There’s been a lot of hype surrounding Midnights. Taylor Swift announced the album at the MTV music awards in late August, much to the surprise of her fans, who expected another re-recording. Swift, riding the remnants of her Folklore and Evermore eras, was expected to deliver—and deliver she did.

Thirteen tracks long, Midnights houses a combination of sounds from Swift’s previous pop efforts; however, she adds a certain subdued depth. She plays with moody beats and electronic sounds but keeps her trademark eloquence, sounding like she’s reciting poetry to the ambiance of an arcade at midnight.

Swift gives us insight into her deepest thoughts and what she thinks about at night—she studies her persona with stark frankness in “Anti-Hero” and her instinct to choose her career over domesticity in “Midnight Rain” (reportedly about her relationship with actor Tom Hiddleston).

The album is consistent, even if it starts off a little slow; I found myself looking forward to later songs and the bonus tracks. I only had two major complaints: the lack of Lana Del Rey in “Snow on the Beach” and the entirety of “Vigilante S***.” I find the latter corny (sorry).

Some argue that the songs tend to blur together. Lexi Hollinger (’23) said of the album, “Although I did think some of the songs resembled each other, it didn’t make me like it any less.” I agree—the similarity adds cohesiveness.

Flaws aside, what makes this Swift album my favorite is how perfectly she manages to capture an emotion. In “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” after describing her hard-earned career, Swift advises the listener to “make the friendship bracelets / take the moment and tase it”—something that really hits home for this year’s seniors. And “Karma” perfectly summarizes how the best revenge happens on its own.

Other highlights include “Question…?” and “Bejeweled,” both revivals of the old pop Taylor, with more dense lyricism.

I highly recommend the album, although it takes some brainpower to sink in. So grab some headphones, wait for the clock to strike twelve, and give it a listen.