0602445790098. Pre-Owned: Good condition. CD. Midnights isn t a retreat so much as a return a revival of the moody electro-pop that kept Reputation roiling. Where that 2017 record carried a measure of defiance the vibe of Midnights is contemplative even when beats are insistent as they are on occasion. Despite these fleeting moments of urgency the record is clearly a soundtrack to be played in the wee hours of the morning. In that sense Midnights is a kindred spirit to Folklore and Evermore the twin 2020 albums Swift released during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic yet those records felt like collections of short stories where these songs -- whether in their standard 13-song variation or the lengthy 3 AM Edition which runs an additional seven tracks -- all feel like confessions even if they display the sense of exacting lyrical detail she s honed since Lover. These compositions provide a sturdy foundation on a record that wants to capture the aimless suspension of late-night insomnia a time filled with regret recriminations and resignations. Swift spikes this moodiness with hints of steeliness -- witness the cool swagger of Vigilante Shit -- but that s merely an accent on an album designed to deliver variations on one specific mood. Although this monochromatic palette tends to highlight the limits of co-producer Jack Antonoff s bag of tricks -- nothing here feels surprising even when he s playing with textures and teasing out the music s dream pop elements -- the narrow focus is the main attribute of Midnights as it plays to Swift s sense of control and craft: she may be singing about messy emotions but she sculpts those tangled feelings into shimmering resonant songs. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Rovi