Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poets Department ALBUM REVIEW

theneedledrop
22 Apr 202415:21

Summary

TLDRIn this video script, music critic Anthony Fantano reviews Taylor Swift's new album, 'The Tortured Poet's Department.' He notes that while Swift is at a pinnacle of stardom, the album falls short in several areas. Fantano criticizes the album's pacing, song structures, and excessive length, as well as the lack of a fresh sound or evolution in Swift's music. He also mentions the album's derivative nature and the overuse of metaphors that don't resonate. Furthermore, he points out the album's uncharacteristic sloppiness and the mismatched production from Jack Antonoff. Despite these shortcomings, Fantano does highlight a few tracks that stand out, such as 'Love of My Life,' which he praises for its simplicity and emotional impact. Overall, he concludes that the album is more for those deeply invested in Swift's personal narrative rather than for those seeking musical innovation or performance.

Takeaways

  • 🎡 The script is a review of Taylor Swift's new album, 'The Tortured Poet's Department', by Anthony Fantano, a well-known music critic.
  • πŸ“š The album is Taylor Swift's 11th full-length album, following her indie folk albums 'folklore' and 'Evermore', and her return to pop with 'Midnights'.
  • πŸ’° Taylor Swift is currently at a high level of stardom and financial success, with a global tour and film generating millions in revenue.
  • πŸ”„ The review suggests that Swift's current emotional state is reflected in her work, similar to her past albums where her personal experiences were central to the music.
  • πŸ” The album is criticized for having tracks with tedious pacing and flabby song structures, with some songs being unnecessarily long.
  • πŸ“‰ The lyrics are described as filled with metaphors and similes that fall flat, and the writing quality makes it difficult for the listener to empathize with Swift's heartbreak.
  • πŸ“ˆ The review points out a lack of new sound or evolution in Swift's music, with the album sounding derivative and uninspired compared to her previous work.
  • 🚫 The script mentions that Swift seems to be copying her contemporaries, with examples given of how her songs mirror those of Ariana Grande and Olivia Rodrigo.
  • πŸ€” The reviewer feels that Swift's collaboration with producer Jack Antonoff is not yielding the results it used to, suggesting a need for a break or change in their creative partnership.
  • 🎢 'Love of My Life' is highlighted as one of the best ballads on the album, praised for its simplicity and emotional delivery.
  • ❌ The album is criticized for being unedited and unchallenged, with some tracks feeling more like gossip or spilling tea rather than crafted songs.
  • πŸ˜” The final takeaway is that while there are elements of the album that can be appreciated for their vulnerability, the overall impression is that it misses the mark.

Q & A

  • Who is the reviewer in this transcript?

    -The reviewer in this transcript is Anthony Fantano, described as the internet's busiest music nerd.

  • What is the title of Taylor Swift's album being reviewed?

    -The title of Taylor Swift's album being reviewed is 'The Tortured Poet's Department'.

  • What are the two indie folk sister albums by Taylor Swift that received critical acclaim?

    -The two indie folk sister albums by Taylor Swift that received critical acclaim are 'folklore' and 'Evermore'.

  • What is the 'Taylor's Version' series?

    -The 'Taylor's Version' series is a project where Taylor Swift is re-recording all of her older albums on her past label to own the masters of them.

  • What is the main criticism regarding the pacing and structure of the songs on 'The Tortured Poet's Department'?

    -The main criticism is that numerous tracks on the album have tedious pacing, flabby song structures, and are overly indulgent in length.

  • What is the issue with the lyrics on 'The Tortured Poet's Department'?

    -The issue with the lyrics is that they contain endless strings of metaphors and similes that fall flat, making it difficult to feel for Taylor amidst her heartbreak.

  • Why does the reviewer think Taylor Swift's latest album sounds derivative in the broader pop landscape?

    -The reviewer believes the album sounds derivative because Taylor hasn't formulated a new sound, direction, or evolution to coincide with the latest album cycle, and it seems she is copying her contemporaries.

