“Midnights” by Taylor Swift was released on October 21, 2022. It is her tenth studio album and has already surpassed 1.2 million in sales in the United States. Swift also snagged every one of the top 10 slots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, all with songs from this recent album. 

This album can be described as alternative, indie, pop, R&B, and soul. Swift’s voice is calming, gloomy, and hazy, built around vintage synths. The songs are packed with vocal effects and chill beats. I would compare this album to Lorde’s “Pure Heroine” or The 1975’s “A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships”. 

“Midnights” is a lot different compared to Swift’s previous records. “Reputation” is edgy and experimental, and “Evermore” is earthy and folksy. When I first listened to this album I was a little underwhelmed. “Midnights” is full of songs that are comfortable but often insufficient. It could be boring or one-noted to some people. Perhaps too slow with no imaginative lyrics. In comparison to Swift’s previous albums, this one was especially more mellow. 

Nevertheless, the more I listened to the songs, the more I appreciated their tranquil vibes and soothing tones. I’ve been a fan of Swift since “1989”. I know her as a very strong-willed woman with girly-pop, so this album was a change of pace for both of us. 

This concept album is an assortment of late-night thoughts. Taylor Swift includes themes such as love, heartbreak, and relationships. However, it also consists of reflecting on herself. With “Midnights”, she realizes she has a side of her that is vengeful, resentful, and problematic. But also a side that is confident and flirtatious. The topics aren’t organized, but there is a central theme: love, self-reflection, and overthinking. I say “Midnights” definitely works as a concept album. All the songs relatively have the same sound and notion. The album is very cohesive. 

In regards to songs that bored me, “Vigilante Shit” simply wasn’t to my taste. It was pretty dull, but I appreciate the bass. The same thing goes for “You’re On Your Own, Kid.” It simply didn’t hit as hard as the other songs did. 

The main tracks I loved were “Snow on the Beach”, “Bejeweled”, “Labyrinth”, “Lavender Haze”, and “Karma”. “Bejeweled” and “Karma” are the more upbeat songs in the album. The former captivated me,  becoming one of my hype songs. It got me dancing and made me feel like the star of a show. The ladder is also self-empowering, in a way that makes you feel careless about others and their opinions; rebellious and frisky.  “Snow on the Beach”, “Lavender Haze”, and “Labyrinth” are more tranquil. The first two simply bewitched me with their sweet-sounding choruses. Yet, “Labyrinth” spoke to me on a deeper level. It is about a past heartbreak and falling in love after that. There is optimism in her journey of new love. Finding an adoration for relationships even after heartbreak is something I relate to heavily.  

I highly recommend this album to those who love moody and relaxing songs. It is deep, impassioned, and perfect for the cold weather.