long term, sure. but i absolutely remember how i felt about folklore on first listen and can make comparisons when the situations are so similar. it was less than 6 months ago!
To be fair to this record, it was always gonna be easier being the surprise record following Lover as opposed to folklore.
I can't delve too deep into a comparison, because it's been one listen, but I think I enjoy the sonics of folklore a smidge more. With that said-- lyrically on evermore, she's just continuing to fire on all cylinders. What an excellent storyteller. My gut reaction is yes, this is great, and absolutely is a worthy successor to folklore. Will happily consider them two parts of a collective whole. Can't believe she just dropped two incredible albums in less than half a year. Time for bed. Edit: And that Matt Berninger feature lived up to all my wildest dreams (). What a song.
Throwing on a few songs in headphones before final sleep. Can’t wait to take more considered time with this tomorrow but this is really good!
Listened to the highlights one more time before bed. Can’t wait to blast it in the car in the morning to keep myself awake when I’m driving to work on 3.5 hours sleep lol.
This is great, of course. I think folklore was much more immediate and this is more subtle. Also with folklore, we weren't prepared for the vibes, here we knew what to expect so you lose a little of the surprise factor. This feels like much more of a grower than a shower. Immediate standouts for me were the HAIM one, Cowboy one, Long Story Short, closure... Others too, that's just off the top of my head
Can imagine Tay on a small club tour and performing "cowboy like me" on that small stage and just holding that sold-out crowd in a trance
Whoever wanted the Bon Iver Beth Rest, 80s vibe? You got it. It’s almost like his The Outfield Your Love cover from back in the day
I wonder if Joe sang some background vocals on this. There’s a voice I don’t recognize on some of the harmonies. Doesn’t really sound like Antonoff, Vernon, or Berninger
This takes some risks and goes places I couldn't have seen coming. I loved Tolerate It, but Dorothea through the end was where my jaw pretty much rested on the ground. I'm really excited to hear more about the creative process behind this record. The weight behind these songs on essentially all fronts kinda makes me think folklore's creation will look like a trial run by comparison, haha. A lot of the narrative surrounding folklore from accounts of the people that made it seem to be "Aaron sent Taylor an idea and then she put vocals on it and made it a song". These evermore tracks for the most part feel a lot more *lived in* than that, which could be a product of a totally different writing process. Or they could just be getting more used to writing together
Gray November I've been down since July Motion capture Put me in a bad light I replay my footsteps on each stepping stone Trying to find the one where I went wrong Writing letters Addressed to the fire [Chorus: Taylor Swift] And I was catching my breath Staring out an open window Catching my death And I couldn't be sure I had a feeling so peculiar That this pain would be for Evermore [Verse 2: Taylor Swift] Hey December Guess I'm feeling unmoored Can't remember What I used to fight for I rewind thе tape but all it does is pause On thе very moment, all was lost Sending signals To be double-crossed [Chorus: Taylor Swift & Justin Vernon] And I was catching my breath Barefoot in the wildest winter Catching my death And I couldn't be sure I had a feeling so peculiar That this pain would be for Evermore (Evermore) [Bridge 1: Justin Vernon] Can't not think of all the cost And the things that will be lost Oh, can we just get a pause? To be certain, we'll be tall again Whether weather be the frost Or the violence of the dog days I'm on waves, out being tossed Is there a line that I could just go cross? [Bridge 2: Taylor Swift & Justin Vernon] And when I was shipwrecked (Can't think of all the cost) I thought of you (All the things that will be lost now) In the cracks of light (Can we just get a pause?) I dreamed of you (To be certain we'll be tall again, if you think of all the costs) It was real enough (Whether weather be the frost) To get me through (Or the violence of the dog days)(Or the violence of the dog days) (I'm on waves, out being tossed) (I'm on waves, out being tossed) I swear (Is there a line that we could just go cross?) You were there [Chorus: Taylor Swift & Justin Vernon] And I was catching my breath Floors of a cabin creaking under my step And I couldn't be sure I had a feeling so peculiar This pain wouldn't be for Evermore Evermore Evermore This pain wouldn't be for evermore Evermore
I’m like 1 3/4 listens deep. Coney Island is my early favorite, but I just really appreciate how joyful this album feels. folklore has felt very melancholy since it came out, which is very much what I’m into. But evermore feels more hopeful, it’s gonna take me more time to fully appreciate it but I think I’m gonna appreciate it more. Also really appreciate how Exile doesn’t feel like Bon Iver at first, but Evermore is Bon Iver on overdrive! edit: I’m a little buzzed, ignore how much I just said appreciate