Quarantine has been an interesting time for all of us.
What started as a two-week shutdown turned into an indefinite change and it’s certainly made the world a different place.
But it isn’t all bad. Some of us have taken the time to start a project we’ve always wanted to. For Taylor Swift, that project was writing and recording her most recent studio album, “Folklore.”
“Folklore” was released on July 24 along with a handful of music videos, and was announced less than 48 hours before its release.
This kind of surprise release is not atypical or out of character for Swift. Even so, Swifties were shocked and excited to hear that Swift was releasing new music. Not just a single, but a whole entire album.
Swift had talked about the album being inspired by her time in isolation and had been entirely written over quarantine.
Inspiration was flowing, and she managed to crank out an impressive 16 songs that would not have existed without the effects of the COVID-19 virus.
But how is it?
As a longtime Taylor Swift fan, (“Teardrops on My Guitar” was the first CD I ever owned), “Folklore” is some of Swift’s best.
The album is like a walk in the woods, a steep departure from her more recent music, but a refreshing departure nonetheless.
Swift’s first album debuted when she was barely a teenager, and since then her audience can really see how she’s grown by listening to her music.
“Folklore” brings her into adulthood. It solidifies her as a mature creator of music, and it is easy to see that Swift has truly aged like a fine wine.
“Folklore” has a much more mellow sound than even the country music Swift used to write.
Many of the songs on the album are the ballads and love songs that she is known for.
All of the music flows together, so much so that it isn’t noticeable where many of the songs start and end.
Listening to the album all the way through feels like only moments have gone by.
Instrumentally the music is incredible. Swift uses a variety of instruments to create an interesting, indie-like sound. This is very different from her last few studio albums, which had a pop music sound.
While I never considered her pop music to be bad, I think the more mature, indie sound really suits Swift.
As well-done as the album is, there are a few things that don’t serve the album so well.
None of the songs are especially fantastic. On this particular album, there are no songs that are the “best song on the album.”
It’s not that they aren’t good songs, it’s just that none of them stand out against the others enough to be “the best.”
All of the music is well-written, and while I praise the album for having a consistent sound, the songs sound so similar to one another that I wouldn’t be able to identify them from each other.
Additionally, while I do enjoy a slow, mellow ballad, all of the songs on the album are slow and steady. There is no variety of fast and slow songs.
Some songs may read happier than others lyrically, but the lack of variety can make them all feel the same.
None of these criticisms make me enjoy the album less. This album is easily my favorite music by Swift. Even if you aren’t a fan of hers, I would encourage you to give this album a listen.
To sum up the album in a sentence, “Folklore” is Taylor Swift’s best, born from when the world was at its worst.

ALEXIS AFTON
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