Taylor Swift’s The Vault (Deluxe) is a collection of songs she wrote but never used elsewhere. It runs 11 tracks and 39 minutes, and it exists to show fans the music Swift made behind the scenes, the songs that didn’t make the final cut. This is not a statement record or a reinvention. It is a curiosity box, and it delivers mostly what it promises: a look at the ideas Swift tried and left behind.
Opening Tracks
The opener, “R-E-V-E-N-G-E,” sets the tone with a sharp, bitter edge that suggests Swift had something to get off her chest when she wrote this one. “Permanent Marker” follows with a more direct, pointed sound, and both tracks feel like they could have been singles on a different album.
Middle Run
“Long Time Coming” slows things down without losing momentum, and “Thirteen Blocks (Can’t Call It Love)” leans into country-pop textures while keeping its heart closed off. “Sweet Tea and God’s Graces” is a highlight — a warm, gospel-tinged track that sounds like it could anchor a live set. “For You” and “Better Off” sit together as mid-tempo rock numbers that don’t quite rise to the earlier tracks, but they hold the record’s center.
Closing Stretch
“Writing Songs About You” is the shortest track here, a quick, clean pop song that feels like a palate cleanser. “Gracie” is a piano-led ballad with a title that hints at a personal story, and “I Wished on a Plane” closes the main set with a wistful, almost nostalgic feel.
The final track is the acoustic version of “Sweet Tea and God’s Graces,” which simply strips the arrangement back to let the melody breathe.
Verdict
The strongest moments are the ones that sound fully formed. “Sweet Tea and God’s Graces” in both versions carries weight, and “R-E-V-E-N-G-E” shows Swift’s ability to write a tight, bitter pop song. The weaker tracks aren’t bad so much as forgettable — “Better Off” and “For You” don’t leave much of an impression, and “Writing Songs About You” feels like filler rather than a finished idea.
| Track | Length | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| R-E-V-E-N-G-E | 3:26 | Strong start |
| Permanent Marker | 3:11 | Solid |
| Long Time Coming | 4:03 | Good |
| Thirteen Blocks (Can’t Call It Love) | 4:20 | Solid |
| Sweet Tea and God’s Graces | 3:36 | Strong |
| For You | 3:38 | Middle |
| Better Off | 3:20 | Middle |
| Writing Songs About You | 3:06 | Light |
| Gracie | 3:46 | Solid |
| I Wished on a Plane | 3:20 | Good |
| Sweet Tea and God’s Graces (acoustic version) | 3:35 | Strong |
Final Word
The Vault (Deluxe) is a solid, occasionally revelatory listen for Swift superfans. It doesn’t change anyone’s opinion of her work, but it offers a peek at the material she chose to leave behind, and a few of those songs — particularly “Sweet Tea and God’s Graces” — are strong enough to stand beside her catalog. The record isn’t essential, but it’s a worthwhile detour for anyone who wants to hear what she was thinking about before she released the albums we know.
“Sweet Tea and God’s Graces”
That track alone earns the trip. The rest fills out the space between the hits, and that’s exactly what this record is meant to do.
- R-E-V-E-N-G-E3:26
- Permanent Marker3:11
- Long Time Coming4:03
- Thirteen Blocks (Can’t Call It Love)4:20
- Sweet Tea and God’s Graces3:36
- For You3:38
- Better Off3:20
- Writing Songs About You3:06
- Gracie3:46
- I Wished on a Plane3:20
- Sweet Tea and God’s Graces (acoustic version)3:35
