Taylor Swift just can't stop.
Two hours after releasing her 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” on Thursday night, the pop superstar revealed that the LP’s 16 tracks represent just half of what she described as “a secret DOUBLE album.” ”. The other half, she added, comprises 15 more songs and completes a huge collection called “The Anthology” that will surely take up almost a third of Billboard's Hot 100 when her songs hit the charts.
On first listen, the bonus material mostly lives up to (or falls short of) its billing: big throwaway energy, in other words, as on “Cassandra,” which sounds like a lesser version of Swift’s “Cardigan.” (from “Folklore” of 2020). and “The Prophecy,” which suggests Taylor might be a big fan of Sufjan Stevens. Even so, some cuts stand out. Here are five to savor:
'So secondary'
Inspired, one assumes, by Swift's relationship with Travis Kelce, this hazy guitar jam about watching “American Pie” on a Saturday night is exactly what it would sound like if indie-rock band Alvvays covered “So Yesterday.” ” by Hilary Duff. (Speaking of secret albums, it also conjures up thoughts of the legendary mid-'90s bubble-grunge record that Mariah Carey made under the name Chick.) Skip to the line where she tells her friend to “play me while your brothers play Grand “Theft Auto”. ”; stick around for the psychotic (if touching!) request of “tell me about the first time you saw me.”
'thanks aIMee'
Those jumbled capital letters (K, I, and M) point toward the real-world theme of this folky midtempo number, another teenage flashback in which Swift's former nemesis, Kim Kardashian, appears to play the role of Swift's bully. secondary school. Good material for Stan's social media wars, although “thanK you aIMee” has nothing to do with Swift's “Betty,” perhaps the best song any non-teen has written in recent memory about the emotional risks of adolescence.
'Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus'
A charming chamber song about two lovers who painfully follow each other long after the end of their toxic romance. “If you want to break my cold, cold heart,” Swift sings, “just say, 'I loved you just the way you were.'”
'I'm going to get you back'
“The Anthology” is a bit long on mournful acoustic tracks, which is why the velvet hammer beat here feels so welcome. Lyrically, the concept: do I want revenge or a reunion? – is basically a remake of “Take It Back!” by Swift's successor, Olivia Rodrigo. I wonder if Olivia has heard it yet?
'I hate this place'
It's amazing that no one on Swift's team advised her not to sing about a game she and her friends used to play in which they chose a decade of history in which they would have liked to live. Her crazy response to this question? “I'd say the 1830s, but without all the racists.”
