This is the first time Taylor has managed to turn her usual “album filler” problem around. I’m ashamed to say this, but I brushed off Folklore on its initial release—mostly because I’m not a fan of Taylor’s slower ballads. Oh! How that has changed.
As I fired it up, my first concern was, “how will Taylor manage to regress into an acoustic album considering her evolution?” Its brilliance lies in its surprise.
The melodies are far more intricate and “indie” than earlier acoustic works. Put this next to her eponymous debut, and it’s unrecognisable. What we’re left with is not just Taylor Swift’s best album but also her most surprising release.
I’m writing this after the release of her Midnight album—another two albums along—and it’s plain to see the effect her collaboration with Aaron Dessner of The National and Bon Iver has played on her sound.