Popular Midnights album reviews
Pitchfork‘s Midnights review summary
Pitchfork‘s album score: 7.0
According to Pitchfork‘s Quinn Moreland, Midnights marks a reflective chapter in Taylor Swift’s musical journey, focusing on introspection rather than reinvention.
Let’s look at what else she has to say.
A summary of Moreland’s Midnights review:
Swift describes the album as a collection of songs written in the middle of the night, delving into familiar themes such as romance, societal expectations, and personal fallibility. The album is noted for its emotional depth, with Swift characterizing life as “emotionally abusive.”
The album, exclusively recorded with Jack Antonoff, presents a shift in style. It leans towards moodier, subdued tones, using vocal effects and vintage synths to create an atmospheric setting. Songs like “Midnight Rain” and “Snow on the Beach” (featuring Lana Del Rey) highlight this approach, with Swift exploring themes of career vs. partnership and capturing strange, beautiful moments, respectively.
Midnights occasionally revisits the minimalistic beats reminiscent of Lorde’s Pure Heroine, but the transition can seem uneven. Swift’s theatrical tendencies resurface, particularly in tracks like “Karma” and “Vigilante Shit,” though the latter’s edginess feels somewhat contrived. The album’s aesthetics are likened to a black-box theater—constant in physical space but varying in stories.
A standout track, “Maroon,” is discussed for its complex narrative and production, juxtaposing passionate lyrics with a numb, impersonal delivery. Midnights also returns Swift to diaristic songwriting. The lead single, “Anti-Hero” showcases her self-conscious yet self-critical style, addressing the conflict between her personal and public personas.
The album culminates with “Mastermind,” where Swift acknowledges her need for creative agency in romance. Additionally, the track “Sweet Nothing” (co-written with Joe Alwyn) continues this theme of personal and romantic realization.
The 3am Edition of the album offers additional songs of varying quality. “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve,” a collaboration with Aaron Dessner of The National, stands out for its mature perspective on a manipulative relationship.
Finally, “You’re on Your Own, Kid” reflects on Swift’s journey from an outsider to a star, acknowledging the personal sacrifices made along the way. The song serves as a reminder of the persistence of painful memories, despite any outward success.
Overall, Moreland praises Midnights as an introspective work that delves into the complexities of Swift’s life and career, with a mix of mature reflections and theatrical impulses.
Read Pitchfork‘s full Midnights review, then follow Quinn Moreland on Twitter (X).
Rolling Stone‘s Midnights album review summary
In this review, Rolling Stone‘s Brittany Spanos suggests that Swift’s recent journey of revisiting her older albums has reinvigorated her songwriting, giving Midnights a fresh and intriguing quality.
Let’s dive deeper into Brittany’s review.
A summary of Spanos’ Midnights review:
Taylor Swift’s Midnights emerges as an album shrouded in intrigue, departing from her recent pattern of surprise releases and instead engaging fans through a two-month rollout featuring Lynchian TikTok videos and lyric billboards. This build-up left fans speculating about the album’s direction, especially given Swift’s diverse musical shifts in recent years, from the dream-pop of “Lover” to the indie-folk of “Folklore” and “Evermore,” and the revisiting of her classics in “Fearless” and “Red.”
Midnights melds elements from Swift’s various musical phases, particularly resuming the synth-pop style of “1989,” “Reputation,” and “Lover.” The album, created in collaboration with Jack Antonoff, revolves around the theme of sleepless nights and delves into Swift’s personal reflections on relationships, public image, and internal struggles.
The opening track “Lavender Haze,” involves collaborators from Kendrick Lamar’s team and Zoë Kravitz, and focuses on Swift’s relationship and the public scrutiny it endures. It’s compared to her earlier works like “Call It What You Want” and “Cruel Summer,” exhibiting a more dismissive attitude towards external negativity and societal expectations.
“Anti-Hero,” the album’s lead single, stands out with its playful yet introspective pop, where Swift confronts her own insecurities and self-criticism. The song features bold lyrics and showcases Swift’s unique blend of self-examination and irony.
The album also follows Swift’s tradition of emotionally impactful fifth tracks with “You’re on Your Own, Kid,” which offers a retrospective glance at her teenage years and her path to fame. “Midnight Rain” continues this introspective journey, reflecting on a past relationship affected by career aspirations.
“Vigilante Shit” and “Karma” are noted for their darker tones, with Swift fantasizing about poetic justice against her adversaries, less dramatic yet more mature than some of her previous works.
The majority of Midnights focuses on the complexities of a developing romantic relationship, with songs like “Maroon” and “Labyrinth” exploring the nuances of love and doubt. The album also features a somewhat underwhelming collaboration with Lana Del Rey on “Snow on the Beach.”