  • What is the reviewer's opinion on the collaboration between Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff on this album?

    -The reviewer thinks that their creative partnership on this record is not yielding the results it used to and suggests they should either stop working together or take a break.

  • Which song is mentioned as one of the better tracks on the album?

    -The song 'I Can Do It with a Broken Heart' is mentioned as one of the better tracks on the album.

  • What is the reviewer's stance on the album's length and how it affects the listener's experience?

    -The reviewer finds the 2-hour length of the deluxe version of the record daunting and believes it negatively impacts the listening experience.

  • What is the reviewer's final verdict on 'The Tortured Poet's Department'?

    -The reviewer's final verdict is that 'The Tortured Poet's Department' is a miss, citing uncharacteristic sloppiness, lack of fresh ideas, and a mismatched collaboration with Jack Antonoff as key reasons.

Outlines

00:00

🎢 The Tortured Poet's Department: A Review of Taylor Swift's New Album

Anthony Fantano, known as the internet's busiest music nerd, begins his review of Taylor Swift's 11th album, 'The Tortured Poet's Department.' He discusses Swift's recent success, including her critically acclaimed indie folk albums 'Folklore' and 'Evermore,' her commercially successful pop album 'Midnights,' and her 'Taylor's Version' series where she re-records her older albums. Fantano also touches on Swift's current level of stardom and how her personal state often reflects in her work. He expresses his concerns about the album's pacing, song structures, and excessive length, as well as the lack of a new sound or evolution in Swift's music.

05:00

πŸ˜• Lyrical and Conceptual Shortcomings in Swift's Latest Work

The second paragraph delves into the criticisms of the album's lyrical content, which Fantano finds to be filled with tedious metaphors and similes that don't resonate well. He points out the album's derivative nature within the pop landscape and the lack of a new direction in Swift's music. Fantano also discusses the album's themes of heartbreak and how they come across as forced and overindulgent. He criticizes the writing quality, stating that it's difficult to empathize with Swift's emotional state due to the awkwardness of the lyrics. Furthermore, he mentions the album's unoriginality, suggesting that Swift is copying her contemporaries rather than innovating.

10:01

😞 Disconnected Collaborations and Lackluster Production

In the third paragraph, Fantano addresses the production aspects of the album, particularly the work of Jack Antonoff. He feels that the collaboration has become stale and suggests that they either need a break or that Swift should stop working with Antonoff altogether. He criticizes the album's production for being 'boring toothless synth-pop' and for sounding dated. Fantano also comments on the mismatch between the country core of some songs and the pop-heavy production. He singles out 'Love of My Life' as a standout ballad, praising its simplicity and emotional delivery, while criticizing other tracks for their lack of musical coherence and narrative strength.

15:04

πŸ€” A Missed Opportunity: The Album's Unfulfilled Potential

The final paragraph of the script seems to be a disruption, possibly indicating an error in the recording process. It does not provide a coherent continuation of the review but suggests an abrupt end with a cryptic message. Fantano does not return to summarize his thoughts or provide a final verdict on the album, leaving the review unfinished and the audience without a clear conclusion to his critique.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Tortured Poet's Department

This is the title of Taylor Swift's new album being reviewed in the video. It symbolizes the emotional turmoil and artistic expression that Swift is known for. The term 'tortured poet' is often used to describe an artist who pours their personal pain and struggles into their work. In the script, it is mentioned that Swift is 'drinking from that well harder than ever,' indicating that the album is deeply personal and potentially darker in tone than her previous work.

πŸ’‘Heartbreak

Heartbreak is a central theme in the album, as it often is in Swift's music. It refers to the emotional pain that comes from the end of a romantic relationship. The script mentions that Swift 'has a reputation for dropping a breakup song or two,' which highlights her tendency to write about her personal experiences with love and loss. In the album, she is said to be 'going to new lengths' in expressing her heartbreak.

