Taylor Swift’s eleventh studio album was eagerly anticipated for its Friday release, a fact well publicized across media platforms. However, the revelation that it would be a two-hour “Anthology” edition came as a delightful surprise to fans and critics alike.
During her acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards in February, Swift announced the album titled “The Tortured Poets Department”. As the most commercially successful pop singer of the current era, Swift continues to engage her extensive fan base with her fifth new album in as many years, in addition to four re-recorded older albums.
Released Thursday night, the album initially appeared in standard album length on streaming services, containing 16 tracks. Remarkably, two hours later, Swift also dropped “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology” edition, boasting 31 songs and totaling two hours and two minutes of playtime.
As the reviews start pouring in, here are some key details about Taylor Swift’s latest work:
The 34-year-old artist has once again closely collaborated with American musician Jack Antonoff, who had co-produced most of the songs on her previous album, “Midnights.” The majority of tracks on the “Standard Edition” were developed with Antonoff’s involvement.
Additionally, some tracks were produced in collaboration with Aaron Dessner, known for his work on the quieter “Folklore” and “Evermore” albums. The bulk of the tracks on the extended “Anthology Edition” were written and produced by Swift and Dessner.
Noteworthy guests on the album include American rapper Post Malone, featured on the opening track “Fortnight,” and British rock band Florence + The Machine on the track “Florida!!!!”
Swift has teased the release of a music video for “Fortnight,” which is set to premiere on Saturday night, German time, as announced on her Instagram.
Swift shared the themes of the album on Instagram, stating, “This writer firmly believes that our tears become sacred when they are ink on paper. Once we’ve voiced our saddest story, we can let it go. And what remains is but tortured poetry.”
In line with the album’s title, the physical copies include a handwritten poem by Taylor Swift—a tradition in her previous albums. A new addition is a poem by Stevie Nicks, the iconic Fleetwood Mac singer, with whom Swift performed at the Grammys in 2010.
The song “Clara Bow” features the line, “You look like Stevie Nicks in ’75 / The hair and lips / Crowd goes wild,” paying homage to the legendary singer’s iconic style.
Swift’s latest album not only cements her status as a prolific and influential artist but also showcases her continual evolution in the music industry, blending emotional depth with pop sensibilities in a bold new double format.