Billy Corgan Stands Up for Taylor Swift and the Extensive 'TTPD' Album

A Conversation With Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins

Timothy Norris/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has come to Taylor Swift's defense regarding the length of her two-hour, 31-track album, The Tortured Poets Department.

In a recent interview with Irish Times published on Monday, June 3, Corgan, 57, praised Swift as one of the most talented pop artists of all time. He questioned why it would be considered a negative thing for Swift to release more music, stating, "How is it a bad thing that she’s releasing more music? I can’t follow that ... You can go on Spotify and just skip it."

Corgan mentioned his band's two-hour record released in 2023 and expressed understanding towards Swift, 34, who faced criticism for releasing long albums.

He shared his own experience, stating, "People complained about the length of my last album, Atum." Corgan suggested, "Just make your own playlist. Listen to the record once, pick the six or 10 songs you like, and create your own version of the album." He questioned, "Why is this such a strange concept?"

Corgan gave an example of his friend Sinéad O’Connor to illustrate why lengthy projects should be viewed positively. He mentioned that even after her passing in July 2023 at the age of 56, discovering more unreleased songs by her would be a good thing. He posed a question, asking if it would be negative if someone found a tape containing 20, 30, or even 50 new Sinéad songs.

Swift revealed during her Grammy acceptance speech that her 11th studio album would be released on April 19th. She shared the news with excitement, calling the album "The Tortured Poets Department." After winning the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album, she couldn't wait to share her secret with her fans.

Taylor Swift Is Absolutely 'Bejeweled' in Her 'Eras Tour’ Concert Outfits: See Photos

John Shearer/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Many Swifties were pleasantly surprised when Taylor Swift revealed that her new record, "The Tortured Poets Department," was actually a surprise double album just hours after its release.

Taking to social media, Swift announced, "It’s a 2 am surprise: The Tortured Poets Department is a secret DOUBLE album. I’d written so much tortured poetry in the past 2 years and wanted to share it all with you, so here’s the second installment of TTPD: The Anthology. 15 extra songs. And now the story isn’t mine anymore … it’s all yours."

In recent years, Taylor Swift has gained a reputation for surprising fans with new music releases at unexpected moments.

In July 2020, she surprised everyone by revealing her eighth album, Folklore, just a few hours before it was available to the public. Following a similar pattern, Swift announced her ninth album, Evermore, in December and released it shortly after. Swift's 10th studio album, Midnights, took a more traditional approach with a release in October 2022.

Editor's P/S:

Billy Corgan's defense of Taylor Swift's lengthy album is a refreshing perspective in an era where brevity is often prioritized. Corgan argues that artists should be free to express themselves fully, regardless of the length of their work. He encourages listeners to engage with music on their own terms, suggesting they create their own playlists or simply skip the tracks they don't enjoy. His analogy with Sinéad O'Connor's posthumous releases highlights the value of preserving an artist's creative output, even after their passing.

Corgan's comments are particularly relevant in the context of Swift's surprise double album release. Swift has consistently defied expectations throughout her career, surprising fans with unexpected releases and pushing the boundaries of traditional album formats. Her double album, with its 31 tracks, is a testament to her prolific songwriting and her desire to share her art with her audience in its entirety.