Taylor Swifts worst album? for me I think it’s 1989 or Reputation. Saying that, I didn’t even listen to Lover as I didn’t really care for the singles on the album so didn’t bother.
Fearless is quite good, but it's definitely her second worst after self titled, it's not really close tbh. It's one of those albums that absolutely deserves all the praise it gets, and is a great album which shot her into the stratosphere, but objectively comparing them to any albums that came after, the first two albums aren't as good
Fearless and Red will always be my favorites, I think. I just have that nostalgic buzz whenever I listen to those two. They're typically my go-to albums when I'm in a T-Sweezy mood. Folklore is probably her best front to back. 1989 is up there too. Both of those albums have a certain vibe throughout the whole thing, when all of her other albums are kind of a mixed bag of everything she can do. For me personally, I'd say Lover is just above Speak Now and just under 1989. It's got a lot of stuff I like, but I don't really feel the need to go back to it much. At this point, I'd probably put Speak Now and Evermore in the same category. I like Speak Now a lot, but really don't listen to it very often. I can see that happening with Evermore unless I end up listening to that one constantly for months and months like I did with Folklore. Her worst album is Self Titled, but I think that's just because she was so new and was on the path to finding her way to Fearless. But while that one is her worst, my least favorite is easily Reputation. Could not connect with that album at all, aside from maybe 3 songs. These are my stream of consciousness hot takes/album rankings. I'll probably change my mind in an hour. EDIT: Just a couple minutes later, I already have some regrets...
As an album I agree with this It's odd, because I think the best parts of Lover are worlds better than the best parts of Fearless but I think Fearless is a better album It almost feels unfair to compare the songwriting of a teenager and that same artist as a fully grown woman so honestly it kinda feels like apples and oranges but oh well
Yeah I’m on the same page. The highs are higher on Lover but Fearless is more coherent as a full thing
I'll take Fearless over Reputation, easily, and probably over Lover. If you trim Lover down to be the same length as Fearless, then it's a different conversation. Even if you cut the two lead singles from Lover it might be better, but those songs are so comically bad that they bring the entire thing down a notch. "London Boy" is also worse than anything on Fearless.
I think Fearless tends to get underrated because a lot of people (especially on this site) came to her after that album and don't have the same connection to it that they do to, say, Red. But it's such an incredible mastery of pop-country craft in every way. it's still something a lot of artists in that space are chasing, and something no one has really matched since. @cshadows2887 has called it the "pop-country Thriller," and I always thought that was a great way to put it. I think there's an argument that, if she didn't do that particular sound that well on that album, she probably stays in the radio country vein for a little bit longer. That it was the phenomenon it was, and that the songs were so damn good, gave her the blank check to do everything she's done since. I kind of view that one and 1989 as similar accomplishments: neither is the album from her that I love most, but they're the Grammy winners because they're prototypical masterpieces of their respective genres.
“Gold Rush” sounds reminiscent of a Lorde song from Mellodrama, but I can’t think of which song it’s reminding me of... “Green Light” maybe?
It utilizes a “flat 7” chord in the same way as Green Light (bVII-IV-I is the full progression). Jack does it a lot and I was happy it made its way onto a Taylor album, it’s probably my favorite chord progression ever lol.
I also wanted to say I remember people mentioning “Green Light” and “Supercut” share some similar structural DNA, but I do not know how to put it in the terms you used haha.
To me, while they have their differences, those two have always felt like the most connected on Melodrama. I’m excited for her next album regardless of producer, but I would really love another Lorde/Antonoff record.
I always forget I said that until I see you quote that but...yeah I still stand by it. I fully agree that she would have stayed in the pop-country lane much longer if she didn’t think she’d basically perfected it.
Its strange because some of my favourite songs on folklore are Antonoff produced (this is me trying, mirrorball, august), but i love Dessner production more. And i think production of evermore is more complex and interesting than on folklore. So for me Aaron Dessner matches better with Taylor Swift and showcases her talents better. Dessner>Antonoff