πŸ’‘Metaphors and Similes

These are literary devices used to make comparisons and create vivid imagery in language. The script criticizes the album for having 'endless strings of metaphors and similes across the lyrics that just fall flat,' suggesting that the lyrical content may be overly complex or forced, detracting from the emotional impact of the songs.

πŸ’‘Derivative

Derivative, in the context of the video, refers to the idea that the music on the album sounds like it's copying or imitating other artists' work rather than being original. The reviewer states that the album 'sounds derivative,' 'sounds redundant,' and 'sounds uninspired,' indicating a lack of innovation or freshness in Swift's latest work compared to her previous albums.

πŸ’‘Jack Antonoff

Jack Antonoff is a producer and songwriter who has worked with Taylor Swift on this album. The script suggests that the collaboration between Swift and Antonoff is not as successful on this album as it has been in the past, with the reviewer stating that 'their creative partnership on this record is not yielding the results it used to.' This points to a perceived decline in the quality of their collaborative work.

πŸ’‘Pacing

Pacing refers to the speed or tempo at which a song or album progresses. The script criticizes the album for having 'tedious pacing' and 'flabby song structures,' implying that the songs may drag on for longer than necessary or fail to maintain a compelling rhythm or flow, which can affect the listener's engagement with the music.

πŸ’‘Indulgent

Indulgent, in this context, suggests that the album or specific songs are excessively self-focused or self-serving. The reviewer mentions that some tracks are 'very indulgent as far as length goes,' suggesting that they are longer than necessary and may not contribute to a satisfying listening experience.

πŸ’‘Concept Album

A concept album is a collection of songs that are unified by a central theme, narrative, or idea. The script implies that the album lacks a clear concept or direction, stating that Swift 'hasn't really taken the time conceptually or sonically to formulate a new sound.' This suggests that the album may not have a cohesive identity or overarching narrative that ties the songs together.

πŸ’‘Self-Sabotaging Artsy Boy

This term from the script refers to a specific type of character or archetype that Swift is said to portray in her songs. It relates to the personal and emotional content of the album, where Swift explores her relationship with a particular individual who is described as having a polarizing personality and past struggles with drugs. The term illustrates the deeply personal and potentially self-destructive nature of the relationships explored in the album.

πŸ’‘Narcissistic

Narcissistic refers to an excessive interest in oneself or one's own emotions. The script uses this term to criticize the album's lyrical content, suggesting that Swift's focus on her own feelings and experiences comes across as self-obsessed. The reviewer cites lines from the songs that they interpret as examples of narcissism, indicating a perceived lack of self-awareness or humility in the songwriting.

πŸ’‘Simplicity

Simplicity in the context of the album refers to the straightforward and uncomplicated nature of some songs, which the reviewer appreciates. The script contrasts the simplicity of a song like 'Love of My Life' with the more complex and convoluted narratives in other tracks. Simplicity is praised as allowing the emotional core of the song to shine through without being obscured by overwrought production or lyrics.

Highlights

Anthony Fantano reviews Taylor Swift's new album, 'The Tortured Poet's Department'.

The album is Taylor Swift's 11th full-length album, following her indie folk albums 'folklore' and 'Evermore'.

Swift is also re-recording her older albums in the 'Taylor's Version' series to own the masters.

The 'AAS' tour and film have generated billions in revenue, showcasing Swift's unmatched stardom.

The album reflects Swift's current emotional state, similar to her previous works.

Fantano criticizes the album for its tedious pacing and flabby song structures.

The album's 2-hour deluxe version is considered daunting.

Lyricism is criticized for being filled with flat metaphors and similes.

Fantano finds the writing quality makes it difficult to empathize with Swift's heartbreak.

The album lacks a new sound or evolution from Swift's previous work.

Swift's songwriting is described as derivative and uninspired in the current pop landscape.

The album is accused of copying from contemporaries like Ariana Grande and Olivia Rodrigo.

Fantano feels Swift is ripping off Lana Del Rey lyrically, vocally, and melodically.

The production by Jack Antonoff is criticized as being past its prime and not refreshing.

