Taylor Swift’s “Midnights (3am Edition)” has crafted a masterpiece and this album is highly recommended!
Click here to purchase Taylor Swift – Midnight [Explicit] (3am Edition) on Amazon
ARTIST: Taylor Swift
ALBUM: Midnights [Explicit] (3 am Edition)
DURATION: 20 Songs (1 hour, 10 minutes)
RELEASE DATE: October 21, 2022
1 Lavender Haze
2 Maroon
3 Anti-Hero
4 Snow on the Beach (Feat. Lana Del Rey)
5 You’re on Your Own, Kid
6 Midnight Rain
7 Question…?
8 Vigilante Shit
9 Bejeweled
10 Labyrinth
11 Karma
12 Sweet Nothing
13 Mastermind
14 The Great War
15 Bigger Than the Whole Sky
16 Paris
17 High Infidelity
18 Glitch
19 Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve
It doesn’t seem that long ago when I first reviewed a Taylor Swift album, which was her 2008 album “Fearless”.
At the time, I was fascinated because she was a music artist at the time that had the ability to crossover from country music to pop and even at her young age, she had tremendous potential as a lyricist.
And while I have followed her music through the ups and downs, I don’t know how many talented artists have gone through what she had. And where many artists could have just quit the industry and start a new life, Taylor Swift remained resilient.
But then COVID-19 happened and the pandemic led to the cancellation of her concert tour for her seventh album “Lover” (2019) and she would craft the masterpiece “Folklore” which became the best-selling of 2020. And to the shock of everyone, she released her ninth studio album “Evermore”, a album which Swift called it the sister to “Folklore” and was the best-selling alternative music album of 2021.
There is no doubt that her collaboration with Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff would lead to a freedom of creativity. Where “Folklore” was a collection of songs and stories and Swift taking on indie folk, alternative rock and electroacoustic styles, “Evermore” was further experimentation.
And here we are in Oct. 2022 and her tenth album titled “Midnights”. And Swift would tease a “special very chaotic surprise” three hours after the albums release and for digital and streaming only, she would release “Midnights (3am Edition)” which would feature seven additional songs.
And sure enough, the album would become the most-streamed album in a single day in Spotify history and broke Apple Music’s record for biggest pop album of all-time by first day streams.
Needless to say, the album was highly anticipated and the Taylor Swift has matured to a woman who has gone through so much in her career but the point of self-reflection and also to explore newfound freedom as a master lyricist and incorporate many musical styles, how would she follow two critically acclaimed albums?
“Midnights” is an album which was inspired by 13 sleepless nights of her life and as she described the experience as a “journey through terrors and sweet dreams”.
She also continued her collaboration with Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff, but this album which is considered a concept album, would feature a more electronic, synth-pop style with programmed beats, chill-out music and continued more experimentation and to craft lyrics that dealt with self-criticism, insecurity, anxiety and insomnia.
I have listened to this album repeatedly since its morning release and I can tell you that it’s a no-skip album. In fact, I posted on Twitter that I felt this album probably would have those who have ranked Swift’s albums from worst to best and that they would have a new no. 1.
Yes, “Folklore” was a game changer and I would go on to say it should be included on those top albums of all time rankings. But similar to other bands or artists that have had game changing releases, they have evolved and created albums that would take that creativity to another level.
I do feel that “Midnights (3am Edition)” is Taylor Swift’s best album yet. It’s her masterpiece.
Yes, it has pop tunes, but this is much more focused and special and that comes with maturity and a lot of experiences. As a singer/songwriter, “Midnights (3am Edition)” really stands out in a wonderful way!
While all songs on this album are awesome, I’m going to select several from this album that stood out for me.
The first track kicks off with “Lavender Haze”, a song inspired by a line from the TV show “Mad Men” and no doubt revolves around her relationship with boyfriend, actor Joe Alwyn. And a song that references of media wanting to know more about her love life.
All they keep asking me (All they keep asking me)
Is if I’m gonna be your bride
The only kinda girl they see (Only kinda girl they see)
Is a one-night or a wife
Catchy track and addictive beats and I just love how Swift kicks off this track with lyrics of how she feels with those nosy questions in regards to her personal life. But overall a wonderful song.
The song “Anti-Hero” is a song that I loved because it’s a kind of song that I would expect from synthpop bands such as CHVRCHES but this song is magnificent. The music is catchy and addictive but her lyrics for this song is amazing. In fact, Swift would say it is one of her favorite songs that she has ever written.
