The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology
BY Amani SalahudeenThe Tortured Poets Department is Taylor’s 11th studio album. The anthology makes the album a total of 31 songs and is a double album. This one is for all the poetry lovers. This album is filled with beautifully written prose and some questionable lines as well. Overall, it’s an album Swifties will love! The anthology has a slightly edgier tone than the initial album which was released a few hours before the anthology. Since part 1’s review, there has been no additional music videos released yet.
As a resident Swiftie, I believe one of the best songs in the anthology is Clara Bow. The lines: “You look like Taylor Swift/ In this light, we’re lovin’ it/ You’ve got edge, she never did/ the future’s bright, dazzling," are my favorite part of the song. This song is perfect for anyone who’s graduating this year. Clara Bow also sounds like a conversation between two people from one generation to the next; which also fits the theme of graduation in a way.
Another song that was highly anticipated by many fans is So Long, London. The following lines: “You sacrificed us to the gods of your bluest days/ and I’m just getting color back into my face” is one of the most vulnerable lines in the anthology.
From the bonus tracks, my personal favorites are: imgonnagetyouback, So High School, thanK you aIMee, The Prophecy, The Bolter, and The Manuscript. Imgonnagetyouback is written by Jack Antonoff and Taylor Swift. The lines from imgonnagetyouback that were catchy was: “Whether I'm gonna be your wife or/Gonna smash up your bike, I haven't decided yet/But I'm gonna get you back/Whether I'm gonna flip you off or/Pull you into the closet, I haven't decided yet.” The beat of So High School feels like something fans would hear during a romantic scene in a young adult romance movie or TV show. It is produced with Aaron Dessener. The song is upbeat and fun. The lines that I connected with the most were: “'Cause I feel so high school (Feel so high school)/every time I look at you/But look at you.” The song thanK you aiMee is the perfect song to listen to for anyone who has ever dealt with a friendship breakup where things did not end on good terms. I personally enjoyed the Easter eggs Swift left fans with, capitalizing Kim’s name alluding to Kim Kardashian. My favorite lines are: “I wrote a thousand songs that you find uncool/I built a legacy that you can't undo.” The Prophecy reminds me of fantasy books where there is a chosen one and it is the perfect song for all the fantasy bookworms. It is produced by Aaron Dessener and Taylor Swift. The lines: “Change the prophecy/Don't want money/Just someone who wants my company.”The Bolter is another buoyant song to sing to in a car. The lines: “Started with a kiss/"Oh, we must stop meeting like this.’” is one most fans will adore. Finally, the last bonus song that will be discussed is The Manuscript. The Manuscript’s best lines were: “And the years passed like scenes of a show/The professor said to write what you know/Lookin' backwards might be the only way to move forward.”
In conclusion, The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology is an album with a few questionable lines but is typically fun to sing along to. This anthology is the perfect song to listen to after listening to the lakes by Taylor Swift from her previous album Folklore.