The album is considered uncharacteristically sloppy in terms of songwriting execution.

Swift's personal life and relationships heavily influence the album's content.

Fantano believes the album will appeal more to those deeply entrenched in the 'Taylorverse' rather than general music fans.

Despite its flaws, 'Love of My Life' is praised as one of the best ballads on the album.

The album is seen as very unedited and unchallenged, with some tracks lacking hit potential.

Transcripts

00:00

poetry hi everyone Anthony fantano here

00:02

the internet's busiest music nerd and

00:05

it's time for a review of the new Taylor

00:08

Swift album The tortured poet's

00:11

Department oh my gosh can you believe it

00:14

I got accepted I'm in I don't even want

00:17

to know your buddy Kell's going to

00:19

college on a full scholarship to the

00:22

tortured poets Department I just want to

00:25

do this review but I have to leave today

00:28

do not care anony you know this is

00:30

always been a dream of mine and you

00:32

can't change my mind please leave you

00:34

make a compelling case but my fate as a

00:38

tortured poet awaits okay well this is

00:42

the latest and 11th fulllength album

00:45

from singer and songwriter Miss Taylor

00:48

Swift who has been on a massive run over

00:52

the last several years of her career

00:54

between her indie folk sister albums

00:57

folklore and Evermore uh which received

01:00

a bounty of critical Acclaim to her

01:02

commercially triumphant return to pop on

01:05

the following album midnights not too

01:08

long ago Taylor is also currently kneed

01:10

deep in her Taylor's version Series

01:13

where uh she is re-recording all of her

01:15

older albums on her past label so she

01:18

owns the masters of them which is just

01:20

more money in her pocket and speaking of

01:23

money there's also the AAS tour and AAS

01:26

tour film which globally uh has

01:29

generated billions milons of dollars in

01:31

Revenue Taylor is currently at a level

01:34

of stardom that in today's music

01:36

industry is just unmatched and

01:39

Untouchable and I went into this new

01:41

record here uh wondering how that would

01:43

be reflected in her work because

01:45

historically Taylor is an artist whose

01:47

current state very much shows up in her

01:49

work whether we want it to or not

01:51

whether it's through the versatility and

01:53

creative freedom that she was exploring

01:55

on lover her first record when she kind

01:58

of came off of her label big machine and

02:00

I'm sure many of us remember just how

02:02

bitter and Petty and incensed she was

02:05

over her Public Image on reputation

02:07

presumed to be the next record she'll

02:09

take on in her Taylor's version series

02:11

which would be fitting if true because I

02:13

feel like Taylor is in a similar Place

02:15

emotionally with this record now the

02:17

tortured poet's Department would not be

02:19

the first time Taylor has taken on the

02:21

role as a woman scorned heartbroken torn

02:25

apart but now that we are there again

02:27

Taylor is drinking from that well

02:30

harder than ever like a dehydrated camel

02:33

which is saying something because she

02:35

has a reputation for dropping a breakup

02:37

song or two but this time I would say

02:39

it's different she's going to new

02:41

lengths because in the abstract of

02:43

course there's nothing wrong with

02:45

Penning musical screeds about your exes

02:48

even multiple times over especially when

02:50

you are provably great at it I mean

02:52

Taylor is just in her bag creatively

02:55

when there is an ex to be mad at which

02:57

is why the tortured poets Department

02:59

should be be great but it's not and

03:03

there's a laundry list of reasons why

03:05

firstly there are numerous tracks on

03:07

this thing with tedious pacing flabby

03:10

song structures uh very indulgent as far

03:12

as length goes like why make who's

03:14

afraid of little old me 5 minutes when

03:16

you get the point across in half the

03:18

time not to mention that the 2hour

03:20

length of the deluxe version of this

03:22

record is a bit daunting and I usually

03:24

do like long albums secondly the endless

03:27

strings of metaphors and similes across

03:30

the lyrics on this record that just fall

03:33

flat I mean for example the worst part

