The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology: listen first, then think.

Swift’s new album is fall of puzzles and stories and references. But first, just listen.

Taylor Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department The Anthology, her 11th studio album, has broken the record for Spotify’s most-streamed in a single day,300,000.000. Probably the most anticipated album in history since she hinted at it at the Grammys this year. Her fans were in such a frenzy that when the BBC reported that it had been leaked, thousands of Swifties took the internet pledge not to listen to the leaked copy.

I didn’t take the pledge, but I am just now listening to the legal copy. And it is really, really good! But first, let’s look at the global phenom that is Swift.

Taylor Swift was declared the second wealthiest self-made woman in the music world with a net worth of $1.1 billion last October, behind Rihanna (that may have changed with film and concert and new album proceeds). Swift is a billionaire – over $1.5 billion reported in Forbes April 2 this year and undoubtably a little more now with film and concert profits, not to mention streaming revenue from the new album.

But in wealth like in everything else, Swift made her money by making people happy –  no side hustles, no clothing lines, no restaurant chains. All of her money comes from singing, songwriting, and performing – on a vast scale. All at 34 years old, after leaving the country music business in the dust. (Maybe Beyonce will make some changes there).

The album was a surprise. Of course she telegraphed at the Grammy’s, so the 16-song album we all anticipated was not a surprise. But she actually released a double album, and she released different versions with different bonus songs (some fans groused that they had to buy different albums to get all of her songs, but that will change as fans share bonus songs, and the bonus “Manuscript” is on Spotify now).

Listening to a Swift song is like listening to a puzzle; trying to catch all the references, the codes, what she is singing about herself and others. That’s fun but this time I put it on a good speaker (not my phone!) and just listened; no thinking, just listening to the music.

It’s magnificent. It is the kind of album you can put on and close your eyes and just wallow in the pure beauty of her voice and the cadence of her lyrics. From anger, to love, to determination, the innocence, to seduction, Swift does them all flawlessly and leaves you breathless at the sheer beauty of the songs.

The title song is especially compelling. Swift modulates her voice, gives emphasis where it’s called for, but always within a sonic framework of pure beauty. The same for “loml” and “Who is Afraid of Little Old Me.” I could go on for 28 more songs, but I don’t have the space and I would repeat myself at some point. Suffice it to say, when you listen to The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, just listen before you think. It will be a beautiful experience.

Then you can dig into the puzzles.

Patrick O’Heffernan