“The Anthology” According To A Retired Poet

So, here's the breakdown–Aaron Dessner cooked here.

On the poetry front, I consider myself a retired poet. For my hometown readers, you may remember a poetry assignment in freshman honors English in which we were assigned to write a poem about a character from “The Odyssey.” 

I chose to write about Homer’s self-insert, the blind poet Demodocus, who tells the story in vivid details without being able to see it for himself. This became the first piece of my writing that I shared publicly (my teacher, who was from Liverpool and only drank out of a teacup, had me read it to the class when I was 14, and I will always be thankful for that). 

Since it’s been nearly a decade since then, I chose to pursue a career in journalism, and being at your wit’s end is still just as poetic. It is also worth noting that I do own a vintage Underwood typewriter that my parents gifted to me for my high school graduation seven years ago (this is the only thing I have in common with Matty Healy.) Anywho, onto the review.

My typewriter.

This half of the album has The National’s Aaron Dessner’s fingerprints all over it. Its historical and literary references, its instrumental driven production, and location references all summon the nostalgic soft rock and indie sound that could become Taylor Swift’s eventual departure from synthpop. Dessner was notably the lead producer on “folklore” and “evermore”, the two sister albums that Swift has previously claimed are fictional.