Taylor Swift debuted her raciest artwork on Friday as she dropped sultry black and white snaps with her surprise double-album The Tortured Poets Department.
Two hours later, however, Taylor announced that TTPD was actually a double-album, and released 15 more tracks revealing its full name as The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.
In the promotional photos, Taylor lounged on a bed wearing shorts and a black vest which she seductively slid off a shoulder.
She then changed into a white shirt and shrugged it off, exposing her back and looking off into the distance.
Taylor Swift, 34, debuted her raciest artwork on Friday as she dropped sultry black and white snaps with her surprise double-album The Tortured Poets Department
Taylor dropped her eleventh studio album at 2 am (midnight EST) on Friday as well as its first single Fortnight, and with it, a series of sensual shots
Two hours later, Taylor announced that TTPD was actually a double-album, releasing 15 more tracks and revealing its full name: The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology
The TTPD artwork is a far cry from the style of photos from Taylor’s previous albums.
In addition to her 11 studio albums, Taylor re-recorded four and gave them new covers. All fifteen albums covers are relatively tame in comparison.
Her self-titled debut album features a headshot of Taylor with a beautiful artificial lake and greenery background.
Her sophomore offering, 2008’s Fearless, shows Taylor mid-shake in a silver halter neck-style dress.
Speak Now in 2010 saw Taylor swish around in a stunning purple gown sporting her soon-to-be-signature red lip.
For Red in 2012, Taylor’s face is obscured by shadows and she wears a hat and white shirt, her hair now styled in waves.
In 2014, Taylor released 1989 which saw her head chopped off in a purple jumper with white sleeves and white seagulls.
Taylor took more of a break, releasing Reputation in 2017, her first black and white album cover, for which she wore a slightly off the shoulder jumper.
2019 saw the release of Lover and Taylor wore a white long-sleeved shirt in front of pink clouds and sported blue dip-dyed hair.
In July 2020, Taylor released Folklore, another black and white album, and for the cover she stood in the background of a forest.
In December 2020, Taylor released Evermore and again stood in a forest, wearing a french plait and a tartan coat, but now in the foreground – though her back is turned.
In April 2021, Taylor released her first re-recorded album, Fearless (Taylor’s Version), which again saw her shaking her hair, but this time in a pirate-style silk shirt
In November 2021, Taylor released Red (Taylor’s Version) and was fully covered up as she touched the rim of an orange-brown peaked cap, flashing an expensive-looking ring.
Taylor released Speak Now (Taylor’s version) in July 2023 and delighted fans by again donning a purple dress – and even revisiting her curls.
In October that same year, Taylor released her fourth re-recording, and her last to date, 1989 (Taylor’s Version). For the cover she revealed the most skin until that point, beaming in a white vest.
Finally, Taylor released Midnights in 2022, her first album to have the track listing on the front, and the image was just a made-up Taylor examining a flame.
