I think with the winter blues the whole world needed a ‘sister album’ for the July-released ‘Folklore‘. In the past, Taylor Swift has taunted her fans by deliberately posting multiple Instagram posts of her up-coming albums. ‘Evermore’ came to her fans as a big surprise.
The Artist, who has reached her thirties, no longer feels the need to transform for every album, and can simply create an extension of her past album.
In the spirit of Taylor’s re-birth here’s a personal ranking of her albums.
9. Taylor Swift
Putting this album as last on this list was a tough yet necessary choice. 16-year-old Taylor’s first album which was released back in 2006 gained popularity within the country music community in record time. Taylor’s ‘our song’ made Swift the youngest person in history to single-handedly write and perform a number-one song on the Hot Country Songs. The album shows Taylor’s incredible story-telling skills which would be developed later on in Albums such as Red and Folklore.
8. Fearless
I think everybody remembers the iconic ‘Love Story’ when it comes to the 2008 album Fearless. Taylor continued with her country-pop genre including banjos and harmonicas whilst also keeping the theme of storytelling. Songs ‘You belong with me’ and ‘Love story’ were incredibly popular with fans reaching the higher-tier positions on record charts worldwide. Fearless allowed Taylor to be launched in the world of country music, winning album of the year at the Grammys.
7. Red
Red was a step away from Taylor’s country routes and allowed her to finally branch out to the world that is pop. Although ruled as a country album, fans could notice Taylor drifting away from the young country star she identified with before. Songs such as ‘I knew you were trouble’ had the genre electropop, this experimentation is the Taylor we know today. Taylor’s fourth album appears in Rolling Stone’s top 500 albums and won album of the year at the 2013 Music Award Association.
6. Speak Now
I must admit country is not my favorite genre but if I had to pick a country album I actually enjoy, Speak Now would be the one. I think this album is my most downloaded which is why it’s deserving of its position on the list. Speak now is where Taylor’s storytelling skills take place. The song ‘Speak Now’ includes a situation where Taylor stops a wedding to win back the one she loves the amazing storytelling immerses her audience and allowed her to receive ‘best country album’ at the 54th Grammy Awards.
5. Lover
The Album Lover was a rebirth for Taylor Swift, it shows the snake in reputation becoming a beautiful butterfly. In the music video ‘Me!’ the once dark and gloomy colours shown in the previous album, are replaced by pastel butterflies allowing Taylor’s fans to see the tone for her album. Lover explores the full depth of love and Taylor’s, now happy, personal life. Working with Brenden Urie and The Dixie Chicks Taylor scored top 10 on the Billboard 100.
4. 1989
1989 was a breath of fresh air for Taylor’s fans the once country girl has now completely vanished into a pop sensation. Taylor’s ‘Blank Space’ and ‘Style’ showed a more computer generated sound showing the true range of her fifth album. The Synth-Pop noise which is 1989 was a questionable turn for Taylor Swift but her variety in Album genre’s show the true versatulity of this artist.
3. Reputation
Reputation was an exposure on the darker side which is Taylor swift. After a feud with Kanye West, Taylor stopped being seen in the public eye and when fans finally saw Taylor again it was with the album Reputation. The album itself is a look at Taylor’s reputation which had become tainted at this point. In music videos such as ‘Look what you made me do’ a snake can be seen showing how the world viewed her at one point. This album, although risky paid of with Taylor winning Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammys.
2. Folklore
Folklore is one of the best things to come out of the year 2020, it falls into cottagecore which has been trending recently. This serene and peaceful album shows the more mature Taylor Swift who has grown up from the lovestruck teenager. The storytelling power has once returned with songs such as ‘Cardigan’ and ‘ Betty’ allowing to bring her audience into her music. ‘Betty’ is shown through the eyes of 17-year-old James showing Taylor’s not just telling her own story anymore. Folklore broke many streaming platforms and even gained a Guinness world record for the biggest opening day on Spotify.
- Evermore
Although folklore was amazing it was Folklore’s sister album ‘Evermore‘ which is a personal favorite. It brightened up my whole December. Taylor’s Evermore branches back to her country sound but adds more maturity. Songs like ‘No body, No crime’ add instruments like the harmonica which add the folky and country sound. Songs such as ‘Willow’ allowed Taylor Swift’s Twin album to gather the same fame as her last one with Willow being her seventh number one.
And there it is Taylor Swift’s crazy and long career compiled in 9 albums. Rumors of a 10th album seem to bubble on Twitter but whether we get to see more is only something the future can tell.