03:35

of down bad isn't the soon to be dated

03:38

lingo that the title is based on no it's

03:40

the fact that this scenario for whatever

03:42

reason drove Taylor to tie in all of

03:46

these uh themes of alien abduction she's

03:50

really just forcing it thirdly the

03:51

writing quality on these tracks really

03:53

makes it difficult to feel for Taylor in

03:56

the midst of all of this heartbreak

03:58

because some of the most telling moments

04:00

on the record actually come across like

04:02

inadvertent self- owns even on one track

04:05

I actually enjoy the smallest man who

04:07

ever lived uh Taylor sings you said

04:09

normal girls were boring but you were

04:12

gone by the morning kind of seems like

04:14

he was admitting something there why why

04:16

is it not clicking fourth reason this

04:18

record is really falling short is that

04:21

uh Taylor hasn't really taken the time

04:23

conceptually or sonically to formulate a

04:27

new sound a new Direction a new

04:30

Evolution to coincide with this latest

04:33

album cycle which she usually does with

04:35

her new albums and as a result the

04:37

material on this record in the broader

04:39

pop landscape sounds derivative sounds

04:42

redundant sounds uninspired she clearly

04:45

has not had enough downtime in between

04:48

re-recording records writing new stuff

04:51

touring to actually formulate something

04:53

refreshing and I think she's closing

04:56

those creative gaps by copying her

04:58

contemporaries homework or or just not

05:00

worrying about how uh common what she's

05:03

saying and what she's singing what she's

05:05

writing is like with but daddy I love

05:07

him Ariana Grande kind of already wrote

05:10

the angry at my audience for dragging me

05:13

over my boyfriend anthem of the year

05:15

with the yes and and what Taylor has

05:17

delivered over here is a much more

05:19

Awkward experience the song I'm going to

05:21

get you back that is on the deluxe

05:23

version of this record Olivia Rodrigo

05:26

literally did this same word Play Con

05:29

cep on get him back with her latest

05:32

record did Taylor not think we were

05:34

going to notice or that figure out that

05:37

Olivia did it better the lyrics on the

05:39

title track read like an attempt at some

05:42

chaotic Slice of Life situation

05:45

storytelling that you might get out of a

05:47

Phoebe Bridger song something along

05:49

those lines just spilling out all these

05:51

internal thoughts like who uses

05:53

typewriters anyway and oh you smoked and

05:55

ate seven bars of chocolate and we

05:57

declared Charlie poth should be a bigger

05:59

arti artist I can't imagine being this

06:01

vapid on a song and then in the same

06:04

track declaring that you have uh the

06:06

foresight and the awareness to uh know

06:10

what is better for your ex and that

06:12

nobody is going to love them in the way

06:14

that you love them there's also Florida

06:16

as well as who's afraid of little old me

06:18

where Taylor cannot help herself from

06:21

ripping off Lana Del re again and again

06:24

and again not only lyrically but vocally

06:27

and melodically and this time thanks

06:29

Jack an off she's having him pull

06:31

together these uh big orchestral hits of

06:34

guitars and whatever other layers he's

06:36

stringing together too I can kind of see

06:38

why Taylor is daring her contemporaries

06:40

to come for her job at the very end of I

06:43

can do it with a broken heart because if

06:45

I was this uh lacking in new fresh ideas

06:49

I would feel paranoid too what number

06:52

reason am I on for why this album stinks

06:54

another thing about this record is that

06:56

it is uncharacteristically sloppy for

06:59

Taylor in terms of songwriting execution

07:02

and what I mean by that is the tracks

07:04

we're hearing on this record feel not so

07:07

much like songs as much as it feels like

07:09

Taylor is just spilling tea I mean for

07:11

sure it's true that Taylor is one of the

07:13

most obsessed over stars on the planet

07:17

uh I know way more things about her than

07:19

I would like to from her dating history

07:21

to her flight itinerary but this is like

07:23

the general information that's floating

07:25

around about her online on any given day

07:28

and look chances are our fans were going

