B次元官网网址淎ll of me changed like midnight,B次元官网网址� confesses halfway through her latest album, the aptly named and moody B次元官网网址淢idnights.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 a moment on the electric B次元官网网址淢idnight RainB次元官网网址� that finds lyricist Swift at her best, reminding you of her unparalleled ability to make any emotion feel universal.

The songB次元官网网址檚 chorus begins: B次元官网网址淗e was sunshine, I was midnight rain.B次元官网网址� And continues: B次元官网网址淗e wanted it comfortable, I wanted that pain. He wanted a bride, I was making my own name. Chasing that fame. He stayed the same.B次元官网网址� Then, that lyric: B次元官网网址淎ll of me changed like midnight.B次元官网网址�

The sound feels experimental for Swift, opening with her own vocals artificially pitched down to an almost-unrecognizable tone. ItB次元官网网址檚 among the albumB次元官网网址檚 most sonically interesting, an indie-pop beat that feels reminiscent of her producer Jack AntonoffB次元官网网址檚 work on LordeB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淢elodrama,B次元官网网址� but also fresh and captivating.

The songB次元官网网址檚 words, by Swift and Antonoff, are steady and detailed, but not distracting B次元官网网址� allowing you to sink into the rhythm, flowing and feeling it with her.

On a self-aware Swift shows off her ability to evolve again. And in typical Swift fashion, she had more surprises up her sleeve B次元官网网址� dropping and after B次元官网网址淢idnightsB次元官网网址� released.

For her 10th original album, the 32-year-old pop star approaches the themes sheB次元官网网址檚 grown up writing about B次元官网网址� love, loss, childhood, fame B次元官网网址� with a maturity that comes through in sharpened vocals and lyrics focused more on her inner-life than external persona.

B次元官网网址淢idnight RainB次元官网网址� could be a thesis statement for the project sheB次元官网网址檚 described as songs written during B次元官网网址�13 sleepless nights,B次元官网网址� an appropriate approach to the concept album for someone who has long had a lyrical appreciation for late nights (think B次元官网网址淪tyleB次元官网网址�: B次元官网网址渕idnight, you come and pick me up, no headlightsB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址�). Of course, sheB次元官网网址檚 centered her work around themes before B次元官网网址� on B次元官网网址淩ed,B次元官网网址� an ode to the color and the emotions it stands for, B次元官网网址渞eputation,B次元官网网址� a vindictive reconfiguring of her own, and most recently on B次元官网网址渇olkloreB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渆vermore,B次元官网网址� quarantine albums that expressed vulnerability in ways only isolation could.

But Swift presents B次元官网网址淢idnightsB次元官网网址� as something different: a collection of songs that donB次元官网网址檛 necessarily have to go together, but fit together because she has declared them products of late night inspiration. Positioning listeners situationally B次元官网网址� in the quiet but thoughtful darkness of night B次元官网网址� instead of thematically, feels like a natural creative experiment for a songwriter so prolific that her albums have become synonymous with the pop culture zeitgeist.

And with that, comes a tone that is just a little darker, a little more experimental, and always electric.

Track one, B次元官网网址淟avender Haze,B次元官网网址� pairs a muffled club beat and high-pitched backing vocals from Antonoff with stand-out, beckoning melody from Swift. B次元官网网址淢aroonB次元官网网址� is a grown-up and weathered version of B次元官网网址淩ed,B次元官网网址� a dive into lost love with rich descriptions of rust, spilled wine, red lipstick B次元官网网址� images Swift is reconjuring with more bite.

B次元官网网址淟abyrinthB次元官网网址� makes clear sheB次元官网网址檚 carried the best of her previous pop experiments with her B次元官网网址� the synth of B次元官网网址�1989B次元官网网址� and the softer alternative sounds of B次元官网网址渇olkloreB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� as she admits as only a songwriter can that a heartbreak B次元官网网址渙nly feels this raw right now, lost in the labyrinth of my mind,B次元官网网址� on top of a track featuring Bon Iver-esque electronic trills.

Swift shines when she is able to marry her signature lyrical musings with this new arena of electronic beats. And while this isnB次元官网网址檛 another album of acoustic indie sounds like B次元官网网址渇olklore,B次元官网网址� it is clear that Swift has taken a step forward in the indie-pop genre B次元官网网址� even if itB次元官网网址檚 a step in a different direction.

The albumB次元官网网址檚 weaker moments are the ones where that balance feels off. B次元官网网址淏ejeweledB次元官网网址� is a bit too candy sweet, with lyrics that feel like an updated, glittery take on B次元官网网址淢E!B次元官网网址� The much anticipated B次元官网网址淪now On The Beach,B次元官网网址� featuring Lana Del Rey, is poetic, pretty, and at times cheeky, but not as emotionally deep as the lyricistsB次元官网网址� combined power suggests it could be.

Even in those moments, B次元官网网址淢idnightsB次元官网网址� finds Swift comfortable in her musical skin, revealing the strengths of a sharp and ever-evolving artist who can wink through always-cryptic allusions to her very public life or subtle self-owns dispersed amidst lyrical confessions (see: B次元官网网址淎nti-HeroB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淢astermindB次元官网网址�) and hook even the casual listener with an alluring, and maybe surprising, beat.

But like the love-soaked B次元官网网址淟over,B次元官网网址� and and B次元官网网址渆vermore,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淢idnightsB次元官网网址� feels like both a confessional and a playground, crafted by all the versions of Taylor Swift weB次元官网网址檝e gotten to know so far for a new Taylor Swift to shine. And like always, weB次元官网网址檙e just along for the thrilling late-night ride.

B次元官网网址擡lise Ryan, The Associated Press