Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poets Department - Album Review
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- Опубликовано: 21 апр 2024
- For this album review... it's the 'most' Taylor Swift album, for better and for worse.
Best Songs: 'So Long, London’, ‘But Daddy I Love Him’, ‘Florida!!!’ ft. Florence + The Machine, ‘Guilty As Sin?’, ‘Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me?’, ‘The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived’, ‘Clara Bow’
Worst Song: ‘My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys’
Anthology:
Best Songs: 'The Albatross’, ‘Cassandra’, ‘The Manuscript’, ‘The Black Dog’, ‘The Prophecy’, ‘The Bolter’
Worst Song: 'Peter'
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Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poets Department - Album Review (pop)
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Spectrum Pulse is a music review / commentary channel, like colleagues Anthony Fantano of TheNeedleDrop, ARTV, Dead End Hip Hop, Rocked, Deep Cuts, Crash Thompson, Brad Taste, and plenty others, known for discussions of music, movies, art and culture.
Spectrum Pulse, music, review, 2024, album, album review, react, reaction, Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift review, Taylor Swift album review, Taylor Swift reaction, Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department review, Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department reaction, Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department album review, Fortnight, The Tortured Poets Department, My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys, Down Bad, So Long London, But Daddy I Love Him, Fresh Out The Slammer, Florida!!!, Guilty as Sin?, Who's Afraid of Little Old Me, loml, I Can Do It With A Broken Heart, The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, The Alchemy, Clara Bow, The Black Dog, imgonnagetyouback, The Albatross, Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus, How Did It End?, So High School, I Hate It Here, thanK you aIMee, I Look In People's Windows, The Prophecy, Cassandra, Peter, The Bolter, Robin, The Manuscript
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I appreciate Taylor wanted to surprise her fans, but I feel like she should’ve released ‘TTPD’ and “The Anthology” separately. They have such different sounds and unless you really gravitate towards her more personal cuts, it definitely drags near the end. I’ve always liked how she channels experiences from her personal life into her music, but the songwriting here is captivating in places yet extremely flawed in others. Overall, while I admire Taylor as both as artist and a person, I can’t really see myself coming back to much of this even if I think it’s decent, although this is also an album where I’m very interested to see what everybody else has to say, so hopefully the comments section can remain civil and respective of all opinions. Good review, Mark! ❤️
Agreed. TTPD feels more like Midnights/1989, whereas The Anthology feels more like folklore/evermore. Two completely different sounds
That’s why I really haven’t listened to the anthology tracks. I heard them once just to see the vibe, but I’m stuck with volume 1 until further notice because I really want to process both things separately. I will always see them as two different projects.
@@angelant96 Yeah, I think it'll take me weeks, or even months, to process everything entirely from both sides of this album.
I see why its the back half of an album instead of its own thing honestly. The 2nd half feels very unfiltered and doesn't have the same polish as her other lyrical focused albums like Folklore. I think it would turn out different if she decided to release it alone.
I feel like most of her audience gravitates towards her deep cuts, isn’t that one of her strengths?
Honestly, I think it can't be argued that this is her best writing by a large measure. Whether or not you think that means they are her best SONGS is entirely subjective. Artists like Taylor, who have covered lots of different sonic soundscapes throughout her career, will mean certain people will enjoy her writing skillset more in a particular sound, and therefore, this album won't work for everyone.
I think what is bothering me most is the inability to see how funny she's being here. We seem to hold her to a standard where her lyrics can't be satirical, silly, goofy, and cringe, or else she's lost the plot. She's so painfully self-aware of herself, how is it not obvious she's in on the joke? The cringe or silly lyrics are literally the point.
As for taking a break or over exposure, I think Taylor honestly knows all this and has decided to go full throttle intentionally. She's aware people are sick of her, but I think she's also seeing unprecedented success and interest, so she's decided the backlash is worth it. She's become so overly productive and intuitive in the way she makes albums that she's just listening to her own inner voice and making what she wants and not questioning the other stuff. She truly is too big to fail at this point, and the demand is insane so I think she's decided to just keep going until the interest finally wanes and recedes. That will annoy some people, but in the end, her legacy is cemented.
1000% yes! People thinking she’s being 100% serious and all of these songs are clearly missing that these are some of the most tongue and cheek song she’s ever written
Wow… nearly 40 minutes! Is that the longest album review that Mark’s done? Very excited to hear what he has to say. Always respected his style of analysis! 😊
Nope, there's that Kendrick Lamar album review that REACHED 40 MINUTES lmao
@@ruke2566 Oh yeah, just checked and it's exactly 40 minutes to the second! 😅
I don't think there's a critic with his vocabulary of wit and thought he puts into his reviews. That's why he's my inspiration for music commentary.
Agreed! He inspired me into doing reviews on the UK chart page a few years ago. :)
This is such a fair and thoughtful review. I enjoyed listening to your thoughts.