She then changed into a white shirt and shrugged it off, exposing her back and looking off into the distance
In another, she strays to the side of the frame and looks away, her body wrapped in a dark blanket
Taylor parted her lips and breathed in the seaside air as the wind blew her hair this way and that
In another photo she moved her head to the side and placed one hand over her ear as she touched her temple
The TTPD artwork is a far cry from the more conservative style of photos from Taylor’s previous albums
In addition to her 11 studio albums, Taylor re-recorded four and gave them new covers. All fifteen albums covers are relatively tame in comparison
The TTPD artwork is a far cry from the style of photos from Taylor’s previous albums, the first of which, 2006’s Taylor Swift, is just a headshot of the very curly-haired singer
Her sophomore offering, 2008’s Fearless, shows Taylor in a silver halter neck-style dress
Speak Now in 2010 saw Taylor swish around a stunning purple gown sporting her soon-to-be-signature red lip
For Red in 2012, Taylor’s face is obscured by shadows and she wears a hat and white shirt, her hair in now styled in waves
In 2014, Taylor released 1989 which saw her head chopped off in a purple jumper with white sleeves and white seagulls
Taylor took more of a break, releasing Reputation in 2017, her first black and white album cover, for which she wore a slightly off the shoulder jumper
2019 saw the release of Lover and Taylor wore a white long-sleeved shirt in front of pink clouds and sported blue dip-dyed hair
In July 2020, Taylor released Folklore, another black and white album, and for the cover she stood in the background of a forest
In December 2020, Taylor released Evermore and again stood in a forest, wearing a french plait and a tartan coat, but now in the foreground – though her back is turned
In April 2021, Taylor released her first re-recorded album, Fearless (Taylor’s Version), which again saw her shaking her hair, but this time in a pirate-style silk shirt
In November 2021, Taylor released Red (Taylor’s Version) and was fully covered up as she touched the rim of an orange-brown peaked cap
Taylor released Speak Now (Taylor’s version) in July 2023 and delighted fans by again donning a purple dress – and even revisiting her curls
In October that year, Taylor released her fourth re-recording, and last to date, 1989 (Taylor’s Version). For the cover she revealed the most skin until that point, beaming in a white vest
Finally, Taylor released Midnights in 2022, her first album to have the track listing on the front, and the image was just a made-up Taylor examining a flame
Taylor’s much-anticipated new album The Tortured Poets Department seems to have struck to same chord with critics as it did the star’s millions of fans, with many reviews praising the ‘gloriously chotic’ and ‘audacious’ effort.
Sparking accusations that she was trying to con her fans, the star sent social media into meltdown when she dropped the 16-track record, before announcing 15 bonus songs just two hours later.
In a slew of reviews, critics were quick to brand Taylor’s album her ‘most personal yet’ and branded it a ‘sharp savage attack on her British exes,’ after fans speculated that several tracks took aim at her former flames Joe Alwyn and Matty Healy.
Writing in Variety, Chris Willman noted that the album is ‘renewing Taylor’s vows with heartbreak,’ noting that it had been a decade since she had released a similar record taking such swipes at her exes.
He penned: ‘The Tortured Poets Department gives everyone a full dose of the never-getting-over-it Taylor that no one really wanted to get over.
‘As breakup albums go, it’s a doozy, as they would have said back in Clara Bow’s day – an unapologetically dramatic (if often witty) record that will be soundtracking untold millions of tragic rifts to come. If you’ve been putting one off, now might not be a bad time to schedule it.’
The album featured songs detailing her breakups from the likes of Joe Alwyn and Matty Healy and fans were eager to listen and dissect the lyrics.
Side A began with the Post Malone collaboration, Fortnight, and was followed by the album’s title track, My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys and Down Bad.
Side B had So Long, London, But Daddy I Love Him, Fresh Out the Slammer, and Florida!!!, with the latter song featuring Florence + the Machine.
Side C offered Guilty as Sin?, Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?, I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can), and ‘Ioml’.
The final part of the album, Side D, had I Can Do It With a Broken Heart, The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, The Alchemy, Clara Bow and bonus track The Manuscript.
THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: TRACK-BY-TRACK
Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)
Taylor appears to reference the end of her relationship with Joe Alwyn and her subsequent fling with Matty Healy in the first track on her album.
In the first verse, Taylor alludes to being in an emotionally fragile place as she sings: I was supposed to be sent away but they forgot to come and get me. Taylor then wishes an ex well who betrayed her: All of this to say, I hope you’re okay, but you’re the reason / No one here’s to blame but what about your quiet treason.
In the second verse, Taylor appears to sing about a short-lived romance that failed to help her “move on”: All my mornings are Mondays stuck in an endless Februrary / I took the miracle move on drug and the effects were temporary / And I love you, it’s ruining my life / I touched you for only a fortnight.
A tuneful duet with Post Malone and a song seemingly about a two-week fling. The slow, electronic rhythms set the early tone.