It’s me, hi (Hi)
I’m the problem, it’s me (I’m the problem, it’s me)
At teatime (Teatime), everybody agrees (Everybody agrees)
I’ll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero
Track four is “Snow on the Beach” features a collaboration with Lana Del Ray and the collaboration is wonderful. The two singing about falling in love with someone unexpectedly. But how both artists compliment each other’s vocals, I absolutely love it.
The sixth track “Midnight Run” is interesting for its creative vocals that kick off the song. Love the experimental side of the song but it’s an interesting song because it is about a song to end a relationship to pursue her career. This is song is so damn deep!
He wanted it comfortable, I wanted that pain
He wanted a bride, I was making my own name
Chasing that fame, he stayed the same
All of me changed like midnight
I guess sometimes we all get
Just what we wanted, just what we wanted
And he never thinks of me
Except for when I’m on TV
I guess sometimes we all get
Some kind of haunted, some kind of haunted
And I never think of him
Except on midnights like this
(Midnights like this, midnights like this)
The eight track “Vigilante Shit” is so good! Deep synth bass and beats and a dark song about revenge.
She don’t start shit, but she can tell you how it ends
Don’t get sad, get even
So on the weekends
She don’t dress for friends
Lately she’s been dressing for revenge
For those who have wanted something a bit of classic Taylor, will like the ninth track “Bejeweled”.
And what is interesting is that the music video for “Bejeweled” features Easter Egg’s that in a way gives a nod to her third album “Speak Now”. You’ll hear an instrumental version of “Enchanted” and “Long Live” being played in the background and she even wears two heart pins with “S” and “N” and the music video was released on the 12th anniversary of “Speak Now”.
The music video has also has a nod to other Taylor Swift albums and situations from her life.
Another track I love because it’s that middle finger track to those who caused her so much pain. Love the musical arrangement for this track but man, this is a very good song! In fact, if there is one thing about the lyrics, for a song like “Karma”:
You’re talking shit for the hell of it
Addicted to betrayal, but you’re relevant
You’re terrified to look down
‘Cause if you dare, you’ll see the glare
Of everyone you burned just to get there
It’s coming back around
This is an awesome track which probably is a song that may have been influenced from rumors back then when she went through a lot of things, may it be related to a rapper, to another pop star, to ex-boyfriends who treated her badly. And many thought she would release an album called “Karma”. But fast-forward to 2022, and you get a song that deals with that subject in mind.
Now I’m going to say that the songs after track 13 are the bonus tracks added to the “3am edition” and these tracks are awesome. While the original album is very good, these tracks that were added to the digital release are awesome and I recommend getting them!
Track 15 “Bigger than the Whole Sky” is a ballad and love the synth and acoustic guitar for this track. A song about goodbyes, may it be someone’s passing or a relationship. Many have took this song to heart after the pain of miscarriage. But for any loss that one has had in their life, the song’s lyrics are quite deep.
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
You were bigger than the whole sky
You were more than just a short time
And I’ve got a lot to pine about
I’ve got a lot to live without
I’m never gonna meet
What could’ve been, would’ve been
What should’ve been you
And while there are so many good bonus tracks on this album, I want to give spotlight to the final track on the album titled “Dear Reader”.
As mentioned, Swift has gone through so much and this album really goes into current and past relationships, heartbreak, self-reflection but having dealt with so much, what best way to reach out to her listeners, her fans who are going through their own problems? What best than a song with positivity, hope and clear advice.
Dear reader, if it feels like a trap
You’re already in one
Dear reader, get out your map
Pick somewhere and just run
Dear reader, burn all the files
Desert all your past lives
And if you don’t recognize yourself
That means you did it right
Never take advice from someone who’s falling apart
Never take advice from someone who’s falling apart (You should find another)
Having listened to this album numerous times throughout the day, I can’t help and smile because I feel proud for Taylor Swift for possibly crafting a masterpiece that will probably put this album on those lists of “Greatest Albums of All Time”.
“Folklore” and “Evermore” are albums that were groundbreaking for her and wanting to be creatively free, but now she has crafted something that can attract pop listeners, but yet not be commercial pop but more of a creative synth-pop style with addictive beats and grooves and chill-out music that you just want to listen to over and over again.
As mentioned, this is a no-skip album as there are so many wonderful songs that I just listen to them all in one go.
Having reviewed her albums and following her career, I can’t help but stand from my seat and give an applause to Taylor Swift. Because listening to this album, it’s indeed a special album that will be a major highlight in already what is a successful career.
Taylor Swift’s “Midnights (3am Edition)” has crafted a masterpiece and this album is highly recommended!
Click here to purchase Taylor Swift – Midnight [Explicit] (3am Edition) on Amazon
