it just fully clicked that she waited 3 years between 1989 and Reputation and has now released 3 albums in 16 months/2 albums in a year
I have listened to this ten times and I’m pretty sure I like it more than folklore. It has a couple songs I would skip which folklore doesn’t but this is the first Taylor Swift album that...doesn’t seem like a Taylor Swift album, If that makes sense? Like, for as surprising as it was, I can see folklore coming from her at some point. This thing is WEIRD. I love it.
Have never heard her talk this unguarded before... the full interview is going to be a must-watch. Seems to confirm no “trilogy”.
End of weekend one ranking: marjorie cowboy like me long story short (why aren’t we talking about this song more?) gold rush evermore tolerate it ivy happiness coney island no body, no crime dorothea closure ‘tis the damn season willow champagne problems ——— Definitely had my initial response to this colored by most of my least favorite songs coming first.
Beginning my nightly ritual of listening to this while I handle the late night feedings for my daughter. Might fuck around and create my tiers.
Still not entirely sure how I feel about this album compared to folklore, but this one does feel much shorter to me
Evermore ft bon iver is a masterpiece Better than exile (which was great), more complex and interesting. Peak career moment
I love the music video for Willow. The video in itself is a masterpiece. Directed by her as well I believe. I’m excited to see more of her music videos. They have never been boring.
My tiers are probably something like this: marjorie 'tis the damn season evermore tolerate it happiness ivy no body, no crime coney island long story short willow cowboy like me champagne problems dorothea gold rush closure
Yes I'm always surprised that people seem to be fairly cold on "Hoax" (at least in comparison to the rest of Folklore). I think it's completely gutwrenching, and a really brave closing track. It feels like a devastating sequel to "Peace", which was in part about being so in awe of your partner that you feel inadequate: 'your integrity makes me seem small', 'it's like I'm wasting your honour', 'I would die for you in secret' (in itself an allusion to "Cold As You": 'and I know you wouldn't have told nobody if I died for you'). And then "Hoax" is like what happens if your partner preys on that dynamic: 'My barren land / I am ash from your fire' and 'You have beaten my heart' (vs 'I'm a fire and I'll keep your brittle heart warm'!). Plus 'my kingdom come undone' is just a really stunning turn of phrase. I think it's a brilliant song, but then I love to be depressed! And then she just went and made a bunch more songs that devastate me even more lol - "Tolerate It", "Happiness" and "Marjorie" are just completely masterful, but not in a way that's kind of distant or just deserves respect, but in a way that actually pummels my heart into a million pieces (or has 'beaten my heart' if you will)
Hoax went from being one of my least favorite tracks on Folklore to one of my favorites of the year. It randomly pops into my head almost daily. So many feels.
I'm really big on needing to like openers/closers for me to LOVE albums, and I think Evermore is better than Folklore in that dept, but Dorothea might be my least favorite song between both albums (sorry), so a ranking comparing the two isn't completely fair. I love both? Is that enough? Willow, Gold Rush, No Body No Crime, Ivy, and Evermore are my favorites so far. Dang, but I also really love Coney Island, Cowboy Like Me, and Marjorie... and Tis the Damn Season... I guess that is my top 9, haha.
Tiers: Gold rush Ivy Evermore Happiness Coney Island Cowboy like me Closure Long story short Marjorie Willow Dorothea Champagne problems tolerate it Tis the damn season no body no crime