Who knew what latest era would bring? Or even what it would sound like? Would it build off the or the ? or the of her latest re-records? Or its two predecessors in black-and-white covers: the and the ?

害羞草研究所淭he Tortured Poets Department,害羞草研究所� here Friday, is an amalgamation of all of the above, reflecting the artist who 害羞草研究所� at the peak of her powers 害羞草研究所� has spent the last few years re-recording her life害羞草研究所檚 work and filtered through synth-pop anthems, breakup ballads, provocative and matured considerations.

In moments, feels like a bloodletting: A cathartic purge after a major heartbreak delivered through an ascendant vocal run, an elegiac verse, or mobile, synthesized productions that underscore the powers of Swift害羞草研究所檚 storytelling.

And there are surprises. The lead single and opener 害羞草研究所淔ortnight害羞草研究所� is 害羞草研究所�1989害羞草研究所� grown up 害羞草研究所� and features . It might seem like a funny pairing, but it害羞草研究所檚 a long time coming: Since at least 2018, Swift害羞草研究所檚 fans have known of her love for Malone害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淏etter Now.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淏ut Daddy I Love Him害羞草研究所� is the return of country Taylor, in some ways 害羞草研究所� fairytale songwriting, a full band chorus, a plucky acoustic guitar riff, and a cheeky lyrical reversal: 害羞草研究所淏ut Daddy I love him / I害羞草研究所檓 having his baby / No, I害羞草研究所檓 not / But you should see your faces.害羞草研究所� (Babies appear on 害羞草研究所淔lorida!!!害羞草研究所� and the bonus track 害羞草研究所淭he Manuscript害羞草研究所� as well.)

The fictitious 害羞草研究所淔resh Out The Slammer害羞草研究所� begins with a really pretty psych guitar tone that disappears beneath wind-blown production; the new wave-adjacent 害羞草研究所淢y Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys害羞草研究所� : 害羞草研究所淚 felt more when we played pretend than with all the Kens / 害羞草研究所楥ause he took me out of my box.害羞草研究所�

Even before kicks off her verse in 害羞草研究所淔lorida!!!,害羞草研究所� the chorus害羞草研究所� explosive repetition of the song title hits hard with nostalgic 2010s indie rock, perhaps an alt-universe Swiftian take on Sufjan Stevens害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淚llinois.害羞草研究所�

As another title states, 害羞草研究所淪o Long, London,害羞草研究所� indeed.

It would be a disservice to read Swift害羞草研究所檚 songs as purely diaristic, but that track 害羞草研究所� the fifth on this album, which her fans typically peg as the most devastating slot on each album 害羞草研究所� evokes striking parallels to her relationship with a certain English actor she Place it next to a sleepy love ode like 害羞草研究所淭he Alchemy,害羞草研究所� with its references to 害羞草研究所渢ouchdown害羞草研究所� and cutting someone 害羞草研究所渇rom the team害羞草研究所� and well 害羞草研究所� .

Revenge is still a pervasive theme. But where the reprisal anthems on 害羞草研究所淢idnights害羞草研究所� were vindictive, on 害羞草研究所淭he Tortured Poets Department,害羞草研究所� there are new complexities: 害羞草研究所淲ho害羞草研究所檚 Afraid of Little Old Me?害羞草研究所� combines the musical ambitiousness of 害羞草研究所渆vermore害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所渇olklore害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� and adds a resounding bass on the bridge 害羞草研究所� with sensibilities ripped from the weapons-drawn, obstinate 害羞草研究所淩eputation.害羞草研究所� But here, Swift mostly trades victimhood for self-assurance, warts and all.

害羞草研究所淲ho害羞草研究所檚 afraid of little old me?害羞草研究所� she sings. 害羞草研究所淵ou should be,害羞草研究所� she responds.

And yet, 害羞草研究所淭he Smallest Man Who Ever Lived害羞草研究所� may be her most biting song to date: 害羞草研究所淵ou didn害羞草研究所檛 measure up in any measure of a man,害羞草研究所� she sings atop propulsive piano. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l forget you, but I won害羞草研究所檛 ever forgive,害羞草研究所� she describes her target, likely the same 害羞草研究所渢attooed golden retriever,害羞草研究所� a jejune description, mentioned in the title track.

Missteps are few, found in other mawkish lyrics and songs like 害羞草研究所淒own Bad害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淕uilty as Sin?害羞草研究所� that falter when placed next to the album害羞草研究所檚 more meditative pop moments.

Elsewhere, Swift holds up a mirror to her melodrama and melancholy 害羞草研究所� she害羞草研究所檚 crying at the gym, don害羞草研究所檛 tell her about 害羞草研究所渟ad,害羞草研究所� is she allowed to cry? She died inside, she thinks you might want her dead; she thinks she might just die. She listens to the voices that tell her 害羞草研究所淟ights, camera, bitch, smile / Even when you want to die,害羞草研究所� as she sings on 害羞草研究所淚 Can Do It with a Broken Heart,害羞草研究所� a song about her own performances 害羞草研究所� onstage and as a public figure.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 miserable and nobody even knows!害羞草研究所� she laughs at the end of the song before sighing, 害羞草研究所淭ry and come for my job.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淐lara Bow害羞草研究所� enters the pantheon of great final tracks on a Swift album. The title refers to the 1920s silent film star who burned fast and bright 害羞草研究所� an early 害羞草研究所淚t girl害羞草研究所� and Hollywood sex symbol subject to vitriolic gossip, a victim of easy, everyday misogyny amplified by celebrity. Once Bow害羞草研究所檚 harsh Brooklyn accent was heard in the talkies, it was rumored, her career was over.

In life, Bow later attempted suicide and was sent to an asylum 害羞草研究所� the same institution that appears on 害羞草研究所淲ho害羞草研究所檚 Afraid of Little Old Me?害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淐lara Bow害羞草研究所� works as an allegory and a cautionary tale for Swift, the same way 害羞草研究所淢abel Normand害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� another tragic silent film star 害羞草研究所� functioned for the Fleetwood Mac star.

Nicks appears in 害羞草研究所淐lara Bow,害羞草研究所� too: 害羞草研究所淵ou look like Stevie Nicks in 害羞草研究所�75 / The hair and lips / Crowd goes wild.害羞草研究所�

Later, Swift turns the camera inward, and the song ends with her singing, 害羞草研究所淵ou look like Taylor Swift in this light / We害羞草研究所檙e loving it / You害羞草研究所檝e got edge / She never did.害羞草研究所� The album ends there, on what could be read as self-deprecation but stings more like frustrating self-awareness.

Swift sings about a tortured poet, but she is one, too. And isn害羞草研究所檛 it great that she害羞草研究所檚 allowed herself the creative license?

Maria Sherman, The Associated Press