Taylor Swift's Folklore is a spectacular capture of storytelling, fictional characters and superb lyricism. Each of the eighteen tracks on this record contains a heartfelt meaning from mental health issues to gender roles. It brings you complex love triangles, hidden identities and might even be hinting at the names of celebrities' future offsprings.

This album was fully created in the quarantine of 2020 during the Coronavirus pandemic, and was safely recorded in a built-in studio in Swift's Los Angeles home, also containing a collaboration with Bon Iver. Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner both played a large role with this piece. Antonoff served as a co-writer and producer on this album while Dessner greatly contributed to the producing aspect. Antonoff has been working alongside Taylor for years, first collaborating on her fifth studio album 1989 which won “Album of the Year” at the 2015 Grammys.

Speaking of Grammys, Folklore had six nominations this year, and ended up winning “Album of the Year.” This is Swift's third win in this category, making her the first woman to have achieved this huge accomplishment, with three different genres. Taylor Swift has been breaking records in the music industry since the young age of 17, despite frequent obstacles such as: sexism, sexualizing, an eating disorder, sexual assault and having almost all of her work stolen from her from a man she trusted.

Swift has never backed down and always manages to prove her haters wrong with every new album. This is Taylor’s eighth studio album, but the first in the alternative genre. This was a huge (and risky) step for Swift as she had been on the pop track for a while, but even given this, Folklore was the best selling album in 2020, and broke an immense amount of chart records. Almost every critic and news source was gushing over this album; USA Today called the album “incredibly moving,” and her “most introspective and emotionally raw album yet,” and “mind you, the words ‘pandemic hero’ should probably be reserved for actual frontline workers and not topline artistes. But there’s a bit of Rosie the Riveter spirit in how Swift has become the first major pop artist to deliver a first-rank album that went from germination to being completely locked down in the midst of a national lockdown,” wrote Variety’s music critic.

Compared to Swift's previous albums, this record is geared towards an older, more mature audience as the songs are evidently sadder and slower in contrast with her earlier work such as Lover or Reputation. Each song has an insanely high level of lyricism, but I think the best tracks are “This is Me Trying” and “Mad Woman.” “This is Me Trying” is centered around mental health struggles. It captures the feeling of you trying every day to feel better and to overcome whatever is in your way, but nobody realizes it or pats you on the back, giving you any reassurance.

“Mad Woman” covers her issues with Scooter Braun, her previous manager. “Mad Woman” is also painting the image of sexism, the idea that if a woman is emotional or angry, she is “mad.” Quoting an interview Taylor had with CBS in August 2019: “A man is allowed to 'react'; a woman can only 'over-react’.”

Given that I have been listening to Taylor since I was 5 years old and have been there for almost every album release, I would rate this album a 5/5. Nobody else could have come up with such powerful meanings and lyrics, and the team she worked with was impeccable. This was her first dive into an alternative genre and once again, she outdid herself. Each song is outstanding and I strongly recommend this album to anyone who enjoys a slower, sadder album with a high level of lyricism, strong meanings behind each track and relaxing instrumentals.

If you tend to like only pop albums, I would not recommend this album. In December of 2020, Taylor released Evermore, the “sister album” to Folklore. This album is also highly rated by critics and in my opinion, is just as well produced, sung and created as Folklore. If you enjoyed this album I highly suggest checking out Evermore. 

Overall, this record exceeded my expectations and never fails to amaze me, even on the 20th time listening. Swift is now a “critically acclaimed artist” and if you listen to this album, you will not fail to realize why.