During the Grammy Awards ceremony last Sunday, Taylor Swift made history by winning Album of the Year for ‘Midnights’, marking her fourth win in the category and surpassing Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon, who each had three wins. However, the most significant news for Swifties came earlier in the evening when Swift used her 13th Grammy win to unveil her 11th studio album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’. In her acceptance speech, Swift expressed gratitude to her fans and revealed that she had been keeping the album’s release a secret for the past two years. She announced that the album is set to be released on April 19 and immediately shared the album cover backstage. This announcement sparked excitement among Swift’s fan base, with many eagerly anticipating the release of ‘The Tortured Poets Department’.

What’s in a name?

Swift unveiled her upcoming album title, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’, which seems fittingly poetic and anguished, albeit longer than her usual preference for shorter titles.

Could we have seen this coming?

There were speculations prior to the ceremony that Swift might use her acceptance speech to announce the re-recording of her album ‘Reputation’, as part of her ongoing project to reclaim control over her master recordings.

Additionally, Swift’s website experienced technical difficulties just before the Grammys, displaying a mysterious error code containing the text “hneriergrd”, which fans interpreted as a deliberate misdirection or distraction. It seems Swift enjoys teasing her fans.

What’s the cover like?

Immediately following her Grammys speech, Swift unveiled the album cover art, featuring a black-and-white image of her lounging on comfortable pillows. The low-contrast photo cuts off the top half of her face, exuding a sensual vibe reminiscent of ‘Folklore’, with hints of Madonna’s ‘Bedtime Stories’.

When’s it out?

It is scheduled for release on April 19th. This release falls right in the midst of Swift’s Eras Tour, during which she guides fans through her vast music catalog. It remains uncertain how Swift’s new album will impact future setlists.

How many songs will the album have?

The new LP includes 16 songs and one bonus track titled ‘The Manuscript’. There are two guest features this time: Post Malone and Florence and the Machine.

1. Fortnight [ft. Post Malone]
2. The Tortured Poets Department
3. My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys
4. Down Bad
5. So Long, London
6. But Daddy I Love Him
7. Fresh Out the Slammer
8. Florida!!! [ft. Florence and the Machine]
9. Guilty as Sin?
10. Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?
11. I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)
12. Loml
13. I Can Do It With a Broken Heart
14. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived
15. The Alchemy
16. Clara Bow
17. The Manuscript (Bonus Track)

It’s already breaking records, isn’t it?

Shortly after revealing the album on her social media platforms, Swift promptly made it available for preorder on her website. The album will be offered in various versions, such as CD, cassette, vinyl, and digital formats. Impressively, preorders for ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ vinyl have already exceeded the entire first hour pre-order sales of her previous album ‘Midnights’ across all formats, all within just 25 minutes.