Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, clocks in at an ambitious two hours, and for Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, it’s a smashing success. In a recent interview with the Irish Times, Corgan praised Swift’s decision to include 31 songs on her new project, calling her “one of the most gifted pop artists of all time.”
“How is it a bad thing that she’s releasing more music?” Corgan questioned. “You can go on Spotify and just skip it. Why complain about the length? Just make your own playlist with the songs you like.”
Corgan’s defense of Swift comes amidst her album’s sixth consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Originally promoted as a 16-track record, Swift surprised fans by releasing an additional 15 songs just hours after the album dropped on April 19. The double album, dubbed the “Anthology” edition, sold 2.61 million equivalent album units in its first week, surpassing her previous record set by 1989 (Taylor’s Version).
Swift’s achievement of occupying every spot in the Billboard Hot 100 top 14 simultaneously, led by the chart-topping “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone, further solidifies her place in music history.
Corgan, who faced similar criticism for the length of his band’s 2023 album, Atum, finds the backlash puzzling. “People complained about the length of my last album too,” he noted. “I thought, ‘Well, just go make your own playlist. Listen to the record once, pick your favorite songs, and make your own version.’”
The interview also touched on Corgan’s late friend, Sinéad O’Connor, who passed away last year. Reflecting on her legacy, Corgan posed a rhetorical question: “Now that Sinéad’s gone, would it be a bad thing if somebody found enough for 20 or 30 new Sinéad songs? More music is always a gift.”
Corgan’s perspective underscores a broader appreciation for artistic abundance, championing the idea that more music, regardless of length, is something to be celebrated, not criticized.
—
Photo Credit: Gustavo Miguel Fernandes / Shutterstock.com