can't believe taylor swift invented folk music 😍🥰

Album Rating: 4.0

I jizzed all over this album man, but the review is great ngl.

Album Rating: 3.9

I thought Justin Timberlake invented folk music a couple years ago??

Album Rating: 3.0

Similar to how I feel.



The stretch in the middle where the piano goes away in favor of the acoustic guitar is my favorite. I’m not sure if the sequencing of so many samey piano songs in a row to start the album is the best

Album Rating: 3.9

The seqeuncing holds up so far three tracks in, but yeah she doesn't usually know when enough is enough

Album Rating: 3.9

So far this is a solid 4

3.2: Best new music.

Ok Sput.

Album Rating: 3.9

the 94 on metacritic is more in line tbh

Album Rating: 4.0

it's so predictable that once her music has sufjan tags like "chamber pop" and "indie folk" the critics/music nerds start respecting her

Album Rating: 4.0

Just want to hear this

Album Rating: 4.5

I'm a Swift stan, and I could see this overtaking 1989 for my favorite album of hers simply because it was literally written to please me, but there's obviously nothing wrong with the review. The main point I agree with is the bloated track lengths across her discography; I think that's what doomed Lover in particular. Reputation had enough bangers to overcome it, but it still would have been infinitely better trimmed down to 11-12 songs. Even 1989 and Speak Now, which are both brilliant, could have stood to shave their weakest 2 songs off, respectively. This one is 16 tracks, and there's no songs I dislike, but I'm sure time will prove some to be weak enough to be skippable. The 14-18 track length trend in pop is one of my least favorite things even though I totally understand why it's done.

The main point I disagree with (besides the score itself, which is a moot point because it's totally subjective) - and even though I at first found myself nodding in agreement while reading - was the idea that she jumps ship before fully exploring/refining a sound. On paper, and going by my own memory, it sounded right, but then I went in chronological order and it made less sense. Fearless was a maturation of her self-titled debut and Speak Now was a "synthesis of the preceding albums" (spot on) - then Red experimented with pop and couldn't make up its mind between that and country, but that uneven ground was still a natural progression towards all-out pop. 1989 was then the all-out pop album that did the same thing for that style (acting as a synthesis) that Speak Now did for her country approach. From there, if anything, she overstayed her welcome while trying to milk more (Reputation, Lover) out of a genre where she already reached the pinnacle. Both of those albums are still good because she's a good pop artist, but she definitely didn't abandon it too soon to "start her next era". From my perspective, Folklore is a long overdue change from the pop scene. While she certainly may abandon this style during her next outing, I don't think her history necessarily dictates that she will. If anything, she seems hesitant to evolve and does so slowly over the course of multiple albums. I hope she continues to flesh this aesthetic out. We'll see.

With all that said, there's still nothing more annoying than some of the radio pop goers who will hear this and proclaim it's "life changing", then go check out that unheard-of Bon Iver dude for the first time.

Album Rating: 4.0

I think the Lover album is her best release if you trim it down to nearly an EP.

Album Rating: 4.5

Lover had some nice moments but was mostly sweet, forgettable fluff.

Taylor Swift has released eight LP up until now and still i am confused about whether 'this is me trying' is a song about relationship issues or her musical career.

Album Rating: 4.5

My first attempt at a ranking, it's certainly subject to change:

1. mirrorball (5/5)

2. betty (5/5)

3. cardigan (4.7/5)

4. illicit affairs (4.7/5)

5. august (4.7/5)

6. seven (4.5/5)

7. epiphany (4.3/5)

8. this is me trying (4.3/5)

9. hoax (4.1/5)

10. my tears ricochet (4/5)

11. invisible string (4/5)

12. exile (3.8/5)

13. the 1 (3.8/5)

14. mad woman (3.5/5)

15. peace (3.3/5)

16. the last great american dynasty (3.3/5)

...and yes, it's actually that consistent.

Album Rating: 4.5

Also, in revisiting some of her past discography, I'd say the earliest hint that this album was on its way in some future form was 1989's 'This Love'. Folklore literally sounds like that song expanded into a full album.

Album Rating: 4.5

damn can't believe you rank "exile" that low. i also can't see why everyone likes "mirrorball" so much. something cloying about it, and i just can't get past the absurdity of the word mirrorball.

Album Rating: 4.0

the earliest hint was the lyric "some indie record that's much cooler than mine" ;)

i agree with most of your ranking, would push "august" to the top and lower "illicit affairs"

Album Rating: 4.5

i wonder how much jake gyllenhaal likes this album

Album Rating: 4.5

To be honest I'm not a huge fan of the Bon Iver feature on it. Their vocals don't mesh well at all IMO, and it definitely reeks of try-hard-ism with the whole "I wanna make my folk statement" *features Justin Vernon*. I do like the melody and lyrics though.

Mirrorball is certainly a bit cloying but it is in the same way that she's always been; it's like a smoothed out "Enchanted" - less climactic but every bit as charming. The word itself is a bit clunky in the song but it fits well in the context of the lyrics (I'm a mirrorball, I'll show you every version of yourself tonight...I can change everything about me to fit in...And when I break, it's in a million pieces...etc.)