Taylor Swift’s Tortured Poets proves she’s the immovable Queen of the music industry…

Review

The future’s bright… dazzling

Taylor Swift’s 11th album The Tortured Poets Department proves she’s firmly at the top of her game – with the most clever and savage lyrics of her career so far

FIRST REVIEW: THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT

★★★★★

ON first listen, The Tortured Poets Department could be the first time Taylor Swift’s crown has slipped in years.

However, while there is no immediate “radio-friendly single”, that doesn’t mean her reign as queen of the music industry is over.

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This cover image released by Republic Records show “The Tortured Poets Department” by Taylor Swift. (Republic Records via AP)
In fact, far from it.

It’s fair to say most, if not all, the songs are growers which quickly become stuck in the head after a couple of plays with infectious hooks and loops.

Lead single Fortnight, featuring rapper Post Malone, has all the markings to recreate the success of her juggernaut 2022 hit Anti-Hero and then some.

Lyrically, Taylor has never been stronger either.

In keeping with its name, Tortured Poets is essentially the past two years of Taylor’s life retold as poetry.

Peppered with similes and metaphors, the album is easily the most vulnerable, and brutal, Taylor has ever released.

Standout tracks include pop number I Can Do It With A Broken Heart, The Prophesy, So High School and heartbreaking ballad Loml.

The bridge in savage track Smallest Man Who Ever Lived is also one of the best of her career.

As she sings on the final track of the standard edition, Clara Bow: “The future’s bright… dazzling”.

And so her reign continues. I predict a 12th UK No 1 album is just around the corner.

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Taylor Swift is set to kick off her record breaking Eras Tour in just a few weeks timeCredit: AFP

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Taylor Swift looks set to bag herself her 12th UK No1 with The Tortured Poets Department” by Taylor Swift.