Taylor Swift – ‘Folklore’ [Album Review]

Mixing folk with “Pop! Goes the Weasel,” T Swift’s lyrical approach isn’t as vindictive as in the past, but shadows of it still echo throughout the new work. Love or hate her, you can’t deny Ms. Swift has a penchant for writing original, heartfelt songs with her own personal stamp. With soft club beats and the voice of an earnest country girl, Taylor hit the big time long ago, leaving the country for big city life, but her stories aren’t always the perfect ending that’s picked off a shelf and found inside a Hallmark card.

The cover image and the song “Cardigan” already prepares us for a beautiful winter. In fact, the album photo resembles something from the first few Darkthrone albums. T Swift goes black metal? How about a Swift vs Myrkur mash-up? In “The Last Great American Dynasty” she spits out “Who knows if I never showed up what could have been. There goes the loudest woman this town has ever seen. I’ve had a marvelous time ruining everything.”

The standout tracks, “Seven,” “August,” and “This Is Me Trying,” are the perfect wine, cheese, and crackers evening spent with your better half. I’m not sure what Taylor’s singing about, but it will give you goosebumps and that happy, lovey feeling in your stomach. Whatever love Taylor is spreading is galactic.

Folklore has a very heavy Autumn feeling to it and it’s well welcomed in these troubled times. I think after this year we all deserve a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas, and hopefully, Folklore can be a part of your hindthought for a very quizzical year, and you know what? Fuck it… this entire album rules.

Folklore Track Listing:

1. The 1
2. Cardigan
3. The Last Great American Dynasty
4. Exile
5. My Tears Ricochet
6. Mirrorball
7. Seven
8. August
9. This Is Me Trying
10. Illicit Affairs
11. Invisible String
12. Mad Woman
13. Epiphany
14. Betty
15. Peace
16. Hoax

Run Time: 60:18
Release Date: July 24, 2020
Record Label: Republic Records