The Tortured Poets Department
Another shimmering melody, and lyrics which suggest that Taylor, modestly, doesn’t see herself at the top table of tortured poets: ‘You’re not Dylan Thomas, and I’m not Patti Smith.’
My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys
Written solely by Swift, this song’s dense electronic hum adds forceful notes. ‘Once I fix me, he’s gonna miss me,’ she vows.
Down Bad
‘Everything comes out teenage petulance,’ sings Taylor as she bitterly surveys the fallout from an old relationship.
So Long, London
The first track to be written with The National’s Aaron Dessner brings a change of pace, with a lovely, choral intro. ‘So long, London, you’ll find someone,’ sings Taylor.
This is her first new album since the end of her six-year relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn and, while she doesn’t mention Alwyn by name, speculation will be rife that tracks such as So Long, London are about him. Pictured together in 2019
But Daddy I Love Him
‘I know he’s crazy, but he’s the one I want,’ sings Swift, showing wry humour as she admits to falling for the bad boys. Produced, with real brightness, by Dessner.
Fresh Out The Slammer
Finger-picked acoustic guitar adds folky notes reminiscent of lockdown albums Folklore and Evermore.
Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine)
An album highlight, this theatrical duet with London singer Florence Welch is an uplifting song of escape – from small-town life and a bad romance.
Guilty As Sin?
A tale of unrequited love, and a superb slice of 1980s-style soft rock. It even mentions The Downtown Lights, a 1989 single by Scottish band The Blue Nile.
Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me?
Big drums, a dramatic arrangement, and more dry humour in another song penned solely by Swift. ‘You wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum where they raised me,’ she snarls.
I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)
A moody, stripped-down number worthy of Lana Del Rey, who has also worked extensively with the song’s producer, Jack Antonoff.
The Alchemy: Sporting metaphors aplenty suggest a track inspired by the singer’s current boyfriend, American football star Travis Kelce. Pictured at Coachella this week
loml
‘You said I’m the love of your life,’ sings Taylor on this warm, resonant piano ballad. In a smart twist, the ‘loml’ ultimately becomes ‘the loss of my life’.
I Can Do It With A Broken Heart
More 1980s influences on an electronic pop track that sees Taylor vowing to remain a trouper, despite any romantic strife.
The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived
‘You didn’t measure up in any measure of a man,’ sings a disdainful Swift on a melodramatic ballad.
The Alchemy
Sporting metaphors aplenty suggest a track inspired by the singer’s current boyfriend, American football star Travis Kelce. ‘When I touch down, call the amateurs and cut them from the team,’ she sings.
Clara Bow
It’s tempting to think Taylor sees something of herself in a closing track inspired by an American actress of the 1920s who lived her life in the Hollywood goldfish bowl.
The Black Dog
Taylor refers to a bar in Vauxhall, London, The Black Dog that she notices her ex going to one night after he forgot to stop sharing his location.
She suggests her ex is going there to meet a new woman and sings: ‘I move through the world with a heart broken. My longings stay unspoken, and I may never open up the way I did for you.’
Imgonnagetyouback
Taylor is torn between calling things off for good or rekindling with an ex in imgonnagetyouback.
Emotions are clearly running high as she sings: ‘Whether Im gonna be your wife / Or smash up your bike / I haven’t decided yet’.
The Albatross
Taylor is taking no prisoners in this track, referring to herself as one of the largest seabirds on Earth – famed for their giant wingspan and ability to glide seamlessly.
She sings about taking revenge with the lyrics: ‘She is here to destroy you/ Devils that you know / Raise worse hell than a stranger’.
Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus
Taylor makes references to a partner abusing drugs.
She sings ‘You said some things that I can’t unabsorb / You turned me into an idea of sorts / And I couldn’t watch it happen’.
How Did It End?
Taylor appears to reference the speculation over her relationship with Joe Alwyn as she details in the chorus:
‘Come one come all It’s happ’nin’ again / The empathetic hunger descends We’ll tell no-one / ‘Cept all of our friends / We must know How did it end?’
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