Woah imma grab some popcorn to watch this review!
Always love hearing your thoughts on Taylor's music. Youre so real.
On the tourtured poets department being an awful title, i think its meant to be, ive seen ppl say its very 2014 tumblr (notably a website Taylor has spent time on), the title track, at least to me makes it clear that shes making fun of, presumably matty healy, for seeing himself as a tourtured poet. After i listened to that song i kind of started interpreting the title as being sarcastic.
It clearly is ironic title. The song literally says we are not tortured poets were modern idiots.
@mastersword648 certain people on twitter with worryingly low levels of reading comprehension didn't seem to understand that
I like this video a lot! I'm a very casual ~Swiftie who likes her music largely just for her music and only started being interested in her dating life when I noticed the sociological and cultural impact (and also because I'm a romantic, but I do hate billionaires.) Tortured Poets struck me so strangely at first, but for me the song that kind of struck that "hmmm there's something wrong here" chord with me was "who's afraid of little old me" because it just sounded a bit TOO real to be not farcical in some way. From then on it did feel like I was being told a sad story in a sardonic way, and I've always been interested in the phenomenon of being a public spectacle, someone in the public eye (popularity, fame, and celebrity) so I feel like I "got" this album subconsciously, but didn't really know how to articulate it. But I've been obsessively watching Tortured Poets reactions just to see what people are saying about it, and your video hits exactly home for me on my opinion and what I feel like I take away from it. (Mostly because I like pop and am easy to please.) The sheer amount of lines in the album about feeling 'trapped' is impossible to not notice, and I know a lot of people are likening it to her romantic relationship, but I don't think that feeling stops depending on who she's with, just that if the relationship also feels that way it really gets amplified. There's so much self-awareness on this album, but presented in the most ridiculous and unlikeable manners that *that* feels so intentional too. And yeah, with all the discussions about the productions, you make a really good point - if not Jack, then who? Especially considering how vulnerable these songs are.
Anyway, tl;dr thanks for this 40 long analytical video about my hyperfixation of the week!
As a non-obsessed occasional casual listener, I think this is her most listenable album. I couldn't get into most of the others. This one calls my name a bit more sonically and lyrically.
Incredible vid! With what you said during your wrap-up about how the songs that connect with you may not connect for others… what would you cut from the main album?
Personally, I tried to make a shortened playlist for my casual Swift friends and I STRUGGLED, which I haven’t before. I think there’s maybe 9 that you could cut (even though I love some of them personally) before you start deconstructing parts of the thesis.
Awesome review Mark!
This seems to be Taylor's most polarizing album to date. I can see how one would dislike it if they listened only once for a review, since it is more slow paced and doesn't have the same amount of bangers as her previous pop albums.
But if you give it more time, I think this album has about twice as much to uncover as her other pop albums. There's a lot of layers, and good lord there's a lot of lyrics. It has gotten better with each listen for me.
I am 44, grew up with Tori Amos, Pearl Jam and REM. My parents listened to music from the sixties and my dad tended to sing Bob Dylan songs as lullabies. I love story telling in music and have cried buckets over musicals. Maroon is one of my favourite songs and I love Midnights as an album as well as a period in time that i felt I needed the music. But onto TTPD, I love it, not since Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos have I listened to an album on repeat. I like the music and I like the lyrics and ultimately love the humour and callouts to herself. Where I think it is ridiculous that we talk about her past relationships so much, I understand that people will always people. I hope that her relationship lasts with Travis, I don't care what her music sounds like, if I like it I will listen to it and I think she should do what she wants. I am here for the melodrama but I hop she takes a break after the tour. This was long winded, but I appreciate your review and I have subscribed and will go listen to more.
Mark, I must admit at first, I was not into this review. I kept on and my mind opened and found the fairness and balance in much of what you had to say. In the end - subscribed. Thank you for sharing.
Peter is the best song in the Anthology especially if it's true it's about Harry
Thank you, this was a great review!
The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived is my favourite song of the year so far. Happier Than Ever on steroids (and with a way better first half before the explosion).
That goodbye London are the only songs I've gone back to since the 2nd time I binged the whole 30 songs
This is the best review of this album I’ve seen. Thank you.
Mark there is an album in there. Taylor just needs to put out the best of all the song both on the regular version. I think she wants all of here album to be Taylor’s version. Meaning the additional tracks she released with each of the re releases. So when she releases a new album there going to be more songs just like the re releases of her other albums. The standard edition of the Tortured Poets Department could have been much better if she had just taken all the songs on the Anthology version and just picked the best ones from it. The best song from it are not all on the standard 16 song version. If you listen to the Anthology version you’ll recognize that. I know I have
I love this review of the album because while I didn’t enjoy this album you really dive deep into the reasoning and meaning behind this album
I have a theory. This double album is meant to be an entire experience, not a typical album of 3 or 4 singles and a bunch of filler. This was meant to be listened to from start to finish. She needed to dump all of this stuff so she could move on. If she's wrapping some of these songs into Eras, then she won't be touring this album on its own, so she won't be performing a ton of these songs to be rubbing them in Travis's face. And then we'll get something new next time... the rise and ... fall? of the Tayvis Swelce relationship.
