As a dedicated Swiftie for the latter half of my life, I think I’ve developed the qualifications and knowledge to safely decide Taylor’s best album: Folklore. Released in 2020 during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, her eighth studio album surprised listeners not only by its release, but by its unique sound and aesthetic.
- It began an era unlike any other.
Following her hit album Reputation, Folklore was a stark contrast to anything she had ever released before. Her prior eras and genres (including different explorations of country and pop) encompassed Taylor’s quintessential brand and she had never released something quite like this. Even the overall branding and woodsy aesthetic was imaginative compared to the dark energy of her previous work.
- Its down-to-earth and soothing energy is perfect for all listeners.
It’s not typical that such a top-grossing artist releases something like Folklore. Hearkening back to her Pennslyvania roots, it isn’t as “commercial” as the rest and explores timeless and classic sound, which is why it resonated with many so deeply. Some have even compared the album to the likes of Emmylou Harris or early Dolly Parton (with a modern twist).
- Each song has a unique storyline (and some intertwine).
Thanks to the expert songwriting of Jack Antonoff, Aaron Desner, and Taylor Swift herself, Folklore utilized songwriting to tell stories in an unprecedented way. For example, through her three songs “August,” “Cardigan,” and “Betty,” Swift tells the teenage love triangle of characters James, August and Betty. Unlike any of her previous work, it was a collection of short stories. I won’t spoil anything if you haven’t listened to it, but I can promise it’s some of the most relatable and beautiful writing I’ve heard to date.
- It shows a healed and mature side of her music.
Again, Folklore was a stark contrast to her previous album Reputation. The earlier album was chock-full of vengeful and dark themes, where Taylor scorns her enemies (and likely was looking to cause some media buzz in the process with songs such as “Look What You Made Me Do.” However with Folklore, Taylor’s personality is much more mature and calm, showing that she has made peace with the drama and healed from her experiences.
Folklore wasn’t just a new era for Taylor Swift and her fans. It was a cultural reset. Following the release of this album, a slew of folk-style songwriters such as Maggie Rogers and Phoebe Bridgers became popular on TikTok. Artists with a more raw sound became the mainstream and led to a new rise of the modern-folk genre. The release of Folklore even led to a release of it’s sister album Evermore, another modern-folk album.
Personally, the album impacted me in ways I will always remember and kept me grounded through the months of isolation. During the stress and uncertainty of the pandemic, this is exactly what people needed– a reminder of the slower things in life, and a sound that reminds us of home.