Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poet's Department - album discussion thread

[OldHabitsDieScreaming]

Hello Swifties! Thought I would start a thread to chat about TS11 or TTPD or whatever we're calling it 😁Don't know about you but the excitement is building for this old-enough-to-know-better Swiftie and I'll be taking the long way into work tomorrow so I can listen to it in Peace...(see what I did there?)

So this thread is for anyone who loves TS and wants to talk/think/muse/swoon over the newest output from the hardest-working woman in music!

Personally I'm intrigued and delighted that Aaron Dessner seems to have co-writing credits on several tracks - I'm a committed Folklore/Evermore fan and more in a similar vein will be very welcome!

(Oh, and while hopefully this doesn't need saying, please don't bother posting to say how shit/overrated/talentless you think TS is. This is a fan / appreciation thread about a specific piece of work and it would be lovely to keep it that way.)

I am both excited and not at all excited.

I really liked Midnights, but when you hear her do some of the songs on it as the acoustic tracks on her tour, they sound so much better. Like Maroon and YOYOK. I think some parts of Midnights were a bit over polished and that her songwriting suits a more stripped back style.

I'm eager to hear THE break up theories and lyrics.

I loved Midnights, but I do hope we get something that sounds new-ish on this one. Red is my favourite album and she describes it as the kaleidoscope of heartbreak so she tried all these different styles and moods, I would love a bit of that vibe on Tortured Poets and a clue as to where she might go next musically along with some experimentation. I worry that Jack Antonoff is her safe place and I feel like she needs another challenge.

I don't believe for one second that the whole album has leaked but I'm sure there are zillions of AI fakes out there vying for attention. I also don't believe Matty Healy will get more than a fleeting mention at most. For one thing, he's an embarrassment to her and secondly, aaaaall the Easter eggs and build-up to TTPD are Joe-coded. The release date being 19th April, the six open drawers in the library installation, Track 5 being called So Long London, the bust of Diana of Ephesus and most tellingly the Five Playlists of Grief she put out last weekend - we know none of this is accidental! It's the Joe Alwyn break up album (she put Lover on the Denial list!).

I think she can trim the Eras setlist a bit to put in some TTPD tracks, but maybe she'll do a Poets tour afterwards instead?! I think we're in for some surprises. I was disappointed about the multiple editions containing exclusive bonus tracks, it's not like she needs the money and you know some fans will buy every variation. I am expecting some Taylor-chaos over the weekend - she'll do something unpredictable!

I'm intrigued to find out what the countdown is for. There's already a music video announced for tomorrow (possibly for Fortnight) and it seems odd to announce a single or anything like that 12 or so hours before the main album comes out.

In terms of unreleased songs I’d Lie is a brilliant song by yeehaw Taylor. Younger me was obsessed to the point when grown up me revisited I was surprised not to find it on Debut.

I'm a massive fan too and very much looking forward to TTPD, if a little nervous. My favourite songs are varied, so not bothered what style she goes for really.

Will it be released at midnight in the US, so eight hours later here in the UK?

Interesting theory about an AI version. I've not heard any leaked songs or seen lyrics, didn't want to search and be disappointed.

I've not seen any obvious Easter eggs on insta, so presume she hasn't done that this time?

Midnight eastern time in America, so 5am here.

Page has crashed.

It reloaded for me. It’s a YouTube short video.

And able to buy a cd of the fortnight single. Which I don't know why anyone would, it won't come quicker and isn't a song you can't get anywhere else.

I guess it's official confirmation that Fortnight is the first single and the music video that's being released.

ETA - announced on insta too

"The first single from The Tortured Poets Department is…………. Fortnight featuring @postmalone 🤍 I’ve been such a huge fan of Post because of the writer he is, his musical experimentation and those melodies he creates that just stick in your head forever. I got to witness that magic come to life firsthand when we worked together on Fortnight. Honestly can’t wait for you guys to hear this song at Midnight TONIGHT and see the video at 8pm ET TOMORROW."

I'm excited to get all the Joever crack! Does anyone follow the Swiftologist on YouTube, or Evolution of a Snake on Spotify? I'll listen to the album and then will be counting down to the Swiftologist's reaction! Mainly because I nearly always agree with him about what Taylor’s songs mean and how they fit in with her story.

Yes, I like the Swiftologist on Tiktok. He's astute, sharp and whilst he's clearly an uber fan, he's not sycophantic. His critique of Joe (the heirloom turkey) does make me laugh too, I'm slightly ashamed to admit.

I'm not in tiktok but I like his longer video essays in YouTube. Definitely worth a watch if you enjoy the heirloom turkey references 🤣

What's everyone's listening plan for tomorrow?

I've set my alarm for 5. Going to listen in bed with headphones in before anyone else gets up.

Cannot WAIT!! Sorry to ask a probably dumb question that a true Swiftie should probably know the answer to - but does anyone know what time the album will land on Apple Music?

It's released at midnight Eastern Standard Time, which is 5am UK time.

I am very excited!

I hope it has some good catchy tunes. I prefer 1989/Rep/Lover to folklore/evermore, and liked Midnights too. From what I've heard about the leaks though it is quite low tempo/downbeat so I hope I won't find it boring.

Hopefully not a spoiler for anyone who plays NYT Strands, but I wondered if the theme word tailoring was a nod to the release, or if I’m just making links which aren’t there, because TTPD is top of my head.

Thank you!

I'm in a Premier Inn tonight so my plan is to listen when I wake up, then again over my massive breakfast! I can't wait!

I can’t wait! My baby has woken me up at 5am every morning for the last 2 months, hoping he will be reliable and get me up bang on time for Taylor tomorrow 😅

I’m very intrigued what this album will be about, because honestly I can’t see that she’d have that much tea to spill about Joe. From what we’ve heard so far they just kind of fizzled out? You’re Losing Me, for example: it doesn’t seem like there was any big drama, it just seems they kind of…ended, so I’m not sure what the narrative will be. Joe seems far too sensible to do any of the things the swifties on TikTok are accusing him of, so I’m not sure she’ll have the material to stretch to a whole album!

That being said, there can’t really be enough to sing about Matt Healy surely?? He was a five minute rebound! If she can squeeze any songs out of that she’s a literal genius! (Which, tbf, I kinda think she is!)

That being said, there can’t really be enough to sing about Matt Healy surely?? He was a five minute rebound!

she got pretty much the entirety of Red from 3 months with Jake Gyllenhaal…

@EndlessVortex I get the impression that things with Joe weren't great for a long time. Midnights always sounded to me like more of a break up album (probably cos I broke up with my ex round that time). But compared to the songs on Lover you can tell there were problems. Songs like Maroon, Anti Hero, You're on Your Own Kid, Labyrinth, Bigger than the Whole Sky and the Great War all sound like a relationship on the rocks/ending.
I wonder if Midnights was the actual break up album.

I'm probably projecting ALOT here but when you hear some of the things in her songs about her relationship with Joe, it didn't sound particularly healthy. They give the impression she was keener than him, it was casual and she wanted more kind of thing. Like I said, probably projecting loads with my own break up there!

I'm so excited I'm in bed like a kid on Christmas Eve

I get the impression that things with Joe weren't great for a long time.

Agreed. When You're Losing Me was released, Jack Antonoff posted on Instagram a picture saying that it had been written and recorded in December 2021. That's nearly 18 months before the break up was public.