07:30

to uh regardless of the content on this

07:33

album put two and two together and

07:35

figure out that a great deal of the

07:37

songs on this LP are in fact about

07:40

singer songwriter Maddie Healey of the

07:43

1975 and the very shortlived public

07:46

relationship that he and Taylor shared

07:48

not too long ago that was going to come

07:51

out regardless but what reads as weird

07:54

is that she's not even trying to hide it

07:57

from the tattoos to me of his polarizing

08:01

personality to this sad

08:03

self-sabotaging artsy boy archetype that

08:06

is portrayed on this record uh she even

08:08

makes mention of his past struggles with

08:11

drugs including uh heroin which in that

08:14

instance she paraphrases him on the

08:16

track the Alchemy in a way that kind of

08:18

makes him worthy of a writer's credit uh

08:20

he jokes that it's heroin but this time

08:22

with an E genuinely Wittier than most of

08:25

Taylor's attempts at word play on this

08:27

record the point is Taylor is so

08:30

desperate to make these connections for

08:33

her fans that she's forgotten that

08:36

sometimes there is strength in subtlety

08:38

and if you think I'm lying or making

08:40

things up here just look at the fact

08:42

that she capitalized the letters k i and

08:46

m in the title of the song about Kim

08:48

Kardashian a bam guess who this song's

08:51

about so at this point despite Taylor

08:54

constantly portraying the world as being

08:58

very much against her the biggest threat

09:00

to her Public Image at this point is

09:02

actually her she clearly wants the world

09:05

to know how deeply obsessed she is with

09:06

a man and a relationship that seemed

09:09

doomed from the start and also led to

09:10

some of the biggest PR nightmares of her

09:12

career and she also seems to want her

09:14

haters to have a point when they talk

09:16

about her being drunk on her own Tears

09:18

by writing and releasing some of her

09:21

most narcissistic songs to date if you

09:23

wanted me dead you should have just said

09:26

I was gentle till the circus life made

09:28

me mean let's not forget lines about her

09:30

coming down from Gallows and being

09:33

raised in an asylum oh and also so tell

09:36

me everything is not about me but what

09:38

if it is which I have not had a heartier

09:41

laugh at an album uh in 2024 than right

09:45

there with that line I think the final

09:46

reason as to why this record for me is

09:49

such a Miss is the production from Jack

09:51

antinoff who I think to put it bluntly

09:54

she needs to stop working with him or

09:57

they just need to take a break because

09:59

their creative partnership on this

10:01

record is not yielding the results it

10:03

used to I mean it wasn't enough that we

10:04

got smothered in boring toothless syth

10:07

pop uh that was so damn washed out with

10:10

overcooked vocals to on midnights but

10:12

we're now getting multiple instrumentals

10:14

on this record here that feel like

10:17

Midnight's leftovers but worse or it's

10:20

just Jack forcing some awful 80s pasti

10:24

onto Taylor songs that make them sound

10:27

dated upon impact and it's a mismatch

10:29

too because I feel like at their core

10:32

there are so many songs on this record

10:34

that are just dying or Screaming to be

10:36

country songs or at least have uh some

10:39

bright guitars and Punchy drums backing

10:41

instrumentation that sounds Lively and

10:43

Youthful uh like that of an album such

10:46

as Fearless I'm thinking about guilty of

10:48

sin or Clara Bow or fresh out the

10:50

slammer which already has the twangy

10:52

guitars at the start or even but daddy I

10:55

love him which would absolutely work uh

10:57

given just how Brash and immature and

10:59

playful the writing on that track is the

11:01

fact of the matter is Jack's work with

11:04

Taylor is just not as refreshing as it

11:06

used to be whether it's the random

11:08

bloopy bleepy synth bits at the start of

11:11

so long London or the dance beats that

11:14

break into I can do it with a broken

11:16

heart that sound like the fraking Blue

11:17

Man Group which is a shame because that

11:20

truly is one of the better songs on this

11:21

record so I don't think Jack is bringing

11:23

his best work and I don't think Taylor

11:25

