WARNING: Controversial opinions ahead!
I am an avid Taylor Swift lover. To put it simply, I adore both her and her music. So, in honor of Swift’s newest and extraordinary album “Midnights,” I set out to do one of the hardest things a “Swiftie” could do: rank her studio albums.
So, below is my least favorite to favorite albums written and performed by the one and only Taylor Alison Swift:
P.S.: For her albums “Red” and “Fearless” I will only be ranking Taylor’s Version.
- “Taylor Swift”
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This is painful because I love Taylor’s iconic first album that was released in 2006. However, one album does have to be at the bottom of the barrel, and sadly “Taylor Swift” is it.
This album takes last place because I feel that her song writing and singing has improved tremendously from this first iconic country album. So, though I ranked it last, don’t worry, it will always have “A Place In This World.”
- “Fearless (Taylor’s version)”
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Please, don’t hate me. This fairytale album was the soundtrack to my childhood. I hold so much nostalgia for this album, and though it seems like it’s ranked low on the board, I do not consider this my second to least favorite album, but as my ninth favorite!
In my mind, this record is an amazing
album“Love Story.” - “lOVER”
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This was a hard one for me to rank. This album is what made me fall in love with her music all over again.
Without this album, I would never know the serotonin of screaming the bridge of “Death By A Thousand Cuts” on my suburban streets, or the sob fest that comes with listening to “Daylight.” However, her other albums are just more memorable.
But don’t worry–– I still think “Lover” is “The Man.”
- “Reputation”
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Fun fac: this album holds my most streamed Taylor Swift song ever, “Getaway Car.”
So, “Don’t Blame Me” for where I ranked it. This album makes me very emotional, because throughout the 13 songs on this album, Swift validates our feelings of anger and sadness. However, interwoven is a love story, and born from these angry songs, love, acceptance and happiness appear, but only if you’re willing to open your eyes to it.
Simply put, everything about this album is absolutely “Gorgeous.”
- “1989”
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“1989” is Swift’s fifth studio album or, how I like to think about it, the album better known as the blueprint for pop music. With this iconic album, Swift taught us to “Shake It Off” all while reminding us that love is complicated, and sometimes you may find yourself constantly asking if you’re “Out Of The Woods.”
Let go of that “Bad Blood” you have for me ranking this album fifth, because “I Know Places” we can listen to “1989.”
- “FOLklore”
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“Folklore” is better known as the album who carried many of us through the Covid-19 pandemic. This album was a serious genre shift for Swift.
Her whimsical storytelling and the infamous Betty-James-August love triangle enthralled us from the very first listen. This tear-jerker of an album had us wrapping ourselves in a “cardigan,” all the while crying to “my tears ricochet.”
Though some called Swift a “mad woman” for releasing “Folklore” in the midst of a global lockdown, this album put us all at “peace.”
- “Red (taylor’s version)”
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From “The Very First Night” I listened to this album, I knew my Spotify playlists would forever hold at least one song from “Red (Taylor’s Version).” Seriously, this album has it all.
From the myriad of genres, to the life altering collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers, this album’s release reminded us that “Everything Has Changed” since the original release of “Red.” And though most of us were not “All Too Well” after our first (or hundredth listen), this album will forever put me in a “State Of Grace.”
- “EVERMORE”
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The iconic sister album of “Folklore“, “Evermore” has often been overlooked by Swift’s fans, and Swift herself. However, I could not possibly articulate all the love I have for this album.
I still recall the random Thursday morning in December when Taylor announced her surprise ninth album to be released at midnight. All I know is “‘tis the damn” season is playing 24/7 in my mind. The “happiness” I get while listening to this masterpiece is indescribable.
- “spEAK NOW”
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I adore everything about Taylor’s third album, written and performed solely by her. This album proved to critics that Swift’s lyricism and voice were all her own, all while providing fans with a magical experience of love, sadness, hate, jealousy and forgiveness.
I may or may not have listened to “Back To December” a ridiculous amount when this album was released. This album holds so much nostalgia for Swifties, as this album was “Ours” and would forever “Long Live” for us to enjoy time and time again.
- “Midnights”
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“Question…?”
Does anybody else think Swift is an absolute “Mastermind?”
“Midnights” is an indescribable album that puts us all in that “Lavender Haze” feeling, all while bopping our heads along to “Karma.” Simply put, this album “Bejeweled” me from the very first listen. That is why “Midnights” is currently at the top of my favorite Taylor Swift albums.
Regardless of which is your favorite album, we can all agree that if Swift writes it, we’ll listen to it.