Two hours after Taylor Swift released “The Tortured Poets Department,” she announced that it was actually a double album including 15 additional tracks, turning it into “The Anthology.” The special edition CDs/vinyls contained four bonus tracks, originally marketed as exclusive to physical copies but now available to all. This move follows Swift’s history of using rare music access to increase profits, despite her billionaire status. The album’s first half is synth-heavy and confessional, while the back half attempts to position Swift as a masterful tortured poet, though it feels more like a lack of discretion in her work.
Before the release of “TTPD,” Swift shared five playlists on Apple Music corresponding to the stages of grief. These playlists originally featured her old songs but now include selections from the album. “The Anthology” kicks off with a continuation of her collaboration with Jack Antonoff, reflecting struggles in relationships and emotions like anger or denial. There are standout tracks like “The Black Dog,” which delves into betrayal, and “imgonnagetyouback,” a portrayal of desperation. However, some songs like “The Albatross” and others with Aaron Dessner blend together in bland wordiness, lacking the depth of emotion found in her best work.
The album showcases Swift’s tendency to shift between her genuine self and a persona called Tayla Swiff. Tayla Swiff appears in songs like “How Did It End?” where Swift addresses the scrutiny of her breakups and struggles as a powerful woman. Swift’s lyrical choices on this album are sometimes puzzling, with references to Aristotle and historical periods feeling out of place. She addresses her ongoing feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in tracks like “thanK you aIMee” and “Cassandra,” playing the victim while also capitalizing on the drama surrounding her personal life.
Despite her attempts to position herself as a tortured poet, Swift falls short in displaying authenticity and honesty in her work. The excessive production of her albums and lack of restraint in songwriting prevent her from achieving the depth needed for true poetic resonance. While Swift has shown glimpses of poetic brilliance in songs like “ivy” and “the lakes,” her self-designated title as a poet feels insincere and forced. A true poet agonizes over the worthiness and impact of every word they write, a level of introspection and precision that Swift often misses in her music.
Critics have questioned whether Swift, with her vast resources and celebrity status, can truly capture the essence of the human experience in her poetry. The lack of genuine emotion and the tendency to prioritize commercial success over artistic integrity are pervasive issues throughout “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.” By overproducing and overstating her poetic prowess, Swift may be missing the mark on what it truly means to wield words with precision and authenticity in the realm of poetry.