Waited until I heard the album for this video, both were worth the wait!
This is the most raw and honest taylor has been imo. She doesn't paint herself in a good light at times but that why i love this album
The album title is from a podcast that Joe does with his friends. It called the ''The tortured poets society podcast''. Loved the review but you were wrong about some of the details in this album.
17:52 so real. Not a fan of this record, but anyone clowning specific lyrics of this album better not be bumping BCNR while at it
Hamish Hawk getting a shoutout in this review was an extremely welcome surprise
Thank you so much for the in depth reviews! I always love hearing and reading your thoughts. It makes art criticism, both personal and public, seem worth it.
So excited for this one
Wow, this review is almost as long as the album.
Clicking on an X link to watch this video not knowing you, only to instantly see a Voltorb on your couch made my day 🙌
Fantastic well thought out review. Best I’ve seen online!
I preferred Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me?
Honestly, when I first listened through the entire project (both normal and anthology) I did think there had to be much more to what Taylor Swift was trying to say with a lot of these tracks that had very intricate and subversive details. But after this review, it makes so much sense and has me appreciating more for what it is trying to do. I will not fully say it is great, mainly due to how bloated it all is, or among the top-tier albums of her catalog, but I will say that I genuinely like this more than I should.
Thank you. It was a fascinating review
I’m so happy you get this album
I'm happy i listen to High on Fire's album over this
This gon divide everybody!
I really enjoyed this album. Shes matured. Its a great listen. My fave so far.
When is going to evolve into Electrode?
😂I love you for this
I did enjoy this more than Midnights (i've personally called it "a better version of Midnights") because there's more dynamics in the production. Midnights production was very minimalistic and i think that's why i haven't gone back to it.
But after hearing what you have to say.
I'll listen to it one more time.
With this new perspective.
Yes! That was my issue with midnights as well. The production never really built up to anything. For example, if you listen to the first chorus of lavender haze and then jump to the last chorus, it basically the same. We didn’t go anywhere. This album also went into the darker themes I assumed we would get on midnights
I'd probably like it more if it wasn't so damn bloated. I only enjoyed Florida, But Daddy I love him, and I hate it here lots of the other songs were very dull and same sounding as well for me.
Mate. I like the contents of your review but the ad is way too too much. Can you make it a little less greedy? Thanks
Yeah, I can't control that when I'm dealing with copyright claims unfortunately... :( wish i could.
This is the sort of album Smarterchild would be listening to if he were still around, and that's all I have to say about it.
Looking at her life from the outside, it’s physically looks impossible to be creating and performing in such an intense stadium tour, the process of re-recording 6 albums, which is probably a very time consuming and difficult process and creating new music, it’s no wonder this album comes off as sloppy, unfinished and lacking any real nuance thematically or lyrically. It seems to me that, yes this is probably how she has always written songs, but with this it feels like there is a push to release absolutely every little piece of writing without any thought of how it could fit into a nice, cohesive body of work. It’s seems like an exercise in how much music can I physically put out instead of taking a step back and analysing what she has and putting together something special. Because there are special moments in here, but I fear it lacks any direction. I think she needs someone in her corner willing to say that I don’t think this lyric or this song is very good. At this point I think she needs to be pushed artistically a little bit more and I have no doubt that she can produce some of her best material again.
“I would prefer Maroon getting a single over Karma (ft. Ice Spice)” Me: *instantly follows*
Maroon is one of my favourites of TS
Man, can we please get a full review of Eminem’s Encore now? I’m genuinely curious your thoughts on that album.
I just want Jack Antonoff gone that’s it. I love this album tho not just her best
Who uses typewriters anyway?
My hot take is that the anthology is _way_ better than the main album - and honestly one of the best projects I've heard all year. I find the more ephemeral songwriting on tracks like “Cassandra” or “Robin” incredibly compelling, and I have certainly found myself coming back to that latter half way more than to the main album, which, outside of a few good tracks, didn't really click that well with me or synergize organically into a cohesive project. There's always a certain floor of quality with Taylor Swift, so I wouldn't say the main album is bad by any stretch, but the anthology tracks as a standalone project could have easily been her best work to date in my eyes.
This is by far her worst album
But Daddy I Love Him might be the best song Taylor Swift has ever made. Like wow that song is good.
I love Taylor Swift, but this album is kinda a wasted opportunity to do something different.
It's like she had so much good material for a book, but she chose to make an album instead.
