Folklore Album Review

One of my earliest memories is sitting in the car with my parents and belting out the lyrics to Love Story. To say that Taylor Swift has shaped my musical interests would be an understatement. I’ve loved her past albums, and 1989 holds a special place in my heart because it was on that album's tour that I saw her live. Then, for me to come out and say that 'Folklore' is her best work yet is an accurate indication of just how much I adored this album.

The album has received universal acclaim, and rightfully so! 'The 1' is an incredible opener, and gives us a brilliant insight into the true nature of the album. Both uptempo yet lyrically devastating, this is a contemplative Taylor Swift at her absolute best. You can definitely say that she's doing some 'cool shit' with this record.

Next, 'Cardigan' serves almost as a follow-up to Reputation's 'Call It What You Want'. Taylor revels in having found someone who is well-aware of her 'past', and is indifferent to it. The story that she weaves through the entirety of this song is breathtakingly beautiful. Its a glorious song, and is definitely worthy of having its own music video.

'The Last Great American Dynasty' seems to be a fictive re-imagination of the life of Reberak Harkness, the previous owner of Swift's Holiday House in Rhode Island. There is, however, no denying that some of the lyrics parallel Swift's own experiences with the media and there is no denying that the song itself is incredibly catchy with a simple yet captivating beat backing up her vocals.

'Exile', featuring Bon Iver. Oh my god. This song is the perfect representation of the two sides of a break-up, and it has you devastated by the clear miscommunication between these two people who loved and cared so deeply for each other. It is a lyrical masterpiece as it seems as though the two are having a gut-wrenching conversation about everything that went wrong between them. Iver and Swift's voices work incredibly well together, and this song has quickly become one of my personal favourites.

'My Tears Ricochet' is an emotional ballad written by Swift herself, and almost seems to tell the story of an ex-boyfriend saving face by showing up to his ex-girlfriend's funeral, while being sung about from the deceased ex-girlfriend's point of view. It has some lines that just stick with you like, "You wear the same jewels that I gave you/As you bury me". What do you even say to that? Just wow.

‘Mirrorball’ is one of Swift's best collaborations with Jack Antonoff. Its almost like a fantasy inside Taylor's head, and she's putting it down on paper for us to enjoy as well. The instruments add so much to the song with their subtle, yet reassuring presence. It's a gorgeous song that deserves so much praise. The beginning initially reminded me of Amnesia by 5 Seconds of Summer, and that just made me even more excited for the song, and it lived up to my expectations!

'Seven' is one of Swift's few songs about childhood, and it truly has its own kind of beauty. Its mature and has some of those classic Taylor Swift-esque lyrics. This is the kind of song that needs to be played on repeat during a lengthy journey.

'August' is almost Taylor Swift's response to this global pandemic. She tells the story of an astral projection, where she allows herself to dream of a vacation with beaches, sun-kissed romance, and getting drunk on wine in summertime. It is a glorious and highly relatable song that has us bopping our head along both in agreement and in time with the beat.

'This is Me Trying' had me shaken with the line "so I got wasted like all my potential." I mean, this is still Taylor Swift talking right? The global superstar with dozens of awards, Taylor Swift? However, it is a beautiful song with reverb utilised incredibly well, rather similarly to how it worked well on 'The Archer' in Lover.

'Illicit Affairs" has Swift brilliantly tie together a story of infidelity into a mere few verses, completed by abandoned perfume, secret languages, and the lies that seamlessly weave the whole picture together. Her lyrical chops are evident here as her fury comes through in the climax of the song “Don’t call me kid/Don’t call me baby”. An absolute knockout by Swift, and a high point on the album.

'Invisible String' is, without a doubt, one of Swift's best love songs yet. She describes the insane journey she undertook in order to meet her soulmate and how it was all tied together by destiny. However, for me, this bridge is one of her best with standout lyrics like "Something wrapped all of my past mistakes in barbed wire/ Chains around my demons/ Wool to brave the seasons.”

'Mad Woman' is a complete contrast to the song that precedes it, and sets up this difference from the very beginning. It is a female rage anthem, and Swift’s fury is nowhere near hidden with lines like "Or does she mouth, ‘F**k you forever?" Her anger here is strong and driven and she's determined to have her revenge. The song is a warning to anyone that wrongs Swift and yet, is so addictive at the same time.

'Epiphany' is honestly just brilliant. Swift's comparison of her grandfather's experience in World War II to that of all the healthcare workers fighting on the frontlines of the COVID pandemic is so unique and so well-done. The one line that really stands out to me is "Just one single glimpse of relief/To make some sense of what you've seen". It seems to apply to each and every one of us as it seems like we've only been bombarded with bad news for the entirety of 2020.

'Betty' really reminds me of 'Ours' from Speak Now, especially during its bridge. The lines “Betty, right now is the last time/ I can dream about what happens when/ You see my face again” are so relatable. It's reminiscent of the moment right before you do something groundbreaking, you've been daydreaming about it for so long, but you can only have one reality.

'Peace' is about believing that you’re both too much, and somehow never enough for someone. It's a story of wanting to be with somebody, but knowing you’ll ruin their life by self-sabotaging. It's also about romanticizing toxic and messy relationships and imagining stories in the midst of doom, gloom, and heartbreak. It's a beautiful and haunting song, and is one of Swift's most introspective.

'Hoax' is all about heartbreak and wrenches the heart right out of its listeners. The song has references to Delicate, in which Swift sings: "Dark jeans and your Nikes, look at you / Oh damn, never seen that colour blue." The corresponding lyrics in this song are “Don’t want no other shade of blue but you”. It is an incredible song and more than a worthy climax to this masterpiece of an album.

If you haven’t heard the album yet, what are you doing? Go listen to it right now! It is literally one of the only good things that has happened in 2020, and it really speaks to Taylor Swift’s musical capabilities that she doesn’t need  millions of dollars worth of production equipment to make great music. I’d give the album a 9 or a 9.5 out of 10. 

Please go listen to it and let me know what your favourite song was!