the main character of this story, along with rock icon Stevie Nicks, because they were uncompromising. They did their work by being themselves, which over time left a significant impact on the entertainment world by paving the way for female artists such as Taylor Swift to march to her drum.
I could sit here for hours and write about this fantastic album. If you haven’t heard The Tortured Poets Department, run, not walk, to the store or your favorite streaming platform and listen to it. What you hear will more than likely surprise you and exceed any expectations that you may have about Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift is in this for the long haul and will undoubtedly be joining the ranks of Clara Bow and Stevie Nicks. She inspires a whole new generation to think for themselves, be themselves, and make as much noise as possible. Even I, a 50-year-old metalhead, find a lot of inspiration in the work of Taylor Swift, and that, my friends, is the sign of a genuinely great and prolific artist.
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