Midnights is objectively the second best album of Taylor Swift’s proper pop arc of 1989 and its polarizing follow-ups of reputation and Lover. Her return to a more immediate mass appeal somewhat comes as a surprise, considering 2020′s acclaimed alternative detour into the indie woods of folklore and evermore heard Swift’s songwriting pen growing with her audience with an indie-indebted sound sculpted by the National’s Aaron Dessner and production constant Jack Antonoff. Here, it’s just Antonoff proving why he’s at his best as a synth-pop auteur in a late night vibe shift where Swift’s sprawling thoughts on the things that keep your mind racing at night command both deeper introspection into her self-mythology as a well as TikTok-worthy trend where even befuddling references to “sexy babies” lead down rabbit of holes of deeper significance. Like the 1975′s latest, it’s also one of Swift’s most cohesively-designed albums in mood and theme as well, further expanding her musical multi-universe by yet another layer.

Highlights: “Anti-Hero”, “You’re On Your Own, Kid”, “Mastermind”

Taylor Swift’s Midnights is available now on Republic Records.

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