Taylor Swift: Midnights Album Review

Taylor Swift. What more could be said about her? As one of the most successful acts in music, she has accomplished everything that the industry has to offer. From numerous award wins, to sold-out stadium shows, and record-breaking sales, Swift will go down in history as one of the greatest songwriters that this generation has to offer. She truly has nothing left to prove. However, everyone who has been on the top of Mount Olympus has fallen from grace once or twice. Unless you’re one of the lucky few.

2017 & 2019 were both tough years for Swift respectively. Although nominated, her two high-selling albums Reputation and Lover were both controversially denied of winning any Grammy Awards – something Kendrick Lamar’s fanbase knows too well. Throughout her career, Swift has been deemed as a “Grammy Darling,” with a whopping 42 nominations and 11 wins. This, along with continuous criticism from the public left her in a dark place. At the time, many were skeptical if she could reach the heights she once did; or face the same fate as her former colleagues: insert Katy Perry.

Taking her own advice, “don’t get sad, get even,” Swift returned in 2020 with two monstrous albums: Folklore and Evermore. Alongside her re-recorded Taylor’s Version in 2021 – Sorry Braun. Inspired by folklore itself and fictional storytelling, this was uncharted territory for Swift. With a career as long as hers, there aren’t many places to go next. Where else could she visit now? In comes Midnights: The stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout her life.

Alongside cinematographer Rina Yang, Midnights is Swift’s first attempt at creating a visual album that offers a cinematic effect to the present theme of the project. This is enhanced even more as these personal tales are interwoven into a colorful synth-pop orchestrated by longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff. With only one feature – if you can call it that – Swift’s vivid storytelling alongside her creative use of audio effects (cue “Midnight Rain”) brings the songs to life.

Starting off with Lavender Haze – which includes a Zoe Kravitz credit – sets the reflective tone for the album: “I’ve been placed under scrutiny/You handle it beautifully.” Her vulnerability continues to grow, as “Anti-Hero” delves into the struggles of accepting her flaws: “I’m the problem/ It’s me.” During an episode of her Tik Tok series, Midnight Mayhem, Swift states “I struggle with the idea that my life has become unmanageably sized/And I, not to sound too dark, just struggle with the idea of not feeling like a person. These insecurities consistently lay the groundwork for the album. Continuing the ongoing theme of reflection and coming to terms with yourself.

The relatability of music also strikes at the heart of the listener: “Every single one of your friends was making fun of you/But 15 seconds later they’re clapping too.” Underneath all the fame and popularity, there still lies flesh and blood. “Labyrinth” takes a journey through the singer’s past relationships and the trauma she has accrued. The lyrics reveal her worry about falling in love again: “I thought the plane was going down, How’d you turn it right around.” As with the numerous difficulties women face today, balancing a career yet maintaining a relationship/family is another challenge. Thankfully, karma has her back.

From the slow ballad of “Labyrinth,” to the base-heavy Billie Eilishesque “Vigilante Shit,” Midnights is Swift’s coming-of-age story. She comes to terms with her fame and past experiences with the hope of continuing to grow and build new long-lasting relationships. Thus, becoming a Mastermind in her own right.