Tuesday Tunes: “Folklore” by Taylor Swift is outstanding

(*see note at bottom of post)

Until last Friday (July 24), I was not a big Taylor Swift fan. I enjoyed an occasional song, especially since the release of her album 1989, but I would never have been considered a fan. This was mostly because the majority of her music falls into a category or genre that I don’t typically enjoy or listen to – pop and/or country. I’m more a Alternative Rock or Indie fan. So, when I read a lot of positive buzz about Folklore, I decided to give it a listen.

Taylor Swift and Bon Iver – Source: vulture.com

The first song I heard, cardigan, worried me some, as it sounded just a bit too much like what I have heard from Taylor Swift previously. But, when I listened to exile, I was instantly captivated by the beauty and heartbreak of that Indie track. It is easily one of the saddest and most emotional songs I’ve ever heard and it is done so, so well as a duet by Taylor and Bon Iver. The lyrics to exile are simply breathtaking.

Aaron Dessner and Taylor Swift – Source: iheartradio.com

From then on, through all the other tracks (eleven of which were co-written with Aaron Dessner of The National), I greatly enjoyed the album. I have even grown to appreciate cardigan more with added listens. Honestly, here is not a single bad song on Folklore and many superior ones.

My favorite tracks on Folklore, include:

exile – likely candidate for song of the year!
mirrorball
epiphany – beautiful tune dedicated to those fighting Covid-19
my tears ricochet
the 1
cardigan
illicit affairs
this is me trying
betty

2020 has been a stinky year in many respects, but in terms of exiting new music, the past month or so have been outstanding with superb releases by Phoebe Bridgers (Punisher), The Chicks (Gaslighter), and now Taylor Swift (Folklore). All three (3) of these albums should make the shortlist for Album of the Year at the Grammys and each has a strong candidate for Song of the Year, too:

I Know The End by Phoebe Bridgers
March March by The Chicks
exile by Taylor Swift and Bon Iver

If these there (3) albums interest you, here are visual links to the ones by Phoebe Bridgers and The Chicks on Amazon.com.* The link to Folklore by Taylor Swift on Amazon.com is provided at the top of the post.

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