Taylor Swift's latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department," is a mixed bag of brilliance and clichés. There's no denying Swift's talent; her songs are charming and subtly elegant. However, the album suffers from occasional generic songwriting and cringy lyrics (I'm looking at you, "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived"), leaving me frustrated and conflicted.

One of the most significant drawbacks is the album's length. With so many tracks, it's easy to lose interest before reaching the end. It seems as though Taylor Swift's status as a megastar has granted her complete creative control, but sometimes, a little editing (or, in this case, a lot) could go a long way.

What's most perplexing about the album is the simultaneous abundance and lack of ideas. While there's no shortage of tracks, some feel like rehashes of Swift's earlier work (like the weakest tracks from "1989" and "Midnights"). It's as if the album is trying to do too much and not enough at the same time.

Despite its flaws, "The Tortured Poets Department" still showcases Swift's talent and ability to craft catchy, memorable songs. I love the duet with Florence Welch, "Clara Bow" made me cry, and "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me" and "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" are close to pop perfection. I don't even hate Post Malone on "Fortnight" (probably because I can't hear him mumbling in the background), and that's saying something.

It's just a shame that the album's greatness is occasionally overshadowed by its shortcomings. Hopefully, in the future, Swift will find a better balance between experimentation and refinement. It's totally fine if she takes a five-year break now, instead of diving immediately into her next project, and really take her time to figure out what she wants to say and how.

Name
caitkeane
danthelibrarian
Madeleine Bergquist
Mattias Hinderson