is bringing her best work either and

11:27

while I understand there of course will

11:29

be fans who will defend This Record

11:31

until the death admiring how vulnerable

11:34

and unfiltered it is that's also the

11:37

problem because this album is also very

11:40

unedited it's also very unchallenged the

11:43

opening track fortnite for example I

11:45

think is one of the best picks you could

11:47

get off this record for a single but

11:49

post Malone feels like he's just kind of

11:51

filling a void performance-wise there

11:53

are any number of dudes you could put

11:55

into this song and you would get roughly

11:57

the same uh experience as out of it

11:59

maybe Charlie poth should have been on

12:01

it my boy only breaks his favorite toys

12:03

has one of the clunkiest choruses and

12:05

titles on the entire record it's like

12:07

Taylor is trying to shoot her own song

12:09

in the foot here by packing it with so

12:11

much verbiage that it's not likely to

12:13

have any hit potential there's also so

12:15

long London which I'm sitting here

12:16

scratching my head thinking what is this

12:18

the track is just constant tension and

12:21

escalation without any release it really

12:24

goes nowhere fast we also have Florida

12:26

which there is no musical idea on this

12:29

record more hairbrained than putting

12:31

Taylor on the same song as Florence

12:34

Welch which I love her voice and I like

12:36

Taylor's voice as well I enjoy both

12:39

their vocal styles respectively but they

12:41

don't mix together it's like oil and

12:43

water or hearing a tricked out new age

12:45

synthesizer rig U fighting against cello

12:48

not to mention the song reads like a bad

12:51

tourism ad or just something that you

12:53

had to be there for at at a time share

12:55

in Destin Jesus meanwhile I can fix him

12:58

reads more like a whisper quiet diet

13:00

tribe than a song and the track sticks

13:02

out for all the wrong reasons given

13:04

lyrics about being able to handle a

13:06

dangerous man which narratively that's

13:09

clearly not how the album pans out and

13:11

the song does little to explain exactly

13:14

how silly and I guess futile this kind

13:17

of mindset is love of my life though in

13:19

my opinion is one of the best clear-cut

13:22

ballads on the entire record even if the

13:24

piano parts are a little basic but it is

13:27

really the most moving and compelling

13:29

song on the entire album about a

13:31

relationship not really working out as

13:33

there's something very beautiful about

13:35

its Simplicity its starkness it's a

13:38

breathy dramatic vocal delivery images

13:40

of dancing Phantoms on the Terrace uh

13:43

being secondhand embarrassed clearly

13:45

they are reacting to every other moment

13:47

on the album not this one but at least

13:50

on this track in the lyrics Taylor is

13:53

also mature enough to admit that the

13:55

relationship this track is about is dead

13:58

and it was kind of counterfeit and fake

14:01

uh anyway not likely to work out I mean

14:03

to me moments like this is really where

14:05

Taylor proves her worth as a songwriter

14:08

not when she's giving us messy playby

14:11

plays about how she's venting to Jack

14:14

and venting to Lucy I mean I think

14:16

there's a difference between enjoying

14:17

Taylor's albums for their music and

14:20

their performances and their narratives

14:22

or enjoying them because you're deeply

14:25

entrenched in the tayor verse and you're

14:27

obsessively combing through the lyrics

14:29

on each song like the convoluted plot of

14:33

the 30th Marvel sequel the tortured

14:35

poets Department very much appeals in

14:37

the latter fashion here which is why I'm

14:40

feeling uh okay I'm

14:45

going okay I'm

14:50

going okay I'm going okay leave I'm

14:53

going to miss you so much too anney and

14:56

you guys as well you wouldn't last an

14:58

hour in the Asylum I was raised in

15:00

remember blu's po prints will be on the

15:03

clu what the [Β __Β ] look Annie you're just

15:06

going to have to accept this change it's

15:08

going to be a hard transition have you

15:11

given this album a listen this this

15:15

isn't how the review is supposed to end

15:17

this what is going on what is happening

15:20

forever

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