Am I crazy or was this album pretty different? I thought she was trying to pretty wildly different things than she ever has before.
There's beauty in the mess, and even though I think this album is one of her weakest, it never deserved the hate and the insane and rushed negative reviews it got. There is something to enjoy in this album, and I appreciate your understanding for being so open.
What about the rushed POSITIVE reviews? Taylor paying popular publications to praise it at midnight of the release date?
@@Noirlore There also are problems with those kinds of reviews. I was actually very confused with just how fast some reviews came out especially as someone who didn't love TTPD at first listen.
Reviews like that blunder the singer by making them think that they made some sort of masterpiece when it's not for anyone else. This album is good enough for my taste, but there definitely is a lot of things to do to make it better, and it's by no means perfect. Reviews like that are bound to cloud Taylor's actions for her next album.
@@catnipfortywinks this is the same with every artists nowadays.
I's a game of who will publish their review before everyone else.
We live in an era of fast media consumption and short attention span. So if you publish your review 2 weeks after, nobody cares anymore.
It's ridiculous to see 10 reviews the next morning, even more so for a 31 tracks album that need at the very least 1 week to digest.
@Noirlore she probably didnt pay them (she doesnt have to ppl are scared enough of her fanbase) its far more likely she sent early listens to writerss along with strict NDAs so the reviews could come out in tandem with the album which is its own flavor of calculated, and more taylor swift
She doesn’t exploit her fans.💀 I’m as obsessed as anyone (I’ve had a stan account on tumblr/twitter since 2011) and me nor any of my e-friends feel any obligation to buy 20 vinyls.💀 she also doesn’t make $ from her merch, so china is irrelevant. 50% of her imaginary net worth is via masters ownership, so it’s *potential* money that she’ll never see as she’ll never sell it. 💕
um she definitely does make money from her merch? there is no universe where taylor would accept a contract with such an idiotic stipulation like "all merch sales go directly to us" she 100% makes money off of every part of her operation
So smart. So insightful, and so smart.
I love both albums, only i few songs i just would skip. Grear work Taylor.
W take on the first half being slightly better.
The Tortured Poets Department
A Taylor Swift Album that Hates YOU.
Whats the final rating for the standard album?
He doesn't do scores anymore
Finally, he covers the "art" promised in the intro.
Its meta (not sure if thats the right word?) and i personally really like that. I can't stop listening to it. Especially whos afraid of little old me.
One aspect I think you forgot to mention in a such already long review is that the more you engage in her lore (aka being a fan), the less... grace? You would be willing to give the project. Like take "But I can Fix Him", a casual listener would just hear the guy she desperately wants to fix say some "revolting" joke, but if you know the lore you would know the true heinous extend of those jokes, which automatically make you less willing to engage with the song in good faith because her white priviledge allows her to reduce that interaction to "quirky flaws" rather than the heinous action it really was. Nevertheless, great review Mark.
I also forgot to mention this pattern of her in this album of, as quoting a review: "Taylor reduces character flaws in the men she dated like addiction and depression to not traits of complex human beings, but rather flaws she can fix or be exacerbated about." Like in this album she only allows herself grace and subtleties.
Let it rip!
Period queen. Loved the review. I found this to be a very relatable album. It’s a Taylor Swift album. I see it as a manic episode. She’s crazy honest.
"It may not be Taylor Swift's best or worst album, but it is certainly her most album."
That's a great quote, and I am putting it here so I don't forget it.
This is why you're the best music critic on RUclips Mark 😊😊
Been a Swiftie from the very beginning in her country days and been through it all & I agree with a lot of what you said here in terms of the writing that Taylor has gone through a lot in the past year and has reached a level of fame that only very few have reached & mastered and all the ups and downs that come with it
This is not an album that you can get it on the first or second listen (aka not for the casual listener also why I thought Fantano & Jon really didnt understand the album and gave it a fair take one fucking bit) this is the kind of album that you gotta really sit through and really listen to what she has to say and try to understand what shes going through I cant imagine being the biggest pop country star on the planet, going through life and relationship struggles as any human would with all eyes on your every move and dealing with the amount of BS she has to face on a daily basis even from her the fanbase (of which I can agree that some have taken the whole parasocial shit a little too far and I dont blame Taylor for being upset at them for not letting her live her life) its like people forget shes a human being thats not perfect
This album truly in my mind is her best written album and definitely among her best work overall (Speak Now & Folklore definitely are the best no doubt but still its up there lol) some of my favorites are Clara Bow, the title track, loml, I Can Do It With A Broken Heart, Florida, But Daddy I Love Him & So Long London and from Anthology I also love The Bolter, I Hate It Here, imgonnagetyouback, The Albatross, the Manuscript, Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus & How Did It End?
