Contrary to many other fans, I did not enjoy listening to Taylor Swift when I was younger. In fact, as disappointing as it is to admit, I would consider my younger self a hater. But as I’ve grown up, I’ve learned from my mistakes and Taylor Swift hasn’t wavered from her spot as my #1 most listened-to artist on Spotify. Needless to say, when she announced her 10th studio album Midnights, I once again immersed myself in her music. 

I’ve had Midnights on repeat all week, loving it more with each listen. The sound is new and fresh, and a great addition to her already diverse discography. But I did not feel this positive about the album from the start.

On Oct 21, I sat down with some friends at midnight sharp and listened to all 13 original tracks in one sitting. The sound was definitely different from what I expected, and some of the lyrics were fairly surprising. I went to sleep that night feeling underwhelmed and a bit disappointed. 

But when I woke up to her seven additional “3 a.m. tracks” the next morning, I decided to give the album another listen. And I am so glad that I did. Although I had prematurely convinced myself that the album was a disappointment, I found myself with the catchy choruses stuck in my head all day. 

The more I listened, the more I enjoyed the songs and the more I fell in love with the fun and upbeat vibe of the album. There were definitely still some songs that I just couldn’t get behind, such as my personal least favorite, “Anti-Hero” (an unpopular opinion, I know), but the rest of the album was frankly addicting.

The album’s opener “Lavender Haze” was fantastic, her vocals blended seamlessly with Lana Del Ray’s in “Snow on the Beach”, the bridges on “You’re On Your Own, Kid” and “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” were among her best, and there really weren’t any songs that I wouldn’t want to listen to again. Overall the album was super fun and exciting.

Swift is known for her ability to switch genres, and I think that switch can take some getting used to for some fans, myself included. If you’re not feeling this album, that’s okay. But try to give it another listen, Swift might just surprise you.