While I was in quarantine, barely able to keep up with which day it was, Taylor Swift was busy writing her eighth album. Folklore is a moody, indie-folk record containing a series of sacred stories that have been buried deep in her soul, until now. It feels personal, like Swift was checking off boxes of unfinished business with the creation of each song.
Catching attention with the opening line, “I’m doing good, I’m on some new shit,” Swift guides the listener through stories with airy vocals, floating over each track as if she is narrating a dream filled with tales of truth and inspiration. When the announcement came out for the album, I was most intrigued by the track “exile” featuring Bon Iver, and it exceeded my expectations. The contrasting perspectives of the complicated aftermath of a relationship was so open, honest, and raw. “This is me trying” is another song that stood out to me because of its vulnerability in admitting faults and asking for help, and “illicit affairs” holds my favorite lyrics with the line, “You showed me colors you know I can’t see with anyone else.” Making my way further down the track list, I was hit emotionally hard by “epiphany.” If you look at the album as a tale of someone’s life, this song is the part of the story where things get uncomfortably serious, exploring the reality of helplessness in the face of death. Luckily, “betty” follows the somber track giving the listener a lighthearted feeling of being young again and navigating through mistakes. My favorite track is “my tears ricochet.” I love the eerie production of the song and its lyrics are perfection.
Folklore left me with the thought of not taking life for granted, and in the moments where you feel lost, to trust yourself enough to have the strength to move forward, carrying your stories as a torch lighting your way. I am really looking forward to listening to this one on vinyl on a rainy Sunday and allowing my imagination to run wild.