Taylor Swift's 10th album 'Midnights' crashes Spotify and breaks records

New release becomes most-streamed record in a single day on the streaming platform

The cover album of 'Midnights'. Taylor Swift's 10th album crashed Spotify moments after its release. Photo: Republic Records

While unremarkable, Taylor Swift's self-titled 2006 album put her on the list of ones to watch. Photo: Big Machine Records

'Fearless' (2008) was an assured collection of songs by the increasingly confident Swift. Photo: Big Machine Records

'Speak Now' (2010) had Swift lyrically detailing her growth from adolescence to adulthood. Photo: Big Machine Records

With 'Red' (2012), Swift made her bid for mainstream success. Photo: Big Machine Records

The spectacular '1989' (2014) remains Swift's best album. Photo: Big Machine Records

'Reputation' (2017) was overwrought and too dark to be fully embraced by her fans. Photo: Big Machine Records

'Lover' (2019) was a welcome course correction, yet sounded messy and unwieldy. Photo: Republic Records

'Folklore' (2020) was a stunning effort that had Swift write more narrative-driven songs. Photo: Republic Records

'Evermore' (2020) was atmospheric and cinematic. Photo: Republic Records

Taylor Swift's 10th album Midnights, marking a gradual return to pop for the US singer-songwriter, sparked an online fan frenzy following its release on Friday — and crashed Spotify in the process.

Swifties, the name of the singer's loyal fanbase, from the US to France and Britain were forced to wait patiently for hours to get their first earful of Swift's latest sound on the streaming platform — released at the stroke of midnight.

Despite the technical problems, the hugely anticipated work set a record as the most-streamed album in a day, Spotify said.

"And before the clock could even strike midnight on October 22, Taylor Swift broke the record for most-streamed album in a single day in Spotify history," the platform said on Twitter.

"How did I get this lucky, having you guys out here doing something this mind blowing?!" the singer tweeted in response.

The album's songs tell "the story of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life", Swift explained on Twitter.

Together, they form "a full picture of the intensities of that mystifying, mad hour".

Once all Spotify issues were resolved — mostly within the hour — enthusiasts discovered melodies set to an electro-pop beat, complete with synths, dubstep-inspired rhythms and a more androgynous side to Swift's vocals.

The singer, 32, who began her career in country before shifting to pop, abandons her more recent indie-folk vein in the new album.

The pop sound marks a departure from Evermore and Folklore, her two previous albums which were written during the pandemic, the latter of which won Album of the Year at the Grammys last year.

In Midnights, which includes the smooth vocals of Lana Del Rey in the duet Snow on the Beach, Swift evokes a certain dreamy mystique, complete with night-time ruminations — her reflections on growing older and the complications of love.

For the most part, the midnight album has bewitched critics.

True to Swift form, she had a surprise up her sleeves for her loyal fans.

She released an extended 20-song version at 3am on the East Coast titled Midnights (3am Edition).

The seven extra ballads, she said, were "songs we wrote on our journey to find that magic 13".