Taylor Swift’s surprise double album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ is daggers wrapped in a lullaby

Taylor Swift's much-anticipated "Tortured Poets Department" meeting is now in session, and brace yourselves because it's not just an album—it's a 31-song mega double album extravaganza.

The Grammy-winning artist dropped her 11th studio album on Friday, making waves with its early appearance on Apple Music, a surprise for eager fans awaiting its scheduled midnight release. But that wasn't all—Swift pulled another rabbit out of the hat by releasing an additional 15-song album titled “TTPD: The Anthology” at 2 a.m. EDT.

The initial 16-track “Tortured Poets Department” album offers a seemingly tranquil and laid-back vibe on the surface. However, for those diving into the lyrics—the trademark move of dedicated Swifties—it's a journey through a tumultuous and intricate stream of consciousness. Here, Swift navigates through heartbreak, yearning, fury, and introspection with her signature poetic flair.

One standout example is found in the album’s 12th track, “Loml,” where Swift croons, “I wish I could un-recall how we almost had it all,” before poignantly concluding, “You’re the loss of my life.”

To commemorate the album's release, Swift took to her verified Instagram page, describing it as “an anthology of new works reflecting events, opinions, and sentiments from a fleeting and fatalistic moment in time.” She elaborated, “This writer firmly believes that our tears become holy in the form of ink on a page. Once we've expressed our saddest story, we can be liberated from it. And what remains is the tortured poetry.”

Collaborations shine as highlights throughout the album, with tracks like “Florida!!!” featuring Florence + the Machine, a stunning fusion of two distinct voices blending seamlessly. In “Fortnight,” the album's lead single featuring Post Malone, Swift and Post Malone deliver a dynamic performance, encapsulating the essence of the album’s themes.

Notable collaborators include Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner, frequent songwriting and producing partners credited on several tracks. Swift also stands as the sole writer on two tracks—“My Boy Only Breaks His Favourite Toys” and “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?”

The later-released “Anthology” album includes exclusive vinyl variant bonus tracks alongside a plethora of new songs, expanding the sonic journey.

“Tortured Poets Department” arrives amidst Swift’s groundbreaking “Eras Tour” and her recent Grammy wins, poised to surpass sales and streaming projections.

Tom Poleman, chief programming officer and president of iHeartRadio, remarked, “This is probably the most anticipated album ever that I’ve seen in my career.” Indeed, according to Spotify, the album became the most pre-saved album in the platform’s history.

Fans eagerly await Swift's unfiltered truth, with one self-proclaimed Swiftie expressing, “I have a feeling that she’s going to give us everything on this album, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

In February, Swift teased the album at the Grammys, reflecting on its significance during a concert in Melbourne. “Just the things I was going through, the things I was writing about,” she shared, “it kind of reminded me why songwriting is something that actually gets me through my life.”