One of the many things that Taylor Swift is exceptionally good at:reinvention. While Swift’s themes remain consistent throughout her work, she delves into new ideas with each era of her career by experimenting with different sounds and concepts. “Midnights” is her latest addition to this pattern.
Top 3 Favorite Songs:
One of the absolute gems on this album is “Anti-Hero.” In the song, Swift explores feelings with a much darker vulnerability than she has ever done before, which is almost jarring in its honesty. The song explores self-awareness and destructiveness, through creative and different ways, whether that be a fictitious narrative or a clever metaphor. The song indulges in humor, bluntness and poetry. It is dreamy. It is dark. It is delirious. At the same time, “Anti-Hero” is up to the standard of Taylor’s songs’ emotional expressiveness as it laments about something difficult for anyone: admitting one’s faults.
Favorite Lyric: “I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror”
If you know the lore of Swift’s typical track 5, you would know that an especially emotional song was in store for “You’re On Your Own, Kid.” The sound builds into a sort of cinematic indie, coming of age soundtrack. In typical Swift fashion, the bridge is stellar. This song is like an older sister telling you that life will not always be all alright, but it’s going to be okay.
Favorite Lyric(s): “I gave my blood, sweat and tears for this/ I hosted parties and starved my body/ Like I’d be saved by a perfect kiss”
“Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned/ Everything you lose is a step you take”
“Karma is my boyfriend,” is my new favorite catchphrase. “Karma”, another favorite from this album, is a bubbly trip with a level of cheekiness that only Taylor Swift is bold enough to fully embrace in her music. “Karma” is a dance in the mirror in your silk pajamas and the night’s smudged mascara under your eyes, while singing into a hairbrush microphone type of song. It’s the equivalent of “Shake It Off”, but from a woman who has grown older and wiser.
Favorite Lyric: “Karma is the breeze in my hair on the weekend/ Karma’s a relaxing thought/ Aren’t you envious that for you it’s not?”
Other Highlights:
“Lavender Haze” is a great album opener. This is Swift’s re-entrance into the pop scene, after taking a bit of an indie/folk turn with her previous albums, “Folklore” and “Evermore.” The production is sublime with light and airy vocals. “Lavender Haze” is about blocking all of the noise out and enjoying being in love.
Another highlight was the following track, a more sultry yet wistful tune, “Maroon.” The use of imagery in this song is entrancing as Swift ties many different images together with color. While the album can be described as pop, “Maroon” is more smooth and sensual, with a stunning vocal performance from Swift.
“Labyrinth,”is another quick favorite. A bittersweet song about breaking and mending when it comes to love. The song is repetitive lyrically, but far from redundant. The way the music swells and builds into an immersive sound space is what drives the song in forward motion.
Some Critiques (kind of):
One of the most anticipated songs on “Midnights” was “Snow on the Beach” featuring Lana Del Rey. This tune turned out to be my most glaring critique of the album due to the under-utilization of Lana Del Rey. While her minimal vocal involvement upheld the integrity of loneliness during middle of the night catharsis, it was a bit underwhelming as a collaboration. That aside, the song is an intimate and beautifully dreamlike touch on the album.
My other critique for the album is found in the song “Mastermind,” but again, not due to the quality of the song itself, but rather its placement and purpose. Considering how Taylor has a history of healing-like album closers, renewing and hopeful from the likes of “Clean” and “Daylight”, “Mastermind” does not necessarily have that same feeling of closure.
Midnights (3am edition)
At 3 a.m., Swift revealed there was more to “Midnights,” releasing seven additional songs. A lot of the songs solidified “Midnights,” especially in terms of lyricism that brought more of an emotional punch to the album. “The Great War” features some of Swift’s most imaginative and romantic storytelling about the resiliency of love that reads like an intimate yet triumphant conversation between lovers. Another 3 a.m. release,“Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” may be my favorite of the songs that Taylor released in the wee hours of Oct. 21st. The lyrics’ religious allusions, the ballad-like production that doesn’t stray too far from this album’s pop sound, and an outstanding vocal performance from Swift, make this song a star of the night. This song single handedly encapsulates “Midnights” as the late night retrospect, lends an emotional outpour of regrets, stress, the pain in honest reflection of self, and revenge. The 3am surprise also came with a more satisfying “Midnights” closer with “Dear Reader”, a touching address from Swift to her listeners.
Overall Thoughts:
Swift’s lyrics have taught me innumerable lessons about life and love, and “Midnights” continues to do so. “Midnights” is a more mature pop sound than the pop tunes we have previously received from her. The album is the best of what Taylor Swift has to offer; the masterful lyricism of “Folklore,” the gusto of “Reputation,” the fragility of “1989,” and the overall signature Swift sass. Swift incorporates what she has done well in albums past, while still offering something new. Overall, the album is genius and the themes, haunting. The beauty of retrospect and dark emotional vulnerability are strong throughout. Thematically and sonically, “Midnights” is a very cohesive album and Swift’s skill throughout is undeniable. All in all, this album is certainly worth checking out, not just once but at least twice. As for my personal evaluation, “Midnights” is an easy 5 stars.