Album of the year? The 67th Grammy Awards have been announced; Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department has been mentioned many times on the list, especially for the album of the year. There’s no doubt that this album is worthy of the title; let’s dive down into why Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department deserves to be voted album of the year.

     Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department explores contemporary themes, typically not used by other mainstream artists; this distinction makes The Tortured Poets Department so special. It’s also worth noting that Swift released The Tortured Poets Department as a surprise double album; the double album is referred to as The Anthology and consists of 31 songs total, the most popular of which is Fortnight (featuring Post Malone).

     I like this album because it has this “airy” feel that reflects on real-life struggles. Some would argue that the album is too depressing and lacks uplifting characteristics; I would argue that each song in the album has a different mood, and some songs can be uplifting. Songs like So Long London and My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys convey the thoughts of heartbreak, sorrow, and grief; while songs like Guilty As Sin and So High School have a tone that is almost affectionate and full of passion.

     However, I would argue that even the sorrowful songs on the album have exceeded the expectations of many. The more depressing songs on the album allow the listener to undergo Swift’s struggles and analyze the reason(s) that may have caused her to write the album. Overall, the songs on The Tortured Poets Department are captivating and demonstrate a different theme than other albums that are popular now. Let’s take a look at Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album Short n’ Sweet, which has also made the Grammy nominations for Album of the Year. This album has captured the attention of many and can be proven to be a solid album; but when compared to Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, the album almost seems sub-par. Although Carpenter has filled Short n’ Sweet with catchy beats and meaningful lyrics, the album still does not meet The Tortured Poets Department’s level of immersive and instrumental tones used nor the deep consequential lyrics Swift wrote. The lyrics in The Tortured Poets Department have real-world implications, while Carpenter’s album uses general lyrics that do not veer from other mainstream artists.

     Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department is an overall masterpiece that uses a mix of lyrics and beats that come together to create a deep and meaningful album. If you have not already; do yourself a favor and listen to The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift, available on all music streaming sites.