I definitely appreciate your take on Taylor as a person whose brand has taken over public perception. Do I admire billionaires? Absolutely not. Being that rich comes off the back of exploitation, and while I don’t think Taylor is responsible for a lot of human exploitation (outside of the extensive merch lines made in china), she exploits her fans and the environment in many ways. I think if I were in the middle of a machine like that, I’d be having a mental breakdown too. Especially after the end of a long relationship. I enjoyed the album quite a bit, but I also have mixed feelings. I like what you said about replacing Jack. I’d love her to branch out, but the question of who with is key. I don’t think she branches because she’s most comfortable with Jack and Aaron. And with how disturbingly confessional this record is, she couldn’t have done it with someone random.
I definitely agree though, she needs a break and the public probably needs a break from her. But the eras tour continues on. Awesome review 😊
Can I ask you how does she exploits her fans?
@@tatianebernardo2482 I’m not saying it’s purposeful, but there’s a lot of ways that she benefits from the cult mentality of her fans (of which she fosters) to either feel like they need to buy every vinyl variant, every cardigan, every little thing she sells. There’s also the mob mentality that attacks her exes and industry enemies.
I would say to be an artist, you need to be able to influence people to buy your merch and care that much. But influence can turn exploitative when you reach a certain level of power.
36:42 - wrong. You did change my mind. Gonna add it to my random wheel generator after work for my album a day. I was gonna wait till maybe June, July, august when the hype/“discussions” (if you can call some of the arguments that) dies down but shit I’ll go add it to my ever growing list
You know Mark, I may not agree with every take you have, but I appreciate that you're willing to take a deeper look at projects like this that people have already made up their minds about before it even comes out. I doubt there's going to be any other review of this album this thoughtful or nuanced, at least not for years to come after the dust has settled and we can all look back on it with the hindsight of whatever comes next.
For my part, as someone who has considered herself a Taylor Swift fan since my teenage years, has never been interested enough in her public life or lore to really call herself a Swiftie, and has very openly felt conflicted about the quality of Swift's work since at least high school, I don't think I'll be listening to the whole album. You're right, this has been sending out vibes of being 'Reputation 2.0' with slightly better production for a while. But, I also realized after I heard 'The Archer' that I'll probably be doing this dance with Taylor forever. She'll go through periods where her writing just isn't for me only to come back a little later and put out something that feels like a reflection of my own story in a way that I've felt from few other artists in any medium. So good luck Taylor. I'll see you again whenever you put out the next song that breaks my heart.
Wait, why not at least listen to the whole album once before deciding it’s not for you? If u like Taylor as much as you say you do
one day when i find the fucks to give to be more objective and charitable to the hour-long sadness of a billionaire (which, even considering how relatable and deeply understandable her exhaustion is from both a creative and personal perspective, does kinda perpetually hang over her work going forward) i will give this a fair shot.
i am glad to hear that this album's writing consciously trends toward the satirical and farcical, at least. really changes the vibes from "she would be the one to write that 1830 line" to "god forbid women tell a joke"
Truly, the out of context lyrics are probably the most annoying talking points I've seen. The Charlie Puth line is clearly a joke. That whole song is laughing at the idea that her and Matty are ridiculous idiots masquerading as pretentious artists who should have no real power or claim over what is good or tasteful. I thought that was glaringly obvious, but I saw people like fantano deliberately misunderstand the whole point. Pointing out her cringe as if she isn't leaning into it.
I will admit this album is certainly built for the more intense Taylor Swift enjoyer, or at least someone who is pretty well versed in her as a songwriter and her life, but I still think there's something enjoyable for most people. I would say it straddles the line of being almost embarrassingly earnest/honest and satirical and silly. She's definitely the funniest she's ever been.
Great album review as always.I found it to be boring and too long.
I’m genuinely with you on this, Mark. I REALLY dug this album. It’s not on part with some of her best, but it’s her most challenging, complex and ambitious work to date (and I don’t even mean the 31 songs when you include the Anthology version). As somebody who really likes engaging with complex, often divisive media, I’ve really enjoyed disecting this album. It’s obviously not going to work for a lot of people, but for the people who *are* willing to engage with it on the level that Taylor wants us to, I think it’s gonna be a real favorite.
Easily the best review I’ve seen of this, contextualizing it all in the greater Taylor Swift picture. Love how you took aim at the many bad faith arguments you had seen, especially the taking lyrics out of context bit.
I agree! Out of the reviews I've read or watched, Mark's is the best. I feel like he's more empathetic toward her than most critics. It's not her best album (I prefer Speak Now and Red), but it's not her worst like some people make it out to be. I prefer the standard album; I like The Anthology, but it felt a bit unnecessary. Still, I think with time this will be one of my favorites.
Amazing review
so thoughtful
One of the best reviews I’ve ever seen you do. This is such an astute and insightful review. Yes this album can be viewed as an album about alcohol and it’s effects on one’s personal life. It’s a beautiful and master fall album with deep power that will grow in respect overtime, despite the recent criticisms, it’s received which are more aimed at the artist than the actual album. This is Taylor’s Sandinista if there are any Clash super fans reading this.
