An Honest Review of Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department”

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Following what some people call the “Year of Taylor Swift,” Taylor Swift hasn’t slowed down in 2024. In February of this year, she continued her highly praised “The Eras Tour” taking it to Europe and Asia. Along with continuing her long tour, she released her 11th studio album named The Tortured Poets Department. This new album explores heartache, mourning, sadness, and regret while also sharing feelings of fresh love, rediscovery, and personal growth.

This album was first released with a classic 16 songs until just 2 hours after releasing The Tortured Poets Department Taylor doubled the album, making it an album of 31 songs named “The Anthology.” Fans were quick to note that in the first half of the album, she worked closely with her longtime friend and producer since “1989” (2014) Jack Antonoff to write songs. Fans believe Taylor challenges her songwriting and takes it to new levels in the second half of the album where most songs were written in collaboration with Aaron Dessner who she has started working with since “Folklore” (2020). Now, let’s dive into the new songs from The Tortured Poets Department!

Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)

The song Fortnight is Swift’s first collab with Post Malone, also the single for the album. In a dramatic rendition, this song explores longings for past relationships and the effects of this reminiscent misery. The line

I love you, it’s ruining my life

gives a fair synopsis of the song, as well as a catchy chorus.

The Tortured Poets Department

Being the title track of this album, The Tortured Poets Department isn’t a song to miss. Tortured poets are used in the context of this song to describe deep thinkers and poetic writers, in an almost doomed relationship. In this song, the journey consists of conflict and little compromise plus a nice shoutout to Charlie Puth (who should be a bigger artist).

So Long, London

Taylor often writes songs with contrasting meanings or points of view. Similar to her album Lover vs. her album Midnights, many of her songs have parallels that show growth and maturity, gradually, of course. So Long, London off of The Tortured Poets Department has been associated with the song London Boy off of the Lover album, both about Taylor’s ex-boyfriend from London. Regardless of the twists and turns of her personal life, this song explores a person forming a realization that a place no longer brings them joy or provides for them, and then leaves. This is again seen in the line

“Im just mad as hell cause I loved this place for so long (London)”.

Fresh out the Slammer

An underrated song off of The Tortured Poets Department, Fresh Out the Slammer perfectly itches the brain with its cool melody in the beginning that transforms into a flowing pop piece. In this song, a person is exploring and seeing new lights after getting out of a hard time. Whether it be appreciating a newly arrived summer or a new partnership, Fresh Out The Slammer is likely to remind many people of the relief that comes with releasing oneself from a “mental” prison. Dropping a partner or friend who constantly treated you poorly and now being able to enjoy all the things that person restricted you from doing.

I Can Do it with a Broken Heart

In this song, Swift explores her specific struggles that come with her mass stardom. In the lyric

All the pieces of me shattered as the crowd was chanting MORE

it is shown how Taylor continues to perform and please fans even through the personal challenges she may be experiencing. In this song, Swift uses the sounds of metronomes, in-ears, and applause to sonically depict the pressures of a screaming crowd. It is common for all people, even Taylor Swift, to overwork themselves. It is important to take breaks and let yourself work through challenges, even if you feel the pressure of a blaring crowd.

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

A popular new addition to her Era’s Tour set, The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, has been decided among Swifties to be a new favorite. Many fans find it relatable as men have been cruel to them in their relationships, with some even sending the song to their exes;

A message to the smallest man who ever lived

Swift’s live performance of this song is something of a masterpiece. With the use of backup dancers on snare drums and Swift at the front, the show theatrically displayed a band marching forward. Dancers begin to fall forward one by one, demonstrating the shots endured in this relationship.

Clara Bow

The song Clara Bow of The Tortured Poets Department nods to past icons in American culture. Starting with the lyric

You look like, Clara Bow

an American actress from the 1920s in America. The song explores the problems with the music and Hollywood industries, describing new girls just “picked like a rose.” The song has a mellow, calming melody, but don’t let it fool you for its sadder representation of the pressures on celebrities. After Clara Bow comes the lyric for Stevie Nicks, known for her solo work in the 80s and her work in the band Fleetwood Mac. The song ends with a beautiful touch, with the lyric

You look like, Taylor Swift, in this light, we’re loving it

breaking the fourth wall. At this moment, Taylor acknowledges she is an icon of this decade and passes the baton off to a new girl in the future with the line

You’re future’s bright, dazzling

So High School

Of course with the couple being the topic of many conversations, I had to include the song that Swift snuck on the album for her boyfriend Travis Kelce. In this song, Swift includes many football references for her boyfriend’s sport saying she

feels so highschool everytime she looks at him.

She even managed to add this upbeat song to her new Tortured Department set.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully by now you have plugged in your earbuds and started listening to The Tortured Poets Department. To add to the excitement, Taylor Swift even added a new set to her 3 and a half hour Eras Tour show for The Tortured Poets Department. As getting tickets to see it in person may be close to impossible, definitely check out videos of it online. The new set includes the songs