The Tortured Poet's Department: On Mess, Sprawl, and Why No One Can Be Normal about Taylor Swift

Greetings from the pile of Taylor Swift discourse I buried myself in all weekend. It’s hot and itchy, and I’m not having fun in here anymore. I feel bad for anyone who is paid peanuts to write about Taylor Swift on the internet. I feel bad for Joe Alwyn. And Olivia Rodrigo. And somehow, Taylor Swift. And also America? What is wrong with us? Taylor Swift makes me feel bad for everyone except Swifties and Swift’s dad, Scott. Scott in his lanyard. Scerw you, Scott! 

I love The Tortured Poet’s Department because I love messy, uncensored, confessional songwriting. I love seeing the material that artists should’ve left on the cutting room floor. How else could I be such a devoted Prince fan? I even liked Artificial Age, okay? I firmly believe that TTPD is a grower, not a shower. However, I agree with the consensus that some lyrics are insane. Holy mixed metaphors. And that some of the music is boring. I know lots of artists who refuse to work with the same producer twice for fear of the exac…