Yes to this
The people that I’ve been seeing commenting on this album on threads have been really invalidating and disregarding an at even times dehumanizing towards her because they think just cause you make an x amount of money that dose not deserve empathy or sympathy or saying that a billionaire cannot have feelings and they look at her as if she’s a robot and she just should shut up and make money and they don’t look at her as a human being who has feelings and emotions and a range of different thoughts that go through her head at times.
Mark, this is why I always look forward to your Taylor reviews. I feel like you find the best way to verbalize my own thoughts on her projects.
Really great context into where TS is at in her life right and how it defines this album.
holy shit i think i thought almost all of this after i listened to the album, albeit with less poise and musical knowledge. i remember when reputation came out i always thought it was strange that people thought she was being completely serious when a lot of it was couched in melodrama and winking at the camera, and people are doing the same thing with this album (particularly the writing). of course the lyrics are clunky and overdramatic, that's just basic taylor swift; but if you dig into the themes and humanity of it, there's a lot of interesting stuff happening there. this was a great review, as always. i've been following you since about 2014 and you're still one of the best critics on this platform in my opinion!
You absolutely crushed this review. Wow. The music aside (I think it's mostly pretty good with a couple real highlights), I've been watching the reaction to this album thinking "Sarahs and Hannahs in their Sunday best/clutching their pearls, sighing what a mess" With all satire you run the risk of people not being in on the joke, and in some ways it's the worst time she could've released this album given how high she's gotten in her career. But maybe, it's as you allude to, it's also the only time?
But also, my goodness, the album is called THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT (stylized in all caps. ALL CAPS!). She knows! She's not being subtle about it! And the fact that a lot of people feel like they still have to tell her makes her point better than she ever could on her own. It takes a lot of courage to call people out (especially some other prominent critics...) for all the lazy bad faith takes. Hat tip. Respect. Fantastic video.
Totally agree. I thought the album title was pretty obviously satirical and it’s so annoying to see so many people being intentionally dense. She’s highlighting the contrast between the very romantic concept of a “tortured poet” and placing it against the more realistic idea of a “department”, which makes me think of structure, bureaucracy, commodities, etc, all the things poetry isn’t supposed to be.
And if it wasn’t clear enough, the title track is about how pretentious it is to call yourself a tortured poet when in reality you’re a modern idiot.
@@monicaherrera2224 Yup, really well said. You can even argue the minimalism and the restrained singing on most of the songs is the point, esp. in the context of the music video (which, again...satire!!!!!) And the rare spots where she’s more emotive or there’s more bombast (But Daddy…, Who’s Afraid…, The Black Dog) feel really intentional. Given the Speak Now-ish nature of those emotive songs, and the possible rock return that Mark keyed in on, I think we might see her try to do a controlled demolition of the Department on her next one, to hopefully get something of that more controlled, private life she wants. Or maybe in her wildest dreams (sorry) make things work with Alwyn, depending on how you read a few of these songs (and how far you think the satire and performance here really extend). My thoughts aside, there’s (a lot) more compelling stuff here than she’s being given credit by a lot of the internet. Nice to have a space here where we can talk about it! Thanks, Mark!
34:21 you're SPOT ON. She literally mentions this in her netlfix documentary.
At 29 she thouht her peak was behind her because women past 30 in the pop industry don't appeal to anyone. We've seen this film before.
But then folklore happened and she probably realized that she should enjoy her success as long as the public tolearates her, and the best way to do so is go ALL IN.
She will fade away one day or another, that's the cruel rule of this game, and she knows it.
I do wish she takes a real break after the TV phase, even though that maybe means never being that successful ever again. For her own sanity (and ours because I've seen some crazy takes lately).
I also wish she changes her team, because as much as I love Jack Antonoff, she is never better that when she gives room for new collaborators who are not afraid to challenge her (1989 with Jack and Max Martin, and folklore with Aaron Dessner).
She'll probably go behind the scenes like becoming a director, novelist, or songwriter for other artists. She's too talented to never succeed in the industry
absolutely excellent review mark, i knew you would actually give this album a fair listen, it has been three days and the memes are getting old so fast. i relate to the exhaustion of this album more than i probably should, and it’s no where near as good as midnights, but it’s certainly something, and i do hope she takes a break after she rereleases debut and reputation, she really needs it. maybe she could just write some poetry.
anyway, the highlights of this album are absolutely incredible, florida!!! is probably my favorite collab from her maybe ever, who’s afraid of little old me is something i didn’t know i’d been looking for from her, and down bad just does it for me in a way i can’t really explain. i do think fresh out the slammer is a miss, and she should’ve waited a few months to release the anthology, but the main album here is a solid 8/10, and i will be going back to it regularly. (side note, matty healy absolutely deserves the smallest man who ever lived, and i hope lucy dacus is doing ok after he dropped that bomb on her that’s mentioned on the title track. and if florida isn’t the summer single someone needs to find taylor’s pr team and find out what they aren’t smoking.)
