No One Asked, But Here Are All of My Tortured Poets Department Thoughts

Also can we all slow down and enjoy the art first?

Happy Friday! I typically share Weekend Recs on Fridays, but this week was a weird one where I didn’t have much time to consume anything to recommend. Instead of sending lukewarm recs, I’m sending out my silly thoughts on Taylor Swift’s new album. I rarely miss sending out a Friday newsletter, but I hope you’ll understand and allow this to be a bit of a fun break in format. I’ll be back with recs next week. Have a great weekend. 💖 -Alisha

---

No One Asked, But Here Are All of My Tortured Poets Department Thoughts

It turns out, like Taylor, I have a lot to say…

down bad (photo: jack antonoff)

First, a short vent: Can we all slow down for a second and enjoy the art first before forming an opinion? There's pressure these days to quickly consume and share opinions about the latest music/show/movie/book without taking the time to process it properly (I blame social media). The morning of The Tortured Poets Department’s release, the New York Times’ critical headline was being parroted by everyone: “Oh, she needed an editor on this one.” That’s fair, but what else? I want interesting takes! I want to know what dedicated fans think! I want the gossip!

The sheer amount of content you could consume without consuming the art itself is overwhelming, so I had to consciously avoid it this time around. I could have spent hours scrolling Reddit megathreads, reading that one article by The Cut that listed all of the Easter Eggs, listening to podcasts that do album recaps, or looking up what Charlie Puth thinks about his name drop…but you guys, I am tired! And my time is limited! I wanted to enjoy the album in peace! I clicked away from everything, and I’m so glad I did.

I shared my favorite tracks from The Tortured Poets Department on Instagram earlier this week after spending five-ish days listening to it and nothing else (I pasted my list at the bottom of this post, too). It turns out I have a lot more to say, so I wanted to expand on my list of favorite songs and talk more about the album in full, the critical reviews, and…Travis Kelce.

And lest you think this rant is me gearing up to defend this album against its critics…not quite.

My thoughts on the album…

Overall, I love this album. It took me a few listens to get there, but it’s some of the best lyrically she’s produced. Yes, it’s lengthy, but after folklore and evermore came out, I got the sense that Taylor Swift, more than ever before, wants to get things off her chest through her songwriting—and she has a lot to say. She’s arguably the most famous celebrity on the planet right now (aside from Beyoncé), is at the top of her game, and is going through several public heartbreaks and scandals. Her primary way of communicating with the public, her lovers, her critics, and her fans isn’t through giving interviews anymore; it’s through her songwriting.

She also knows that not every album is going to win a Grammy or be appropriate for stadium tours, dance parties, or viral TikTok clips (though “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” definitely feels like TikTok bait…). Sometimes, an album just needs to exist because it’s her only way to communicate and settle scores. And given how quickly this album came out after Midnights, my guess is she had a lot she wanted Matty Healy specifically to hear…like, immediately, lol.

the smallest man in the world 💀

Most of the songs on this album feel like pages ripped directly from her diary, and I think that’s classic Taylor and what makes up her best music. The specificity, the rawness of emotion. Yes, some of it is corny, at times juvenile, a little too tragic, but that’s the nature of a diary and processing emotions in real-time as a hopeless romantic. ~Sonically~, I agree with the critics that there are several songs on the album that blend in with one another and\ aren’t doing anything fresh or interesting. Honestly—and it pains me to say this, as a big fan—I could do without the last nine songs on the album. (Also please, dear god, I am tired of the Kim Kardashian feud!)

This is what’s frustrating—there are singular songs on the album that are incredibly well-produced and musically interesting. So Long, London stands out as one of the best I think she’s ever written and produced. But when it’s jumbled in there with all the other 30 tracks with no editing of the really strong pieces, the masterful work gets lost, and listeners (and reviewers) are left wondering what to do with it all.

So TL;DR - my opinion on the album isn’t all that spicy. I agree with critics that she needed an editor to create a more cohesive-sounding album. But again, I don’t think her aim with this one was to produce a critically acclaimed album. As a big fan, I loved listening to every song carefully, looking up the lyrics, and reveling in this expansive universe and secret language she’s created over eleven albums with references to many recurring themes: love as religion, sorcery, colors that coordinate with various past lovers, and so on.

The WSJ published a very fair review that with this album, “all roads to meaning lead to Ms. Swift, a boon to those obsessed with her celebrity that leaves the rest of us behind.” I get why people may not enjoy TTPD as much as her other albums. It’s a perfect album for her superfans who can triangulate between her full repertoire and, thus, decode her full history of heartbreak.

Please / I've been on my knees / Change the prophecy / Don't want money / Just someone who wants my company

— “The Prophecy”

And my “hottest” take…

I shared on Instagram that this album confirmed for me that Travis Kelce isn’t “the one.” I got a lot of fair DMs wanting me to elaborate. So here is what I mean by that… (Big disclaimer that this is all just silly fan speculation and it’s really not that serious! I do not know these people! I’m sure Travis is a nice guy! But it’s fun to talk about. :))

(continued after the paywall to protect my peace 😂)