Taylor Swift took the music charts and streaming platforms by storm when she dropped her 10th studio album, Midnights, on October 21. On top of that, she surprised her fans by releasing an extended version, Midnights (3am Edition), which included songs that didn’t fit with the album but Swift wanted to release anyway.
Midnights was quite the surprise because I had become so accustomed to the indie atmosphere of Folklore and Evermore. With it being Sad Girl Autumn, I didn’t expect a synth-pop album that’s basically the lovechild of reputation and Lover. Nonetheless, Midnights is an interesting album, and I’m excited to share my thoughts on it.
Midnights is a return to Taylor’s pop era. It’s a lot of fun vibes, but beneath the sound, the lyrics tell of a melancholy, self-reflective Swift. She sings about the emotions that come with being in the spotlight, the mistakes she has made and the thoughts that keep her up at night. Alongside the sadness, is that classic hunger for sweet, sweet revenge, seen in songs like “Vigilante Shit.”
“Anti-Hero,” the lead single clearly captures the album’s concept. “I have this thing where I get older, but just never wiser,” she sings, incredibly self-aware. I respect the mature angle she takes in lyrics like this, and the accompanying synth sound is pleasing to the ears. There are a few lyrics on the album that I found cringe or dramatic, like “Sit quiet by my side in the shade / And not the kind that’s thrown / I mean, the kind under where a tree has grown.” Not her best moments lyrically, but these are quickly overshadowed by certified bangers, like “Snow on the Beach” and “Maroon.”
I’m not sure if this is my favorite album (Red may still have my heart), but what makes Midnights special is that it doesn’t just sound good; it has an excellent concept tied to it. Midnights wasn’t what I wanted or what I expected, but after a few listens I really began to enjoy the album and understand what Swift was going for. More importantly, I feel like the journey of creating Midnights was good for Swift’s soul, and there are a lot of songs I think people can relate to.
Maybe you’re not a fan of Swift’s pop phase and you’re rolling your eyes at Midnights (to be honest, reputation is my least favorite Swift album), but I encourage you to give this new record a try. Sure, a lot of the songs aren’t anything too unique and a few of them are boring (I didn’t enjoy “Question…?” or “Mastermind”), but many tracks will grow on you.
Also, I didn’t find the extra songs on the 3 AM edition to be anything amazing, but I thoroughly enjoyed a few of them, like “Bigger Than The Whole Sky” and “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve.” Overall, I can definitely say that Swift gave us another solid album, and I’m looking forward to fighting to the death for tickets to her upcoming tour.