You're the only one adding this layer of nuance to this album tbh.
If blondie wanted to make a better more insane album, she absolutely could. The yes men surrounding her aren't just limited to her production but her writing, her relationships and her marketing.
I do agree it all sounds like what she thinks other people want her to make. But she does make it.
I do love the batshit crazy lyrics and I'm waiting for the day she makes her opus tbh. Something personal something you wouldn't expect Taylor "the personality" to make
Idk if I make sense ahaha 😭
I personally disagree with you completely. There’s HELLA nuance to this album that a lot of people aren’t seeing
@@erikdaniels0n I do think Taylor has nuance, hell creating that persona , that monolith of popstar she is, takes compromises, sacrifices and a looot of stuff
But I feel like the bloated tracklist, the boring production, even the lacklustre album cover and the amalgam of imaginative, somewhat satirical, confessional lyrics _ all of this has no harmony, no narrative no truth she wants you to know
I feel like her brand has been built on swifties speculating her personality and personal narrative so much , its difficult when she tries to go away from it
She definitely needs some less yess men
But she has potential to make a great album
I knew I could count on you for an actually fair and balanced review! And I'm with you on preferring the Antonoff tracks
This album is certainly one that rewards multiple listens. Great review!
This was such an excellent review! You are a reviewer I can always trust to engage in good faith, and it is much appreciated
This felt a lot less like a review and more of a knee jerk reaction to the criticisms made of it, which honestly, I don’t get.
Yes, I agree with you that the album is aware of her own bullshit, saying FU to everyone (including her fans, who she calls creeps) and trying to “destroy” her pristine image. But this type of thing always comes with it works for some, it doesn’t work for others. It’s always risky move and the album is huge and reads as self-indulgent and Swift being aware of the latter doesn’t automatically make it good.
I don’t know why people showing out of context incomplete lyrics on twitter made its way here, who the hell cares? So her haters are having fun with it, like it’s their opinion that dictates like this album is perceived. Hell, her fans do so much fucking worse, adamantly refusing to tear the image they created of her and destroying that pedestal. To me, them missing the point is way worse than some randos on twitter who don’t care about her music poking some fun at it. They’ll forget it all in 2 days, but fans won’t. When I heard the album, my reaction was "I get what she's trying to do. It's not going to work, she'll remain as pristine as ever" (I haven't found the fan backlash you mention, only ridiculous amounts of praise that completely miss the point, including calling her a role model). Hell, if actually dating Healy didn't make much of dent (if any at all), why the hell reveling in it and saying FU to everyone while calling it love, would?
Also, the production criticisms are valid, even if I don’t know who should replace Antonoff (I’ll be honest, I didn’t care for a good chunk of Dessner’s production either), to me, those lyrics require a production that fits that, that takes a fucking risk. Don’t bring Father John Misty 's I Love You, Honeybear. It's so much more interesting and better produced.
Swift has been singing about the toll of fame since Red, she never gave it up. Her becoming huge after Midnights was intentional (even if she hadn't predicted the extent of it). And I also find it weird pointing out how people shouldn't get to point out her hypocrisies and politics (or lack thereof) when, she has, at some point, embraced that persona however shallow it was. Criticisms of her getting dismissed because she's a woman so all criticisms must come from sexism (by people who will gladly destroy every other women in sight, especially if she's part of another minority) is something that happens to this day.
I'm a fan of hers, I actually liked the album way more than I was expecting (still think the production falls short a lot). From the title of the album and tracks, I imagined it was going to be brilliant or a complete disaster, I find it neither, but I land on the side of good.
But if we're going to engage with the big picture, that would take hours, days... it would never end actually. I'm kinda sick of the discourse tbh. I'm definitely sick to death of her fanbase (they'll likely be the reason why I'll leave her behind).
As someone who’s not a Taylor Swift fan, I freely admit I have no desire to listen to this album. I don’t feel like listening to a 31 track album from someone I’m not invested in and the snippets I’ve heard on social media have not given me a good first impression. It seems like another bloated mess of “been there, done that.” I enjoyed the review, even though I disagree with it.
On the subject of I Hate It Here and its second verse, while I (and other black folks) completely understand what Taylor was trying to do and I don’t believe she’s racist or really wants to go back to an era where slavery was legal and women didn’t have rights, the execution was sloppy as fuck and it comes off tone deaf. There’s a reason why a lot of black folks were turned off by the song in the first place, it’s giving privilege and white liberalism. And the racist Swifties (not all of them) don’t help, either.
