Folklore and Evermore are the eighth and ninth studio albums of singer Taylor Swift, respectively. A career that started with country music quickly transcended to pop. Now, Taylor experiments with folk. But are they good?
Born on December 13, 1989, in Pennsylvania (US), Alison became fond of country music. Other respected country musicians include Johnny Cash (R.I.P.), Carrie Underwood, and Miranda Lambert, to name a few. And she was determined to be the next one.
Firstly, her self-debut album “Taylor Swift” (2006) introduced her persona to a small audience. Indeed, follow-ups “Fearless” (2008), “Speak Now” (2010), and “Red” (2012) put her on a global scale.
In late 2014, she released “1989“, a record influenced by pop, as shown on the single “Shake It Off.” Also, this period brought awareness in the music industry once Swift criticized streaming companies for low payments.
Furthermore, “Reputation” (2017) and “Lover” (2019) proved her consistency as a mainstream artist. Admittedly, up to that point, all of her projects had been designed for radio and stadiums.
So, what happens when that formula doesn’t work out? As documented in “Miss Americana” (2020), she showed her vulnerability when “Reputation” didn’t get any recognition at the Grammys (2018).
“I’m making a better record,” she said at the time. Consequently, due to the global pandemic, not only did she resort to isolation but also built an in-house studio. Continuous sessions crafted “folklore” and “evermore.”
Folklore and Evermore
folklore
On July 24, 2020, she surprise-released “folklore.” Fifteen new solo tracks and one sole collaboration with Bon Iver on “exile.” Cuts such as “cardigan,” “seven,” and “invisible string” bring to life an unheard Swift.
Moreover, on “the last great american dynasty,” she hands in the protagonist role instead of writing from her perspective.
evermore
Surprisingly, on December 11, 2020, she did it again with “evermore.” Songs such as “willow,” “tolerate it,” and “dorothea” show the parallels between both LPs. In addition, on “no body, no crime,” she continues with the narrative storytelling.
On “folklore” and “evermore“, Taylor ditches her signature sound to experiment with indie-folk. Thus, the result is soothing ballads not meant for stadiums but to be played in your private living room.
At the 63rd Grammy Awards, “folklore” won “Album of the Year,” outwinning Dua Lipa’s “Future Nostalgia.” She is the fourth artist to win in that category for the third time (2010, 2016, 2021). Talk about coming back stronger than a ’90s trend.
Long story short (get it?), not only are they good, but I would go as far as claiming this is the best double album since Justin Timberlake’s “The 20/20 Experience“ (2013).
Watch her directed “cardigan” video and stream “evermore” in the link below.