The album concludes with “Mastermind,” where Swift reveals a carefully crafted plan to win over her love interest, which is a witty nod to her own reputation for leaving cryptic clues in her music. This is juxtaposed with “Sweet Nothing,” a tender love song co-written with her boyfriend.
Spanos acknowledges the album might surprise newer fans who favored the more traditionally respected sound of “Folklore” and “Evermore,” but it continues to reveal deeper layers beneath its synth-pop surface, possibly as part of Swift’s own intricate design.
Read Rolling Stone‘s full Midnights review, then follow Brittany Spanos on Twitter (X).
Variety‘s Midnights album review summary
In this review, Variety‘s Chris Willman praises Midnights as Swift’s 10th consecutive success, a testament to Swift’s enduring ability to evolve as an artist while maintaining a high level of artistry and relevance, making each of her releases a significant musical event.
A summary of Willman’s Midnights review:
Taylor Swift’s latest album, Midnights, marks a notable departure from the folk-infused sound of “Folklore” and “Evermore,” returning to her more familiar territory of synth-pop and programmed beats. This shift doesn’t signify a retreat but rather a synthesis of her pop sensibilities with the intimacy and narrative depth she explored in her recent albums. Midnights doesn’t chase hit singles or bombastic moments but maintains a consistent, mid-tempo mood throughout, reflecting a matured artist confident in her craft.
The album opens with “Lavender Haze,” an emotive track blending modern R&B influences, co-produced by Sounwave and Jack Antonoff. It sets the tone for Swift’s return to autobiographical storytelling, addressing public scrutiny and personal relationships, particularly with her long-term beau, Joe Alwyn. The song balances romantic themes with feminist undertones, critiquing societal expectations of women.
Midnights is described as more romantic overall, despite its occasional detours into witty sarcasm or solitude. It’s notable for being Swift’s first album to start and end with unambiguous love songs. The final track, “Mastermind,” is highlighted for its blend of humorous self-confidence and emotional vulnerability. Swift reveals her strategic planning in love, reflecting on societal gender norms and personal insecurities.
“Anti-Hero” is another standout track, where Swift’s self-examination is mixed with catchy, confessional lyrics. The album sees her balancing self-criticism with a sense of moral superiority, a theme persistent throughout her career.
Swift’s songwriting prowess is evident in her nuanced treatment of complex themes, whether it’s addressing past relationships, public feuds, or personal growth. Songs like “Vigilante Shit” and “Karma” delve into these themes with a mix of seriousness and humor. “Snow on the Beach,” featuring Lana Del Rey, stands out as a dreamy ballad, though the collaboration is subtler than expected.
Midnights doesn’t venture into the conceptual or narrative expansiveness of Swift’s previous works like “Folklore” or “Evermore.” Instead, it benefits from a focused, streamlined approach, with Antonoff’s production providing a cohesive sound across the album’s 13 tracks. This focus allows Swift to explore themes of love, redemption, and subtle vengeance with greater clarity and depth.
Read Variety‘s full Midnights review, then follow Chris Willman on Twitter (X).
Let’s unpack some of the prevalent themes in Midnights:
According to fans on Reddit, here are a few of Swifties’ favorite themes explored on Midnights.
Self-Reflection and Introspection
A dominant theme of the album is self-examination. Taylor explores her own insecurities, fears, and the parts of herself that she’s still coming to terms with.
Songs like “Anti-Hero” are a deep dive into her self-perception and personal struggles.
Romantic Relationships
As with many of her albums, Taylor delves into the complexities of love and relationships. However, in Midnights, there’s a more mature perspective, reflecting on past relationships with a sense of understanding and growth.
Fame and Public Scrutiny
Taylor continues to reflect on her life in the public eye, discussing how fame has impacted her personal and romantic life. This is a theme she’s touched on in past albums like Reputation, but here it’s explored with a more reflective (and sometimes critical) lens.
Mental Health
The album delves into themes of anxiety, insecurity, and the mental toll of living in the spotlight. It’s a candid look at her internal struggles, making the album relatable to many fans who have faced similar issues.
Nostalgia and Looking Back
Similarly to folklore and evermore, Midnights offers a sense of looking back at the past, whether it’s reflecting on past relationships, her career, or personal growth. Taylor revisits different parts of her life, examining how they’ve shaped her.
Dreams and Aspirations
The album also touches on the theme of dreams, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. It’s about the things we aspire to, the dreams we have for our lives, and sometimes, the disconnect between our dreams and reality.
Whether you ask a critic or a fan, it’s clear Midnights offers a more introspective and mature look into Taylor Swift’s life, thoughts, and feelings, its blend of pop/electronic elements and deeply personal lyrics showcasing her growth as an artist and a person.
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