Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' is the messiest, horniest, and funniest album she's ever made

Callie AhlgrimApr 19, 2024, 20:34 IST

Taylor Swift for "The Tortured Poets Department."Beth Garrabrant<ul class="summary-list"><li>Taylor Swift released her 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department," on Friday.</li><li>The standard edition's 16 tracks are reminiscent of "Midnights," but more textured and chaotic.</li></ul>Taylor Swift's 11th studio album "The Tortured Poets Department" arrived after a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-album-rollout-promo-explained-2024-4">pointedly quiet rollout</a> on Friday.The follow-up to Swift's record-breaking 2022 album "Midnights" was not preceded by any singles or snippets of music. But as many fans expected, "Poets" does echo the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-midnights-broken-records-2022-10">commercially favored</a> pop-forward sound of its predecessor, with much of the album produced by Swift's longtime collaborator <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-most-important-artists-of-the-decade-2010s">Jack Antonoff</a>. Aaron Dessner, who worked extensively with Swift on sister albums "Folklore" and "Evermore," produced the remaining chunk of songs."Poets" is also the first set of all-new songs that Swift has released since her breakup with Joe Alwyn, whom <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-joe-alwyn-relationship-details-timeline">she dated for about six years</a> before their split <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-joe-alwyn-break-up-split-end-relationship-reports-2023-4">made headlines last April</a>. Shortly after, she was linked to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-matty-healy-relationship-timeline-2023-5">The 1975 frontman Matty Healy</a>.In a prologue included with the CD booklet, Swift describes the album as "a detailed rewinding / For the purpose of warning / For the sake of reminding."Swift frames "Poets" as a debrief of an ill-fated love affair, "a mutual manic phase" in the wake of a breakup — torrid, brief, yet creatively fruitful. "A smirk creeps onto this poet's face," she writes. "Because it's the worst men that I write best."Two hours after the album's release, Swift surprised fans with "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," which contains <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-deluxe-anthology-surprise-songs-2024-4">15 additional songs</a>. However, for the purposes of our review, the standard-edition tracklist will be treated as the primary, cohesive body of work.As Business Insider's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/callie-ahlgrim">senior music reporter</a>, I listened to the new album on my own, jotting down my initial thoughts track by track.Here's what I thought of each song on "The Tortured Poets Department" upon <a target="_blank" rel href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/first-listen">first listen</a>. (Skip to the end to see the only songs worth listening to and the album's final score.)

"Fortnight" sounds like a vault track from "Midnights" (derogatory).

Post Malone performs at the 2019 American Music Awards.Emma McIntyre/AMA2019/Getty Images

"The Tortured Poets Department" is a cringe-worthy song and an unworthy title track.

"The Tortured Poets Department" is the second track on the album.Beth Garrabrant

"My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys" would be right at home on "1989 (Taylor's Version)."

Taylor Swift performs during The Eras Tour in Sydney.Don Arnold/TAS24/Getty Images

"Down Bad" is the "Slut!" sequel no one expected.

"Down Bad" is the fourth track on "The Tortured Poets Department."Beth Garrabrant

"So Long, London" illustrates the agony of a drawn-out goodbye.

"So Long, London" is the fifth track on "The Tortured Poets Department."Beth Garrabrant

"But Daddy I Love Him" is a scorched-earth song where Swift really comes alive.

Taylor Swift performs "Love Story" in Sydney.Don Arnold/TAS24/Getty Images

"Fresh Out the Slammer" is a fascinating tale of freedom and lust.

Taylor Swift performs during The Eras Tour in Tokyo.Christopher Jue/TAS24/Getty Images

"Florida!!!" includes a potent feature from Florence + the Machine.

Taylor Swift and Florence Welch.Ashok Kumar/TAS24/Archivio Elena Di Vincenzo/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

"Guilty as Sin?" is somehow sad and horny at the same time.

"Guilty as Sin?" is the ninth track on "The Tortured Poets Department."Beth Garrabrant

"Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" is an obvious standout.

Taylor Swift performs the "Reputation" tour segment in Melbourne.Graham Denholm/TAS24/Getty Images

"I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)" depicts Swift at a crossroads in her relationship.

"I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)" is the 11th track on "The Tortured Poets Department."Beth Garrabrant

"Loml" is the most heart-wrenching song on the tracklist.

Taylor Swift performs "The 1" in Buenos Aires.Marcelo Endelli/TAS23/Getty Images

"I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" is extravagant, self-referential, and exhilarating.

Taylor Swift performs "Bejeweled" in Mexico City.Hector Vivas/TAS23/Getty Images

"The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived" is a classic Swiftian takedown.

"The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived" is the 14th track on "The Tortured Poets Department."Beth Garrabrant

"The Alchemy" is open to interpretation.