So you just admitted to not listening and no intention too but blindly agree it's a bloated mess of same ol' same ol'. Just say you're not gonna listen and then shut the fuck up? You don't need to chime in an opinion on something you didn't even listen to. Go talk about an artist you care about.
Ooooooh damn near 40 minutes! This finna be a TREAT!
Excellent review Mark! I just have two thoughts:
1. Why does there have to be a larger conversation on people simply not liking Jack's production. I just simply prefer a lot of what Aaron has done with her and feel like Jack's approach is just too bare and not a good base for her writing. Just a preference. I respect Jack and have found work in his past to be quite good, but have not loved his recent work with Taylor.
2. I understand that there is a lot of meta text and tongue in cheek writing on this record. So there is an argument to be made that people dismissing the lyrics at a surface level are not properly digging into the subtext or the prologue. Feeding off of the meta melodrama by design to illustrate some of Taylor's points in the writing. But at the same time we have Taylor also seemingly writing lyrics that point to themes of her being dissatisfied with how close her fans press in and think they know her and what's best for her. While at the same time rewarding these attached fans and capitalizing off of them through over elaborate social media stunts encouraging fans to sleuth through her music for hints for things, as well as selling multiple copies of the same records while still never fully completing them with the deluxe and bonus tracks for those albums. As well as a tour whose basis is rooted in nostalgia and capitalizing off of feelings of attachment fans have to those albums and those times in their life. She can't have her cake and eat it too. And I know Mark touched on this. I just feel like there are some criticisms that can be had against this album, but from some reviewers it feels like having criticisms towards things like the theming, production, and execution of this album is me feeding into this giant cultural machine against Taylor and that I simply just don't "get" the album. I respect Taylor and her artistry I just have some criticisms on some of the choices for this one.
Regardless, still an amazing review that gave me some different perspective on this project.
1 It is true that ill-intentioned reviews tend to be annoying. but let's not be naive either, Taylor doesn't need an editor, she needs a less greedy team. 31 songs are not there to expand the vision of the album, they are there to generate a mountain of money
2 Everyone has their opinion about Jack's work or Aaron's work but let's not forget that they depend on the strength of the songs to do a good job and sometimes you can't get water out of stones,
3 If there is an artist who cannot complain about the behavior of her fans, it is Taylor Swift. because no one like her fostered and continues to foster parasocial relationships. nothing is free, even what makes you a lot of money
"I'll give you my opinion, it's the only one I got
They'll turn you into something, whether you are it or not
Through a microscope lens, dissecting your whole life
But they'll never get you right" - Brandon Flowers "Never Get You Right"
Amazing review, Mark!
I'm a longtime Swiftie, and this album was personally a disappointment. But I watched your review because a) I wanted to hear all perspectives, positive or negative, and b) because as a former English major and writer, I really appreciate your wordiness and attention to detail.
Great work 🔮
I didn't liked the album or The Anthology, it just was a bit too bland for me but I really enjoyed your review and respect it for actually engaging with album's content unlike, say, Fantano, who I know will just trash it while quoting those out of context lines and nothing more(would be glad to be proven wrong tho).
Oh well you were proven right
imo fantano had solid points and didnt trash the album people just take what he says out of proportion. he generally gives most TS albums either average or good reviews but never terrible.
@bellart_ramana i don't know what review you watched but absolutely tore her to shreds. On twitter dunking on her and almost seemed genuinely mad at her in his initial reaction by calling her a performative victim. I even remember him laughing and hating on the track titles before even hearing the album. He was priming himself to eviscerate this project and it was painfully obvious.
here we gooooo, gonna put this on the background while having food
The best way to enjoy the review 😌
@@AquilaSky21 I would've done the same if it wasn't 3:30am here lol.
Once again, Mark, you've proven yourself one of RUclips's most thoughtful and measured critics. The online discourse around this album has been so braindead and uncharitable, from the out of context Charlie Puth line to the incomprehensible criticism of Jack Antonoff's production to the entire Taylor Swift cult of personality. I'm glad you've carved out a space here for actual discussion and approached its themes with nuance and in good faith. TTPD doesn't reach the heights of Midnights for me, but the more I listen to it, the more I appreciate its messy, sprawling (dare I say polemic?) nature.
TORI by Tori Kelly review PLS!!
Thank you, Mark. However rich and successful Taylor Swift is, it must be hard to deal with millions of people who claim to love your music but don't really listen to it beyond a superficial level and cheer even as she plays a song like Daddy I Love Him that directly criticises them.
I got 4 songs in to the album before I got bored and quit listening
I've been a fan for years - this is my first time commenting. It's so inspirational how seriously you take artists. Your insights always provide me with a new perspective, allowing me to appreciate music more deeply. Thank you for your critique!
Messy and jagged and flawed Taylor Swift fumbling through bad, desperate decisions is compelling. It's what I connected with on midnights and again here. I only wish the music itself was as compelling.