The New York Post launches a video series called “Listen!” “Music beats with Chuck Arnold”
The New York Post is launching a new, exclusive video series today – “Listen! “The music beats with Chuck Arnold.”
Every Friday, resident music critic Arnold will bring over 30 years of knowledge to the camera with authoritative critical commentary, exclusive music news and event coverage, and you can’t miss our weekend picks.
He’ll dive into every week’s buzzy music news—album releases and single releases from the biggest stars and hottest new artists—and everything else you need to know to stay on the inside track of the music moment.
In the first episode, it’s all about Taylor Swift.
Naturally, Swift released her 11th studio album, “Tortured Poets Oath,” on Friday. The 17-song list is filled with famous Easter eggs, songs dedicated to her lover Travis Kelce, numerous lyrical hints about her ex-boyfriends Joe Alwyn and Matty Healy, and more.
But that wasn’t enough for the 14-time Grammy winner. She also surprised Swifties with 15 more songs at 2 a.m., making it a double album.
“Sure enough — there’s a lot of ‘bad blood’ spilled on Swift’s latest release. “In the candor and specificity of her lyrics, they’re clearly ‘IDGAF’ of their era,” Arnold said of Swift’s new music in his review. “Indeed, the album begins with a succession of shocking events that may It makes you clutch your pearls — or, in this case, your friendship bracelets.”
Here’s what to know about Taylor Swift’s new album, “The Tortured Poets Department”:
- The 14-time Grammy Award winner released her long-awaited 11th studio album, “Tortured Poets Oath,” on Friday.
- Swift sent her fans into a frenzy at 2am after revealing the record was a double album. Swift’s belated surprise hit, titled “The Anthology,” includes 15 additional songs, bringing the total to 31 songs.
- Swift initially unveiled her 16-song album at midnight, including collaborations with Post Malone and Florence Welch on two tracks. There are also four bonus tracks, “The Manuscript”, “The Bolter”, “The Albatross” and “The Black Dog” that appear on the various vinyl editions of the album. The four tracks plus 11 new songs are included on “The Anthology”.
- A poem about heartbreak that served as an introduction to the album was written by Fleetwood Mac alum Stevie Nicks.
- There are many celebrity names sprinkled throughout the album’s lyrics, and the mention of singer Charlie Puth surprised some Swifties.
- While some of Swift’s exes haven’t spared “TTPD,” the 34-year-old singer appears to reference her current beau Travis Kelce in the new album’s song “The Alchemy” in an endearing way.
- As for her exes, 1975 singer Matty Healy is said to be referenced on the powerful 31-song record. In fact, Hailey – who, prior to their summer split, had a rekindled romance with the pop star following her split from British actor Joe Alwyn after six years – appears to be the subject of a vicious “youngest man who ever lived” takedown. However, other fans may speculate that the phrase “sparkling summer” is about Alwyn. There are also hints that “I Can Fix It (I Really Can’t)” — gotta love that title — might be about the 35-year-old Hailey.
- As for Alwyn, Swift dropped hints at their ill-fated 6-year romance for a good — or, for him, not so good — portion of the album. Check out the 10 Alwyn-related references we spotted.
- Read the newspaper’s review of “The Tortured Poets Section” here.
- Shop a special edition vinyl of Taylor Swift’s “Tortured Poets Section” at Target.
- Purchase the Tortured Poets Oath Ghosted White 2 LP special edition set now.
Other topics of this week? New tunes from the Beatles – well, their kids, at least – James McCartney’s “Primrose Hill,” co-written with Sean Ono and Lennon. Plus, an exclusive look at Big Apple tour stops with Bad Bunny and Maggie Rogers, and his weekend musical selections — from Billy Joel and Coachella to Alicia Keys.
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